ATLANTA, GA — Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has a new leader, and expanding access to pediatric care across metro Atlanta is at the top of his agenda.
Dr. Patrick Frias has officially taken over as CEO of the nonprofit pediatric healthcare system. His appointment marks a return to an organization where he previously spent 18 years, serving as a pediatric cardiologist before moving into leadership positions that included chief physician officer and chief operating officer. He later became CEO of Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
One of Frias’ biggest goals is to make sure families throughout metro Atlanta can reach some level of Children’s pediatric care within about 30 minutes. That could include primary care, specialty services or other healthcare options offered by the system.
The effort is part of Children’s new “More Than Possible” strategy, which focuses on expanding pediatric healthcare access and reducing areas where families have limited access to specialized care. Children’s recently opened a primary care location in Adamsville that has already served hundreds of new patients.
More expansion is also coming. Children’s recently purchased additional land in Sandy Springs, although specific plans for the property have not yet been announced. The healthcare system says it also plans to expand existing locations and develop new sites as community needs grow.
Mental and behavioral health will be another priority under Frias. He has emphasized that mental health is an essential part of a child’s overall health and plans to continue investing in services addressing those needs.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta currently operates three hospitals — Arthur M. Blank Hospital, Scottish Rite Hospital and Hughes Spalding Hospital — along with urgent care centers, specialty facilities and neighborhood locations. The organization handles more than one million patient visits annually.
With Frias now leading the organization, Children’s plans to continue growing its footprint while working toward a larger goal: making high-quality pediatric healthcare easier for families to reach throughout metro Atlanta and eventually improving access for children across Georgia.
(Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images)
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