Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Piedmont Columbus Regional have announced a formal affiliation agreement under which Children’s will collaborate with Piedmont Columbus Regional with the goal of better serving children and families in the Columbus area. The affiliation will support the commitment of Children’s and Piedmont Columbus Regional to providing high-quality pediatric care and to expanding access to specialized pediatric care in Georgia.
 
“Children's has a longstanding relationship with Columbus through Aflac and the Amos family. We are thrilled to do even more to serve this wonderful community,” said Donna Hyland, President and CEO, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “This affiliation increases our ability to coordinate care beyond our walls to serve even more children, while collaborating with a distinguished health system and the doctors in Columbus. We are grateful to Scott Hill, the pediatricians, and the pediatric leaders of the Columbus area for reaching out to us and being so committed to impacting the care of children in their community.”
 
Children’s is providing tools, training and pediatric best practices to Piedmont Columbus Regional to focus on its pediatric quality and patient safety program. The two systems also will work together to provide training for pediatric doctors and nurses. The affiliation will enhance care coordination between Piedmont Columbus Regional and Children’s.
 
“As the region’s only Children’s hospital, we are committed to providing advanced pediatric services in our local markets. This affiliation will further that commitment by allowing us to provide optimal care coordination for our pediatric patients in the local community and across the wide array of services offered by Children’s Healthcare or Atlanta,” said Scott Hill, President and CEO of Piedmont Columbus Regional. “It also will provide excellent opportunities for the continued education and development of our nursing and clinical staff.  We are looking forward to advancing our mission in this regard and making a positive difference in every life we touch.”  
 
Children’s will work with Piedmont Columbus Regional’s pediatricians on best practices designed to enhance the evaluation and assessment of kids; on quality protocols for pediatric patients; on building additional infrastructure to monitor quality and to advance patient safety; and on methods for enhancing care coordination and clinical integration.