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Story By Jacque Hilburn
Feature Writer

Faint rays of sunlight seep into the waiting room of the FamilyCARE Pediatric Center. It's shortly after 8 a.m. and most seats are already filled, many with tired-looking young mothers cradling tiny, sleeping infants. Curious youngsters scamper in play. A wall-mounted corner television broadcasts children programming.

Down a hall, a nurse disappears into a patient room carrying a small tray filled with syringes. Moments later, the office environment is punctuated by a baby's high pitch screams, followed by muffled words of comfort.

In another exam room, a child is reportedly suffering from high fever.

Further down the hallway, a tiny finger needs emergency care. In yet another room, a worried parent needs advice on treating head lice.

For Dr. Raelanda Smith-Peart and other center professionals, the possibility of lingering at the breakfast table with a cup of steaming hot coffee before work remains an elusive treat.

Originally from New Orleans, she arrives early to get a jump on the day's paperwork then works through lunch in a small office decorated with a funky mix of alligators, Mardi gras beads and medical journals.

Bedtime comes after all the records are updated.

At the tender age of 37, Dr. Smith already recognizes the value of sensible shoes and a functional hairstyle.

There seems to be no question about her career choice.

"Ever since I was 7 years old, I knew I was going to be a pediatrician," she said. "One of the biggest things I wanted to do was work with impoverished families. When you do something for someone who can't do something for you, it reinforces the humanity. It's very rewarding."

DELIVERING CARE

Mother Frances Hospital created the pediatric center after doctors discovered one in three pregnant women who gave birth at the hospital had no prenatal care or lacked sufficient access to insurance.

Infant and fetal mortality rates were high. Many babies were born sick and with low birth weights.

Costs of care were skyrocketing.

To counteract the trends, TMF established the FamilyCARE Women's Services in 1994 to care for expectant mothers and a short time later, opened the doors of its FamilyCARE Pediatric Center.

There has been no shortage of patients at either facility.

Since the inception of the women's clinic, physicians logged more than 20,000 patient deliveries, experts say.

"Probably 80 percent of those moved to the pediatric clinic for care," said Bobbie Ogg, RN, MSN, divisional director of nursing. "Every day it's a battle as far as making sure we are able to make sure our patients' needs are met."

A breakdown for 2007 reveals these figures:

FamilyCARE's Women's Services physicians delivered 1,902 infants in 2007.

Between the Women's Services and Pediatric Center, there were more than 49,500 clinic visits logged in 2007, an 11 percent increase over the previous year.

For doctors, it's a continual race to keep up.

Dr. Pochin Yin is the clinic's medical director.

"When we first started, we were seeing very ill children," Dr. Yin said, pausing briefly between appointments. "Patients waited until their child was very sick before they came. We're seeing the impact on the community."

Expectant mothers are having healthier babies.

Parents are able to bring their children in for wellness checks.

"I was in private practice for 10 years before I came here," said Dr. Yin. "I like this type of clinic setting. I'm able to devote my whole time to taking care of patients. At Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, they are so committed and devoted to providing services to the community. I think we are really lucky to have it."

'IT'S ESSENTIAL'

Dr. Smith worked in private practice in Dallas when she decided to pull up stakes and head to East Texas.

"I first became aware of this clinic in November 2006 and when I realized what population it served, I knew I needed to be here," she said. "It's destiny. I'm supposed to be here. We all relate to comfort and pain. We hope we're providing comfort. They've had enough pain."

Without the FamilyCARE Women's and Pediatric centers, there would be few options for care, physicians and patients say.

New mom Erika Brown drives from Chandler to seek medical care for her 15-month-old daughter, Akeelah.

"It's essential," said Ms. Brown. "It's necessary, it's for the children. It's a beautiful thing when you can come someplace and your child can be taken care of. She wouldn't come anywhere else and be this happy."

Little Akeelah's sunny demeanor quickly clouds when she sees the syringe tray.

FamilyCARE Pediatrics gave almost 21,000 immunizations in 2007 and maintains an immunization rate of 88 percent of patients between the ages of 19 and 35 months.

That means almost 9 out of 10 children served by the clinic had the recommended number of immunizations.

As of September, the current immunization rate in Texas was 74 percent.

Nationally, the average is 80 percent or eight out of 10.

In spite of the many positives associated with childhood immunizations, Dr. Smith is sensitive to the tears of a child.

"I don't like to stick them with anything," she says, flashing a sympathetic smile. "I like it when the kids don't have to get a shot."

Dr. Smith said she grew up hearing the triumphs and struggles of healthcare from her parents, who work in specialized medicine.

As an adult, she traveled abroad, helping treat patients in Nigeria and Jamaica.

Seeing the ravages of childhood diseases and afflictions rarely found in the United States seemed to affirm her devotion to treating the underserved at home.

She relies on her faith and husband, Benjamin Peart, a healthcare educator with Longview Wellness Center, for strength, comfort and inspiration.

There are easier ways to make a living, but Dr. Smith said she can't envision doing anything else.

"If you are not touched by another person's pain, you need to check your own humanity," she said.