MOUNT VERNON — Knox Community Hospital and Nationwide Children’s Hospital are expanding access to pediatric care for Knox County, from newborn nursery services to primary care.
Beginning in March 2027, Nationwide Children’s physicians will provide 24/7 on-call coverage and medical direction for Knox Community Hospital’s newborn nursery.
“We’ve always staffed our nursery with our employed pediatricians or pediatricians in the community,” hospital CEO Bruce White told Knox Pages.
“Providing that kind of coverage gets more and more difficult because it’s 24/7/365 coverage for pediatricians to be available.”
White said the community knows and appreciates the quality, name and what Nationwide Children’s brings to the partnership.
“That’s a really nice enhancement for the long-term stability of the program,” he said.
Nationwide has a pediatric practice on Woodlake Trails, Mount Vernon Pediatrics. KCH has a pediatric practice in the Wright Family Medical Pavilion.
The two practices will combine, with Nationwide’s providers moving to the medical pavilion.
“It will be Nationwide Children’s practice, and they will lease the space from us in the Wright Family Medical pavilion,” White said.
Officials expect to complete the transition by spring 2027.
White said that as the hospital explores partnerships, it seeks partners with name recognition and a proven record of quality patient care.
“Partnerships are just another opportunity. No one of us is as strong as all of us, right?” he said.
“So partnerships make a lot of sense. This is a case where I think it’s really a very good thing. I think the community’s going to benefit, and I think they’re going to really appreciate and embrace this kind of partnership with a Nationwide Children’s.”
Enhanced continuity of care
The collaboration will give families more coordinated care and better access to pediatric specialists close to home, a hospital release said.
It will also improve continuity of care from infancy through adolescence and help recruit pediatric physicians. Families will gain easier access to Nationwide Children’s specialists.
White said the goal has always been to ensure exceptional care close to home.
“Nationwide Children’s brings deep pediatric expertise and a broad range of resources. By combining those strengths with the trusted local care families know, we can enhance pediatric services now and create a strong foundation for the future,” he said in the release.
KCH’s family medicine providers will continue caring for pediatric patients. Nationwide Children’s operates a school-based health center in Mount Vernon High School.
“Nationwide Children’s has proudly served families in Mount Vernon and Knox County for many years. We share Knox Community Hospital’s deep commitment to ensuring children have access to specialized care close to home,” Nationwide President and COO Rick Miller said in the release.
“By bringing together our expertise, resources and care teams, we can enhance access to high-quality care from a baby’s first days in the nursery through every stage of childhood.”
