Clinch Memorial Earns Level III Pediatric Center Designation
Clinch Memorial Hospital Becomes First South Georgia Hospital to Earn Important Healthcare Designation
HOMERVILLE, GA – Clinch Memorial Hospital has achieved a historic milestone in pediatric emergency care, earning designation as a Level III Pediatric Readiness Center through the Georgia Department of Public Health. The achievement makes Clinch Memorial the first Critical Access Hospital in Georgia, the first hospital south of Macon, and the first hospital participating in the Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC) Rural Emergency Department Collaborative to receive the designation.
“This designation represents much more than a certification on the wall,” said Angela Handley, Chief Executive Officer of Clinch Memorial Hospital. “It is not the finish line: it is a milestone in our ongoing journey to enhance and expand healthcare services for the families of Clinch County. This achievement highlights our commitment to ensuring children receive high-quality emergency care close to home, and we remain focused on continuously improving and growing the services available to our community.”
The designation follows years of investment in pediatric preparedness, staff training, specialized equipment, and quality improvement initiatives. Through participation in the KidsABC Rural Emergency Department Collaborative, a partnership between Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Mercer University School of Medicine, and the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, Clinch Memorial strengthened its pediatric emergency care capabilities and became the first hospital in the collaborative to successfully complete every element of the National Pediatric Readiness Project Checklist.
Rather than viewing completion of the national checklist as the finish line, hospital leadership and clinical staff chose to pursue Georgia’s Pediatric Readiness Center Certification. Additional policy development, staff education, and investments in pediatric-specific equipment, supported by the Clinch Memorial Foundation, enabled the hospital to meet the state’s rigorous standards for a Level III Pediatric Readiness Center.
A Level III Pediatric Readiness Center is equipped to provide the initial evaluation, stabilization, and treatment of critically ill or injured children while coordinating timely transfer to higher levels of pediatric care when necessary. For families in Clinch County, however, the designation means something more personal: it means expert pediatric emergency care is available close to home when every minute matters.
“Achieving Level III Pediatric Readiness status ensures that when a child arrives in our emergency department, our team is prepared with the training, equipment, and protocols needed to provide immediate, evidence-based care during some of the most critical moments of that child’s life,” said Kellie Register, Chief Clinical Officer at Clinch Memorial Hospital. “I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment as a member of our leadership team, but even more so as a mom raising children in our community. I have complete confidence in our emergency department team and would trust them to care for my own kids and their friends. This designation provides families with the reassurance that high-quality pediatric emergency care is available close to home when it matters most.”
Clinch Memorial Hospital continues to distinguish itself as a leader among Critical Access and Rural Hospitals across Georgia. In recent years the hospital and its leadership have been honored by multiple health care organizations for the strides it has made in enhancing care and setting a standard of excellence in rural healthcare.
The Level III Pediatric Readiness Center designation reflects Clinch Memorial Hospital’s longstanding commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare in rural Georgia. The hospital’s focus on clinical excellence, innovation, and community service has earned recognition from healthcare leaders across the state.
Among those honors, Hometown Health named Clinch Memorial Hospital its Hospital of the Year in 2019. Additionally, Chief Executive Officer Angela Handley was recognized as Chief Executive Officer of the Year in 2018, while Chief Clinical Officer Kellie Register received Nursing Executive of the Year honors in 2024.
“This accomplishment demonstrates what can happen when rural hospitals invest in their people and build strong partnerships,” said Handley. “We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Mercer University School of Medicine, the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, and the Clinch Memorial Foundation for supporting this effort.”
“Most importantly, we are proud to serve the residents of Clinch County and the surrounding communities. While we celebrate this achievement and appreciate the recognition it brings, we also recognize that there is still important work to do. Clinch County has never had a practicing pediatrician, and access to healthcare remains a challenge for many families in our community. I want our residents to know that we understand those needs and remain focused on finding ways to address them. Our entire team is committed to being the very best we can be. Every day we work to provide high-quality care, expand access to services, and build confidence in the healthcare available close to home. This designation is an important step forward, but it is not the end of our journey.”