Correction appended: A previous version of this article said the new medical center will be inside OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital. The article is updated to say it will be located in the medical office building.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital announced it will open a new medical center on the campus of OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital beginning in November.
The facility, located in the medical office building at 26 Hospital Dr., will provide specialty care for patients who are up to 21 years old. It is a part of the hospital's Close-to-Home Care program and brings nationally-ranked healthcare to the Athens community.
According to a 2023 Athens County Health Report, access to healthcare was identified as one of the top three health needs in the region. The increase in access and diversity of care is what LeeAnn Lucas-Helber, president of OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, hopes Nationwide Children’s will address for the community.
“Access to family-centered health care will become more accessible than ever before as a result of this relationship,” Lucas-Helber wrote in an email. “OhioHealth offers a robust mix of services for the adult population of our community, but we know that parents and caregivers often must travel out of the community if their children require specialty care not offered locally.”
Lucas-Helber said by combining the strengths and resources of the two organizations, Nationwide and O’Bleness are creating a medical hub in southeast Ohio where families can find support for their medical needs and improve the health and well-being of their families.
Although Nationwide Children’s will not provide emergency care, it will bring cardiology, gastroenterology, genetics, pulmonary, urology, pediatric surgery and ear, nose, and throat services. It will also bring the Center for Family Safety and Healing and the Center for Health Weight and Nutrition to the area.
According to a report by the Athens Foundation, Appalachian Ohio has 30% fewer primary care providers, 41% fewer mental health providers and 65% fewer specialty physicians per 100,000 people compared to non-Appalachian Ohio.
As a result, the report found Appalachian Ohio has a 15% higher Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease mortality rate, a 21% higher injury mortality rate, an 8% higher diabetes mortality rate, an 8% higher suicide rate and an 18% higher poisoning mortality rate (including deaths from drug overdoses) compared to non-Appalachian Ohio.
Reports like these help Nationwide Children’s Vice President of Planning and the Close to Home Network Libbey Hoang make informed decisions about what community health needs are.
“We do believe that all children deserve access to high-quality pediatric care and, you know, do everything we can to continue to improve the lives of children living in Ohio,” Hoang said. “Those children include people up to age 21 for the services that we're able to provide there.”
While her focus remains on unveiling the current services, Hoang hasn’t ruled out any additions to the facility or service list.
“We will continually assess the market, continually assess the feedback from the patients and families and from other clinicians in the market, our partners and determine how they continue to meet the need, where we can,” Hoang said.
