AFTER WORKING COLLABORATIVELY for more than two years to provide high-quality health care to children and their families throughout the region, Nationwide Children’s Hospital formally assumed ownership of Mercy Health – Children’s Hospital on March 1, marking the conclusion of a months-long transition plan that culminates in the debut of Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Toledo.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Mercy Health – Children’s Hospital became affiliates on January 1, 2020.
“Mercy Health is proud to have partnered with a nationally recognized children’s hospital that shares our vision of advancing pediatric care services throughout the region,” said Bob Baxter, president, Mercy Health – Toledo. “Mercy Health – Children’s Hospital has provided the highest quality care to our community for more than two decades and is now pleased to transition this commitment to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, who will take the lead in providing pediatric expertise and resources to the region.”
Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Toledo remains committed to continuing the legacy developed by Mercy Health – Children’s Hospital in providing compassionate and quality care close to home. By working collaboratively over the past several months, the teams have successfully enhanced pediatric care in strategic ways such as improving urology services, onboarding pediatric ENT providers, and building additional access to pediatric endocrinology.
“Nationwide Children’s Hospital is excited for this next step in advancing pediatric health services for families in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan,” said Rick Miller, chief operating officer of Nationwide Children’s. “We’re building upon a robust history of high-quality, family-centered care at Mercy Health in Toledo and are looking forward to bringing continued support to the community.”
The primary goal is a smooth transition for patients, families, and staff. Families will receive the same high-quality level of care and be able to stay with their current providers. Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Toledo signs will begin to appear on the Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center campus, where the children’s hospital will operate. The colors and butterflies so closely associated with Nationwide Children’s Hospital have already begun to flutter within the building.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital is a nationally recognized pediatric hospital and research center. Consistently named to the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll list of America’s top 10 children’s hospitals, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has more than 1.6 million patient visits annually representing patients from all 50 states and 45 countries in addition to providing more than $191 million in charity care and community benefit services annually.
Working together, the two hospitals successfully advanced subspecialty pediatric physician recruitment, enhanced continuing medical education, and improved care coordination for families in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
