- Valdosta, Ga. - May 20, 2012 -

Valdosta, GA – South Georgia Medical Center and SMITH Northview Hospital jointly announce the merger of SMITH Northview’s YPAC pediatric after-hours clinic with Youth Care on June 1 in Youth Care’s new expanded location at 2330 North Ashley Street. YPAC services at SMITH Northview will stop on Thursday, May 31st. The phone number for YPAC, 333-9722 (333-YPAC) will be operational through May 31st. After that day, callers to the YPAC line will get a recording that directs them to go to Youth Care for services.

“As Chief of Pediatrics at South Georgia Medical Center and Director of YPAC at SMITH Northview Hospital, I am proud to support the merger,” said Alan Alvarado, MD. “The purchase of SMITH Northview Hospital and the recent expansion and renovations at SGMC have given the pediatric medical service an opportunity to merge and provide full pediatric after hours coverage on weekdays and weekends.”

Located in the Ashley Street Outpatient Center, formerly called the Wound Healing Building, Youth Care’s hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm; and Saturday - Sunday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Youth Care is staffed by pediatric-trained registered nurses and a board certified pediatrician. It serves as an extension of the pediatrician’s medical practice and treats non-emergent, minor conditions such as earaches and flu.

To help communicate the consolidation, SGMC and SMITH Northview have a community education campaign underway to publicize the merging of the two services into one. This will include media advertisements and fliers in physician’s offices. Dr. Alvarado says the Pediatric Service at SGMC will continue to grow and expand to provide the quality of care needed to meet the growth and future needs of the South Georgia community.

Pediatrician Brian Griner, MD, also supports the merger by saying, “It will be wonderful to have all our excellent pediatric after-hours care under one roof.” The new Youth Care facility offers more parking, private lobby space, more treatment areas and easy access to a higher level of care if needed.

“Please don’t confuse Youth Care with a pediatric emergency department because we are not equipped to deliver emergency care,” explained Ken Kiser, Chief Nursing Officer for SGMC. “Parents are advised to use the services of an emergency department or call 911 if you believe a child has a severe or life-threatening emergency.”

For more information, contact Youth Care at 249-KIDS (249-5437) or visit the Youth Care link at www.sgmc.org.

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