A New Chapter in Pediatric Care

“A match made in heaven.”

Those are the words Christopher Bell uses to describe Memphis Children’s Clinic (MCC) joining Le Bonheur Pediatrics earlier this year. A lifelong patient at the MCC Whitehaven location, Christopher carried on a family tradition when he had his own children.

When Christopher and his wife, Amelia, welcomed their first son, Greyson, they entrusted his care to the Olive Branch MCC location near their Mississippi home. The Bells immediately felt at home with the clinic’s family environment and expert physicians.

They welcomed two more sons, Carrington and Knox. All three boys are now cared for by Jami Carver, MD, at the Olive Branch clinic. While Carver provides expert medical care to the Bell family, she and her colleagues also celebrate the achievement of goals like earning straight A’s and milestones on sports team.

“I was a patient at Memphis Children’s Clinic throughout my childhood, and all three of my kids are patients at the Olive Branch location. We are comfortable with Dr. Carver, and she has taken wonderful care of our three sons,” Christopher said. “She has been a part of our family for the past eight years and she has seen the boys grow and hit milestones in both school and sports.”

Joining the Le Bonheur Family

Memphis Children’s Clinic and Le Bonheur share the same mission – providing the best care for all children regardless of their ability to pay or what is happening in the health care system. We recognize the value of aligning with Le Bonheur so that we can do the most good for children and families as possible.

Established in 1952, Memphis Children’s Clinic has been a trusted provider of compassionate care for families like the Bells across the area at six locations in Shelby County and DeSoto County in Mississippi. With a mission of serving kids in the local community, MCC has provided skilled care to thousands of children from birth to adolescence.

When presented with the opportunity to join Le Bonheur Pediatrics, Memphis Children’s Clinic Chief Medical Officer, Tim Gillespie, MD, said he and his fellow physicians were excited to unite resources and a shared rich tradition of patient care. 

“Memphis Children’s Clinic and Le Bonheur share the same mission — providing the best care for all children regardless of their ability to pay or what is happening in the health care system,” Gillespie said. “We recognize the value of aligning with Le Bonheur so that we can do the most good for children and families as possible.”

According to Gillespie, MCC providers have already received positive feedback from patients and families about joining Le Bonheur. While the families hope to never need the resources available at the hospital in Memphis, they appreciate having access to world-renowned, expert care close to home.

Gillespie’s goal is for all children in the community to have consistent pediatric care by working to ensure every kid has a medical home. He is dedicated to making that a reality for kids across the Mid-South.

“My hope is that by joining Le Bonheur, we are able to reach even more families and address basic medical needs that are not being met,” Gillespie said. “Together, we can work to address and identify behavioral health needs and the reasons why children are not receiving the medical care they need.”

Meeting the Need

The goal of Memphis Children’s Clinic and Le Bonheur Pediatrics remains the same, namely that every single child in Memphis and Shelby County has a medical home. The desire is for each office to be the first place parents reach out to for any question about their child’s health, where prevention follows scientific guidance and hopefully, where each child has the chance to grow from infancy into a healthy adult.

Medical Director of Le Bonheur Pediatrics, Blake Bergeron, MD, echoes Gillespie’s excitement about becoming physician partners with MCC, citing a shared commitment to providing excellent medical care to kids and a distinguished history. In fact, many of the physicians in both groups trained together in medical school or residency, creating a shared respect and comfort between the new “family” members. With six locations across Shelby County, Le Bonheur Pediatrics cares for kids from birth to adulthood. 

“The goal of Memphis Children’s Clinic and Le Bonheur Pediatrics remains the same, namely that every single child in Memphis and Shelby County has a medical home,” Bergeron said. “The desire is for each office to be the first place parents reach out to for any question about their child’s health, where prevention follows scientific guidance and hopefully, where each child has the chance to grow from infancy into a healthy adult.” 

Bergeron is proud that Le Bonheur Pediatrics is a leader in the Mid-South in providing mental health services to kids, namely by offering visits with in-office behavioral health consultants to ensure the emotional well-being of patients. Shared electronic medical records between the two groups create continuity of care and less time spent by families trying to track down test results and health histories.

Carver has heard positive feedback from her patients in Olive Branch who are excited to have easier access to Le Bonheur’s specialists and mental health resources. 

“Now all of our patients’ Le Bonheur outpatient studies, specialists and hospitalizations will all be on one system, and our patients will be able to see all of their records in MyChart,” Carver said. “I have already talked to multiple families with chronic conditions who are excited that specialists will now have our notes and vice versa.”

As for the Bell family, Christopher said he is thrilled to see Memphis Children’s Clinic, a long-standing pediatric pillar in the community, join forces with one of the most respected children’s hospitals in the country.

“For MCC to join a wonderful organization like Le Bonheur is amazing,” Christopher said. “I’m grateful for my children to have access to the resources and care Le Bonheur offers.”

Earlier this year, the Bell family participated in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Olive Branch clinic to celebrate the partnership and the beginning of a new chapter for pediatric health in the Mid-South. Because of your support, children and families have improved regional access to the medical care they need to thrive.