Anderson Regional Health System has partnered with the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson to “strengthen and expand” health care in east Mississippi and west Alabama, especially pediatric care.

The “affiliation,” according to a UMMC statement released Dec. 19, will bring UMMC’s “medical education, research and advanced health care” to Anderson’s two hospitals, cancer center and 10 outpatient clinics.

John Anderson, president and CEO of Anderson Health, said UMMC’s ability to enhance specialty services, among other things, will help “advance pediatric care in the community.”

“There’s no merger, acquisition or anything like that,” Anderson said in a phone interview. “This is an affiliation… with the university to use their services, their knowledge and their skill sets to help us advance local care.”

According to the statement, Anderson Regional is the only hospital that offers inpatient pediatric services in the Meridian area, providing pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy.

“The sub-specialists will enhance pediatric inpatient and outpatient services in addition to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures not currently available in the Meridian area,” the statement said.

“We can keep pediatric care closer to home — easier on parents and easier on kids,” Kevin Cook, chief executive officer of the UMMC Health System, said in a phone interview.

The signing of the three-year agreement “is a step forward for both organizations,” Cook said in the statement. “The future of health care in Mississippi is one that is founded on collaboration and cooperation among the in-state systems.”

The partnership comes on the heels of Anderson “actively expanding services to better serve residents of the region,” the statement said.

Anderson said the partnership could bring more jobs to the region at some point.

“Being able to take care of our children locally without having to travel to Jackson, that very well might open opportunity for employment, but that’s something we’ll have to watch and see.”

Anderson said the partnership has been in the works for about a year.

Also in the statement, Dr. Deanna Price, a UMMC graduate and Anderson Regional pediatrician, said, “Our entire pediatric team is thrilled about advancing the services available for children in our area.”

Anderson pediatricians will utilize telehealth for consults with pediatric sub-specialists from UMMC, “which will provide quick feedback for concerned parents,” Price said in the statement.

“From an inpatient perspective, more of our patients will be able to stay at Anderson and receive a higher level of pediatric care. This will ease the stress of traveling for both children and families,” she explained.

Dr. Charles O’Mara, UMMC professor of surgery and associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs, said the hospitals would also explore using technology in other areas such as the ICU and remote patient monitoring at home.

UMMC’s medical residents and fellows will also be sent to Anderson Regional, “where they will deliver patient care in concert with Anderson’s 200-member medical staff,” the statement said.

BY THE NUMBERS

Anderson Regional Health System

Facilities: Anderson Regional Medical Center; Anderson Regional Medical Center- South; Anderson Regional Cancer Center; 10 Outpatient Clinics.

Beds: 400 licensed beds.

Employees: 1,400.

Physicians on medical staff: 260.

About Anderson: In fiscal year 2017, Anderson had 12,646 hospital admissions; 38,713 ER visits; 162,716 hospital outpatient visits; and 50,564 clinic visits.  Anderson is a Level 3 Trauma Center and a Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

UMMC

Hospitals: University Hospital, Conerly Critical Care Hospital, Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants and Batson Children’s Hospital.

Beds: 697 total licensed patient beds, with an additional 25 beds at UMMC Holmes County in Lexington and 156 at UMMC Grenada.

Employees: 10,000. Of that number, about 1,328  are physicians – 701 faculty members and 627 residents.

About UMMC: In fiscal year 2017, there were 32,832 hospital admissions; 143,769 ER visits; 628,947 hospital outpatient visits; and 571,116 clinic visits. UMMC’s unique services include organ transplants, the state’s only Level 1 trauma center, the only children’s hospital and other complex services. The UMMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is one of the nation’s largest and the state’s only Level 4 (highest).

Campus in Jackson encompasses 4.6 million square feet. In addition to the hospitals, research facilities and clinics, the campus includes seven schools: the new School of Medicine building, which opened in August 2017; the School of Nursing; the School of Dentistry; the School of Health Related Professions; the School of Pharmacy; the School of Graduate Studies; and the John D. Bower School of Population Health, which is housed in the new Translational Research Center that opened in fall 2017.

Overall student enrollment is 2,840, including residents in Graduate Medical Education.

Ground was broken earlier this month on a $180M, seven-floor pediatric tower adjacent to Batson Children’s Hospital.