Published: February 04, 2010 05:54 pm      

Hamilton announces agreement with neonatologists

Hamilton Medical Center announces an agreement with Regional Obstetrical Consultants (ROC) to provide neonatal and perinatal services for Hamilton, beginning Feb. 1.

Neonatal physicians from ROC’s affiliate organization, Regional Neonatal Specialists (RNS), will provide round-the-clock coverage for a new neonatal intensive care unit at Hamilton, and will collaborate with perinatologists from ROC to provide the highest quality of care to pregnant mothers and babies.

RNS principals Dr. Lizbeth Kennedy and Dr. Victor Thomas will operate Hamilton’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The two have more than 40 years of NICU experience and are recognized as among the top neonatologists in the Southeast. Kennedy and Thomas will work with Dalton area obstetricians and pediatricians to provide specialty care to pregnant women and newborn infants at Hamilton. They will also use neonatal nurse practitioners and the women’s health department staff of Hamilton to provide the highest level of care to infants in the NICU. Follow-up care will then be coordinated with the family’s pediatrician.

Kennedy is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Florida College of Medicine. She did her residency and fellowship at the University of Florida and is board certified in neonatology and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics with a specialty in neonatology. She is on the faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga Unit and also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Thomas is a graduate of the University of the South and of the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he also completed his residency and fellowship in neonatology. He, too, is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics with a specialty in neonatology and is board certified. He is a faculty member of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga Unit.

“We are extremely excited about joining the team at Hamilton,” said Thomas. “Dalton is a great community and Hamilton is a top-quality hospital.” Kennedy added, “We look forward to bringing new services to Hamilton and providing high quality, state-of-the-art care to younger and sicker babies in their home community.”

Kennedy and Thomas, who are husband and wife, joined Regional Obstetrical Consultants in the fall of 2009 and established the subspecialty practice of Regional Neonatal Specialists. The couple resides in Dalton.

ROC, based in Chattanooga, has offices in Dalton and in Cookeville, Tullahoma and McMinnville, Tenn., and an affiliate practice in Knoxville, Tenn.