Over a year after the opening of the McGovern-Davison Children's Health Center, Duke doctors and administrators say they are happy with the facility's progress. They cite the center's positive environment and consolidation of pediatric services.
"Coming to the hospital is very scary," said Kristen Mercer, CHC public relations manager.
Colorful, spacious and full of toys, the facility was designed with children's needs in mind, Mercer said. She added that the CHC is a place where kids can feel comfortable.
"It brings a smile to your face when you walk in," said Dr. Mike Frank, Samuel L. Katz Professor and chair of the pediatrics department.
The cheerful environment of the CHC is a significant change from its former location, the sub-basement of Duke Hospital. The new facility, an outpatient clinic, provides primary care in a children's setting, like a doctor's office. Frank said the CHC has transformed the entire pediatrics department.
"When a patient came in, [they'd] be treated at Duke Hospital, surrounded by 50- and 60-year olds, and [they] were three," Mercer said.
Patient care in all medical areas has been consolidated at the CHC, allowing both centralized and customized treatment for children.
Formerly, children who required X-rays had to travel from Duke Clinic to Duke Hospital, the location of the pediatric radiology department. At the CHC, there is a group of radiologists who know how to take pediatric X-rays, Frank said.
The CHC is one of several Duke institutions designed for children's health. The Children's Hospital in Duke Hospital provides inpatient care for critically ill children and Duke-owned Lenox Baker Children's Hospital, two blocks away, is a clinic for kids with illnesses like brain injuries and AIDS.
The CHC, adjacent to and interconnected with Duke Hospital, has greatly increased the number of patients since it was built.
Its administrators expect a jump from 55,000 visits to an estimated 65,000 this year alone.
Mercer said the ability to treat more patients has come from the ease of having everything in one location.
"All of the feedback has been positive," Mercer said.
To address a growing demand for medical services and appointments, the CHC is considering expanding its hours; currently, it closes each day at 5 p.m.
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