Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has partnered with Athens (Ga.) Regional Health System to expand pediatric-care services in northeastern Georgia.
Under terms of the agreement, Children's Healthcare will provide Athens Regional with access to its best practices, tools and specialty physicians. Children's will also train pediatric nurses and doctors at Athens Regional.
Children's Healthcare, a three-hospital system, is the leading provider of specialty pediatric services in Georgia. The not-for-profit has never before entered into another partnership, according to a news release.
Athens Regional, which has a 360-bed acute-care hospital, provides specialty pediatric care for cardiology, gastroenterology, neurosurgery and pulmonary medicine.
The hospital has plans to affiliate with Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta. Athens Regional CEO Dr. Charles Peck said Piedmont is aware of the pediatric partnership and supports it.
Athens Regional is the second largest employer in the city and contributes more than $800 million to the local economy.
Athens faced controversy in 2014 amid complaints that the hospital's administration bungled the implementation of its electronic health record system. James Thaw, who was then president and CEO, resigned.
