ACH Takes Over Pediatrics at St. Joseph Warren

WARREN, Ohio — Akron Children’s Hospital has taken over operation of the pediatric unit at Mercy Health Youngstown’s St. Joseph Warren Hospital.

Akron Children’s assumed pediatric operations at 8 a.m. Tuesday, ACH spokeswoman Annie Sofran says. The two hospitals signed an agreement last spring for Akron Children’s to operate the five-bed pediatric unit as well as a six-bed special care nursery, which will open later this year.

“We are working hard to bring together the best of both organizations and to integrate quality monitoring and performance improvement programs to enhance the care of our young patients,” says Dr. Elena Rossi, neonatologist and associate chair of pediatrics for Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley in Boardman.

Plans for St. Joseph Warren include adding a Level II special care nursery. This type of nursery is able to care for babies born up to 8 weeks premature (at or greater than 32 weeks gestation), who weigh at least 3 pounds and who are physiologically immature, such as those who have breathing problems or are unable to feed orally.

ACH also operates the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital in Boardman, which like St. Joseph is affiliated with Mercy Health Youngstown. It also operates pediatric units at Aultman Hospital in Canton and East Liverpool City Hospital in East Liverpool. The children’s hospital recently opened an outpatient pediatric subspecialty care office at 5000 E. Market St. in Warren that offers cardiology, urology, neurology, orthopedics, EKG, lab and radiology services.

“We recognize the need to bring Akron Children’s pediatric expertise closer to where our families live, and we are pleased to partner with St. Joseph Warren to provide this care,” says Shawn Lyden, ACH executive vice president. “This will allow us another way to fulfill our promise to care for all children as we would our own and to work tirelessly, so all children can reach their full potential.”

Source: Akron Children’s Hospital

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.