May 23, 2019
Kansas City, Mo. — The University of Kansas Health System today announced the transition of certain pediatric specialty care providers and clinics from The University of Kansas Health System to Children's Mercy. The anticipated transition date is June 1, 2019. The services transitioning to Children's Mercy are pediatric cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, neurology and nephrology. The transition does not include The University of Kansas Health System's primary care, general pediatric services, pediatric hematology/oncology, behavioral and developmental pediatrics, or cystic fibrosis. Those services will continue to be provided by The University of Kansas Health System.
As two leading healthcare providers, The University of Kansas Hospital, one of the top hospitals in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report, and Children's Mercy, one of the top pediatric hospitals in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report, have collaborated for many years to bring the highest level of pediatric care to this region. The two institutions have teamed up in key areas like pediatric cancer care, as well as in research and academic training. Children's Mercy is the pediatric consortium partner for the National Cancer Institute-designated The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Last year, Children's Mercy neonatologists began working alongside The University of Kansas Health System's neonatologists to provide 24/7 coverage of its neonatal intensive care unit.
Today's transition announcement builds on these many successful and collaborative efforts. Following the transition, pediatric patients will continue to receive care at the same location – 2000 Olathe Boulevard (adjacent to The University of Kansas Hospital's main campus location), Kansas City, Kansas. However, the providers there will then be a part of Children's Mercy.
"This collaboration is wonderful news for all families in our region," said Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, president and CEO of Children's Mercy, "because today's announcement ensures the highest quality of care and the expertise of both systems when necessary through our ongoing relationship. Both hospitals are committed to making this transition as easy as possible for the families and children we serve."
"We have collaborated with Children's Mercy for several years across key areas of our patient services," said Tammy Peterman, MS, RN, FAAN, president of Kansas City division and executive vice president, chief operating officer, and chief nursing officer for The University of Kansas Health System. "This decision is a natural and exciting extension of our relationship as we explore ways our clinical and educational areas can complement each other, while ensuring the patients in our region are getting the best care available anywhere."
Families who need to schedule an appointment at one of the Children's Mercy specialty clinics at The University of Kansas Hospital for cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, neurology or nephrology services should call the Children's Mercy Contact Center at 816-234-3700. Families who already have an appointment scheduled at one of these clinics after May 31, 2019, will not need to do anything. Children's Mercy will work to maintain all appointments as currently scheduled and will contact the patient's family directly if there are any changes.
Families are encouraged to call and check with their insurance company to discuss specific benefits and coverage for services at Children's Mercy. Children's Mercy is included in many insurance plans. Plans that include Children's Mercy are listed at childrensmercy.org/insurance. The Children's Mercy Financial Clearance team, reachable at 816-302-1650, can help families understand individual costs and provide guidance for working with their insurance companies.
About Children's Mercy Kansas City
Founded in 1897, Children's Mercy is one of the nation's top pediatric medical center. With not-for-profit hospitals in Missouri and Kansas, and numerous specialty clinics in both states, Children's Mercy provides the highest level of care for children from birth through the age of 21. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked Children's Mercy as one of America's Best Children's Hospitals. For the fourth time in a row, Children's Mercy has achieved Magnet nursing designation, awarded to fewer than seven percent of all hospitals nationally, for excellence in quality care. Its faculty of more than 700 pediatric subspecialists and researchers across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research and educating the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. Thanks to generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children's Mercy provides medical care to every child who passes through its doors, regardless of a family's ability to pay. For more information about Children's Mercy and its research, visit childrensmercy.org. For breaking news and videos, follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
About The University of Kansas Health System
The University of Kansas Health System is the region's premier academic medical center, providing a full range of care. The hospital is affiliated with the University of Kansas Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions, and their various leading-edge research projects. The constantly growing facility contains 910 licensed beds and serves more than 44,000 inpatients annually. Eight of its medical and surgical specialty areas are ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals, including Cancer (No. 25), Cardiology & Heart Surgery (No. 36), Gastroenterology and GI Surgery (No. 34), Geriatrics (No. 18), Neurology and Neurosurgery (No. 46), Pulmonology (No. 32) and Urology (No. 17). The cancer program is part of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, one of 70 National Cancer Institute-designated centers in the U.S. The hospital has received Magnet nursing designation three times in a row, reflecting the quality of care throughout the hospital, an honor awarded three consecutive times to only 3.7 percent of hospitals nationwide. The hospital also houses the region's only accredited burn center, the area's only nationally accredited Level I Trauma Center and a leading quality transplant program in liver, pancreas, kidney, heart and bone marrow.
For more information, visit kansashealthsystem.com. The University of Kansas Hospital receives no state appropriations and is financed through operating revenue, bonding authority and philanthropy.