On May 16, Kentucky Children’s Hospital (KCH) welcomed Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital to the KCH Affiliate Network, the second hospital to join since the network was launched earlier this year. The KCH Affiliate Network connects community hospitals to pediatric experts who help empower local health care professionals with knowledge, training and education needed to stay abreast of the best practices in pediatric care. These efforts allow for more kids to get the high-quality care they need in their own communities. The KCH network is among the first in the country to have a hospital network centered around pediatric care.

“We’ve had a longstanding relationship with Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital and are grateful for them being one of the first to join us in expanding access to high-quality pediatric care,” said Scottie B. Day, M.D., physician-in-chief for KCH. “With support from the trusted physicians families already know at Lake Cumberland, we’re building expert care teams that allow children to get the specialized treatment they need while easing the travel burden for families.”

“With this affiliation, we now have access to a broader range of pediatric resources, specialized programs, and collaborative opportunities with leading experts in the field,” said Carolyn Sparks, CEO of Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. “This partnership will not only elevate the quality of care we provide but also reinforce our mission of making communities healthier.”

UK HealthCare has three affiliate networks dedicated to adult patient care: Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network, Gill Heart & Vascular Affiliate Network and the UK HealthCare/Norton Healthcare Stroke Care Network. The KCH network is among the first in the country to have a hospital network centered around pediatric care. Benefits for member hospitals include:

• Access to pediatric-specific educational lecture series in both pediatrics and neonatology
• Customized hands-on trainings in Lexington and at their home facilities to meet the needs of their staff
• Opportunity to observe KCH care teams in clinical settings
• Access to protocols, policies and best practices to enhance and improve patient care
• Continuing education credit opportunities for their staff
• Access to attend a pediatric-specific annual conference in Lexington for education, trainings and networking opportunities
• Patient transfer review for continuous improvement

“The purpose of the network is to provide a better future for Kentucky’s kids,” said Christina Briggs, affiliate network director for KCH. “With the ability to keep kids closer to home in their community hospital, it not only benefits the patient and family by allowing them to stay closer to their support system and lessens financial burden, but it also allows us at KCH to keep higher level beds open for those kids who truly need our care.”