NMMC Consolidating Women’s, Pediatrics

TUPELO, Miss. — North Mississippi Medical Center’s Pediatrics unit is moving Sept. 16 from the main hospital to the NMMC Women’s Hospital, located at 4566 S. Eason Blvd.

After months of planning, the move will relocate all inpatient services for women and children under one roof, according to Ellen Friloux, NMMC’s administrator for women and children’s services.

“This move will provide a lot of synergy for our pediatric program,” Friloux said. “Currently, newborns and neonatal intensive care patients are cared for at Women’s Hospital. Staffing for pediatrics and the newborn population is shared between the different units and the pediatricians see patients in both buildings. This will help centralize many of the clinical staff who serve these patients.”

Friloux said the move is also a nod to the future of local pediatric care. “As more pediatric sub-specialists become available in Tupelo, we feel that Women’s Hospital will be the best place to grow this service,” she said.

For many years Pediatrics has been located on 4 East, one of the oldest wings at the hospital. “The physical amenities and room size are just not conducive to this population,” she said. “The available patient rooms at Women’s Hospital will be an improvement for our patients.”

Children should still be brought to the main hospital’s Emergency Department in urgent situations. Inpatient and some outpatient surgery for children will continue to be performed at the main hospital, with patients being transported via ambulance between facilities as needed. Other outpatient surgeries will continue to be done at North Mississippi Ambulatory Surgery Center.