TOLEDO, OH (March 1, 2022) – After working collaboratively for more than two years to provide high quality health care to children and their families throughout the region, today Nationwide Children’s Hospital formally assumed ownership of Mercy Health – Children’s Hospital, 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 Jan. 1, 2020. 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.
“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 are 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."
On March 1st the primary goal will be 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.
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About Mercy Health - Toledo
Mercy Health – Toledo is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Locally, Mercy Health is based in Toledo, Ohio, and serves 20 counties in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Mercy Health – Toledo provides comprehensive primary and critical care services to residents and Life Flight critical air transport services. Mercy Health – Children’s Hospital provides expert pediatric care. Mercy College of Ohio, which is sponsored by Mercy Health, provides health care and health science higher education programs and degrees. With approximately 8,800 employees, 400 employed physicians and 2,200 medical staff members, Mercy Health has been part of the Northwest Ohio community it serves for more than 163 years. Consistent with its commitment to serve each patient with dignity, Bon Secours Mercy Health provides nearly $2 million per day in community benefit. The mission of Mercy Health – Toledo is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. Visit mercy.com for additional information.
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2020-21 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric health care systems providing wellness, preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children and adolescents, as well as adult patients with congenital disease. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 13,000 providing state-of-the-art pediatric care during more than 1.6 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.