Mercy and CoxHealth compete in many arenas of health care, but when it comes to helping children, Springfield’s two largest health providers agreed to work together.
CoxHealth and Mercy announced a first-of-its-kind partnership Nov. 13, issuing a joint request for proposals for full-service pediatric care.
“There is an air of collaboration in our community, and this is the next evolution,” said Max Buetow, president and CEO of CoxHealth. “We are thrilled with this first step and optimistic about what this means for the future of pediatric patients in our region.”
The idea to collaborate came about more than a year ago as Buetow and David Argueta, president of Mercy Springfield Communities, began talking about the region’s changing health care needs.
“One of the first things we talked about was the need to address the gaps in pediatric care in Springfield,” Argueta said. While both hospitals have strong pediatric programs, neither offers the full range of care.
Mercy and CoxHealth are seeking a partner with experience in specialized pediatric care. Both hospital systems have pediatric units and clinics, but kids and their families can sometimes be sent back and forth if their cases are complex or if they need more specialized care.
“Gaps in coverage mean we have to send patients back and forth between our two hospitals, and sometimes we have to send kids and families out of town for advanced care,” said Dr. John Burson, Regional Service Line Chair for Women and Children at Mercy Springfield Communities.
By teaming up to fill those gaps, CoxHealth and Mercy hope to broaden the range of pediatric care available in Springfield, so patients and their families can get the care they need in southwest Missouri. The partnership could reduce the likelihood of a family traveling to St. Louis, Kansas City, Arkansas or Tulsa for treatments and procedures.
“Our hope is that by working together and by issuing the RFP, we can find a viable solution that transforms pediatric care for our region for generations to come,” Argueta said. “This project is closely tied to both of our missions, and I believe this could be a transformative opportunity for the Springfield region.”
“This has the opportunity to make a significant positive impact,” said Dr. Kofi Asare-Bawuah, medical director for children’s services at CoxHealth. “We’ll be able to take what was already a strong foundation of pediatric care within Springfield and build on it to better meet the needs of kids across the region.”
On Dec. 13, CoxHealth and Mercy will host a public listening session at Jarrett Middle School for people in the Springfield community to ask health care leaders questions regarding the project. The time and other details for the event will be shared at a later date.
