Last month, Children’s International Medical Group’s Picayune Pediatric Clinic earned Exemplary Provider Accredited Status honors.
The Compliance Team is a Medicare approved national accreditation organization founder Sandra Canally said in a TCT release. The release states that the Picayune clinic “demonstrated outstanding healthcare delivery practices” during an on-site validation visit.
CIMG is the largest privately owned pediatric service provider in Louisiana and is headquartered in Slidell, CIMG Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Zach Allen said. They also have clinics in Gulfport and Bay St. Louis.
CIMG opened the Picayune clinic about two years ago, Allen said.
“We took over Dr. Balogun’s clinic and we just got busier and busier, so we moved to our new location at 801 Williams Ave., about a year ago,” he said. “This is the company’s first rural health clinic, which is considered a part of the critical care access network and is derived from a different pool of federal money, with the intent to increase primary care services in rural communities.”
In order to operate the clinic, there must be a medical director, pediatrician and a nurse practitioner on staff, Allen said.
Dr. Eduardo Hernandez, who also owns the company, is the medical director, Allen said. He is a trained pediatric pulmonologist and hospitalist, which means he is trained to handle more severe pediatric illnesses.
At the Picayune clinic, pediatrician Dr. Rae Smith-Peart and nurse practitioner Christopher Fletcher treat patients during operating hours.
“Smith is also a pharmacist and Chris is a former ER RN,” Allen said.
Medical staff at CIMG in Picayune treat children from birth to 18 for primary care needs including cold, flu, immunizations and anything someone would visit their hometown pediatrician for, Allen said. They see about 60 children per day.
“We’re very proud of our staff here in Picayune,” Allen said. “They achieved this status in about five and half months, which beat the average year that it takes some clinics.”
According to the CTC release, the Picayune clinic also demonstrates 100 percent compliance to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Serves “rigorous” conditions for certification.
The CTC accreditation process is comprehensive and clinics must present evidence that they meet quality standards addressing corporate administrative functions as well as patient services such as infection control, diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical services, the release states.
Ongoing patient satisfaction survey results are also required. This accreditation is valid for three years, the release states.
“It doesn’t change the way we operate,” Allen said.
CIMG accepts all forms of Medicaid and private health insurance plans. Within the group, there are 28 pediatricians and 14 nurse practitioners.
CIMG in Picayune is located at 801 Williams Avenue.
The clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are accepted but appointments are preferred, Allen said.
They have a nurse and a pediatric hospitalist on call after hours, he said.
Contact staff at 601-798-5558. Learn more about CIMG at childrensinternationalmedicalgroup.com.