Kentucky Children’s Hospital branch to open Monday in former home of Shriners Hospital on Richmond Road in Lexington

A university press release said the four clinics are:

• Complex Care Clinic, which provides medical and developmental follow-up care for infants and young children up to age 5 with medical complexity.
• Developmental Pediatrics Clinic, which offers screening, diagnostic and therapeutic services for children with complex developmental-behavioral conditions such as autism.
• NICU Graduate Clinic, a clinical site for babies and young children with special medical needs. The clinic not only serves babies who were cared for in the KCH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit but also children born prematurely who are at risk for developmental problems.
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, where patients over age 5 with complex care needs can go to improve their functional abilities and strength.

“Children with complex medical and behavior needs may not feel comfortable or have their needs met in a traditional clinic space,” the release said. “Kentucky Children’s Richmond Road was designed with this unique patient population in mind. Carefully considered features were included to not just alleviate the stress of appointments and treatment for patients, but to also reduce the physical and logistical obstacles for parents and caregivers.

The facility’s amenities include “a quiet waiting room with soothing features for patients with complex sensory needs who need a calming environment in which to wait prior to their appointment,” the release said. It includes “an observation area where parents and caregivers can watch providers interact with and assess their children without interruption” and “comfortable, private areas for one-on-one treatment, discussion and interaction between the provider and the patient.”

The facility is in the former Shriners Hospital building, in space shared space with Easterseals Bluegrass, a nonprofit organization that serves adults and children with special needs. Funding for the renovation and services expansion of services came partly from the local community partners of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“The mission of Kentucky Children’s Hospital has always been to provide the most advanced, comprehensive care to our patients and their families without them having to travel far from home,” said Dr. Scottie B. Day, KCH physician-in-chief. “Having access to a full range of specialized medical and developmental care in one location, reduces the travel burden on families, and allows us to offer a continuity of care not found elsewhere in the commonwealth.”