Strategic Plan 2010 - 2014

Expanding Horizons For Every Child. For Every Reason.

For 117 years, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been known not just for our capabilities, but for our character: for medicine that is innovative, compassionate and intelligent. In the process, we have grown from a strong regional children’s hospital to one of America’s best. But with that growth has come a new realization: that simply providing world-class care within the four walls of the hospital is no longer enough.

To achieve our mission of creating a healthier future for every child, for every reason, the hospital must take a much more active role in the community around us. Rather than waiting for children to come to us, we must also go to them. To do so, Nationwide Children’s Hospital is embarking on a new five-year strategic effort: to become an even better pediatric health care and research institute, while also working to turn the Columbus region into a community where children benefit beyond the care they receive on our campus. We will achieve our vision of optimal health by focusing on results across three horizons.

Horizon 1: During Care Ensure best outcomes and experience for every child we treat.

This builds on our traditional pursuit of providing the best care in our clinics and our hospital, and engaging in research to support this endeavor. We have recruited world-class clinicians, researchers and staff in order to provide outstanding clinical care second to none and through this first horizon we will advance these efforts.

Horizon 2: After and Between Care Return our patients to their full potential and optimal quality of life.

We will optimize the health outcomes of patients between and after treatment by using a one team approach to work across boundaries, both within the hospital and the Research Institute and outside our institution. We will increase our focus on monitoring our patients both when they return home and when they move beyond day-to-day care and we will improve developmental outcomes for our chronically ill patients. The research generated from focusing on the lives of children between and after care will not only improve lives in our community, it will improve lives in communities far beyond central Ohio.

Horizon 3: Overall Health Serve as a catalyst and coordinator for the long-term health of all children in our community.

We will capitalize on some of our unique attributes, including one of the largest pediatric Physician Hospital Organizations in the country, an integrated health care delivery system and a network of health care, academic and community partners, to create the highest possible impact with the resources we have. We will redouble our efforts on wellness promotion to help all the children in our community reach their full potential by addressing some of the most pressing public health issues facing the next generation, including obesity and prematurity.

The roadmap to achieve our plan consists of five rays which are the key strategic areas of focus that will help Nationwide Children’s affect change across each of the three horizons.

Wellness Promotion Our wellness promotion strategy will focus on expanding beyond traditional inpatient and outpatient care to address health concerns in our community.

Operational Performance In a challenging health care environment, Nationwide Children’s Hospital will continue to manage operational performance.

Integrated Services We will further integrate patient care, research, education and our family-centered practices as we grow and develop our clinical service lines.

The Research plan builds upon our existing programs in basic, clinical and health services research while focusing investment in selected areas and the hospital’s mission critical areas, including a comprehensive study in prematurity.

Quality, Safety, Service We will distinguish Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a leader in quality, safety and customer service by creating new and innovative outcomes.