A Southeast Georgia pediatrician discusses how to help patients stay monitored, vaccinated, and healthy

When Dr. Angela Highbaugh-Battle, MD sees the youngest patients at her pediatric practice in St. Marys, Georgia, myriad good things can come of the appointment. Highbaugh-Battle will, of course, track developmental milestones and administer little ones’ scheduled vaccinations and preventive screenings. She’ll compassionately counsel parents about nutrition, safety, sleep, and other important health topics, earning their trust by referring to facts and science.  

That in-person interaction also allows Highbaugh-Battle—who recently served as president of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Georgia chapter—to spot when “something isn’t quite right” and have a conversation about it with the child’s parents or caregivers. This might lead to additional screening or early intervention. “Early” is the key word here, because nothing is more time-sensitive than a baby or toddler’s rapidly changing health. During the ages of zero to three, a child’s brain forms one million new neural connections every second.  

But here’s the challenge Highbaugh-Battle faces in Camden County, Southeast Georgia: Simply getting families into her exam room can be difficult.  

“The biggest barrier here is access,” Highbaugh-Battle says during a Zoom interview from her cheerful office. She quickly lists the challenges that can sideline her patients’ well visits.  

• Transportation: There’s often limited access to or no public transportation options, Highbaugh-Battle says. If families don’t have a reliable car, it may be difficult for them to keep up with their appointments. 
• Provider Shortage: There are a limited number of providers in rural areas. In fact, there are a number of counties that don’t have a primary care provider, let alone a pediatrician. What’s more, if a child needs specialized care, driving five hours to Atlanta is not feasible for most families. This ultimately leads to missed appointments or delayed care.
• Medicaid Unwinding: During the COVID-19 emergency, children could continuously maintain their Medicaid coverage. Now that that policy has ended, thousands of Georgia families have seen their children’s insurance coverage disrupted. Medicaid eligibility reviews, which are again required every year, have led to children losing coverage for months at a time. This often happens due to administrative errors such as a caregiver missing a phone call or renewal notice, or the state failing to review eligibility documentation.   

As a rural doctor, Highbaugh-Battle says she has to go above and beyond to smooth the pathways for her families. First, she motivates parents to seek out health care by ensuring that they feel safe to ask questions and express their concerns without fear of judgment. 

Next, she automates her systems, scheduling a child’s next appointment as they’re checking out of their current one, then sending appointment reminders via phone and text. 

Highbaugh-Battle also says she seizes the moment when a child is in her office. “If a child comes in with strep,” she notes, “I make sure to look at their records and remind the parent when they’re due to return. Or I might say, ‘Hey, it’s time to schedule your next vaccine.’” 

She’s especially on top of those shots, knowing that a missed vaccine can affect the well-being not only of an individual child, but also their entire community.  

“It’s gratifying to be part of these families during the critical early years,” she says. “I get to see them grow and develop. From the first time being afraid of me (I expect that) to greeting me with a hug a year later.”