Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Rural Health Care Center of Excellence has announced a $487,500 grant for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital to help support critical health services for rural counties in West Tennessee, part of a $1.75 million package of grants UTHSC announced for programming statewide.
This grant will support the establishment of the West Tennessee Pediatric Trauma Network at Le Bonheur to serve the 20 counties of West Tennessee outside Shelby County. West Tennessee has the highest child fatality rate of any rural region in the state at 80.9 deaths per 100,000, compared to the state average of 62.2 deaths per 100,000.
Modeled on the Utah Pediatric Trauma Network, the West Tennessee network would equip school nurses, emergency professionals and rural emergency departments with the knowledge, skills and connections to deliver lifesaving, child-centered care in their own communities.
Approximately 200 children each year are transported to Le Bonheur from West Tennessee hospitals, according to 2019–2024 trauma center data. Of these, 25% potentially could be treated in a rural emergency department with telehealth consultation from Le Bonheur’s medical trauma team. The grant would allow the network to hire a registered nurse for management and to double the emergency training of West Tennessee providers and emergency responders from 30 training sessions to 60 each year.
“We are grateful for the support from the Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence at UT Health Sciences,” said Rudy Kink, MD, pediatric emergency physician at Le Bonheur. “This grant will enhance pediatric trauma readiness across rural West Tennessee. Together, we are ensuring that children receive the right care at the right time, no matter where an emergency occurs.”
Established in 2025 with a $12 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Health, the Center of Excellence awarded seven grants, four that will implement solutions-based programs and three that involve planning for such projects.
