By Harvey Lee Moody, Community Resource and Assessment Specialist
The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, through its Kids Alliance for Better Care initiative and ongoing continuing education offerings, hosted its fourth Rural Pediatric Continuing Education Conference on April 17 at Mercer University’s Macon campus.
Planned with the unique needs of rural Georgia in mind, the conference offered attendees direct access to subject matter experts on a range of pediatric topics. In many rural communities, pediatricians often manage conditions that would be referred to subspecialists in urban areas. Education opportunities are important because they give rural providers the additional tools needed to serve their patients.
This year’s topics were chosen from feedback from past conference attendees. Sessions included pediatric ADHD diagnosis and management, early recognition and interdisciplinary care for cerebral palsy in young children, pediatric dermatology, navigating vaccine hesitancy with families and practical guidance for managing common gastrointestinal concerns.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Rural Pediatric Scholar Logan Dominque presented his research on “Optimizing Outcomes in Pediatric Dentistry for the Rural Medicaid Population.” Exhibitors that provide pediatric services to rural Georgians and support rural healthcare practices were on site.
This annual conference provides attendees with peer-to-peer discussions that help bridge the gap in care in rural communities and expand excellent pediatric care close to home.