No. 3: CoxHealth, Mercy make inroads on separate pediatric hospital projects

After a planned pediatric partnership between CoxHealth and Mercy Springfield Communities ended abruptly in 2024, the health care providers each progressed this year on separate collaborations to bring new facilities to town.

An agreement between Mercy and Kansas City-based Children’s Mercy became effective Nov. 1 after the two health systems in August signed a joint operating agreement. As part of the agreement, Children’s Mercy assumed management of Mercy Springfield Communities’ existing pediatric hospital within Mercy Hospital Springfield and its specialty care clinics. A partnership between the two health systems was first announced in March 2024.

On Nov. 19, officials with the health systems jointly unveiled plans for a $30 million pediatric outpatient center that would span 40,000 square feet across two floors. The project site is on currently vacant land that’s part of Mercy’s real estate holdings. The site also includes an orthopedic hospital, rehab facility and newly opened emergency department at U.S. Highway 65 and Evans Road.

Construction is expected to start by year’s end, and the facility, for which Children’s Mercy also will provide leadership oversight, is targeted to open in December 2026.

“As we’ve been exploring the partnership and the needs of the community, one of the things that we want to make sure we do is bring that access to kids close to home – and we want to do that in a way that’s built for kids,” said Debbie Schwartzkopf, interim chief administrative officer who is heading up local efforts for Children’s Mercy, at the Nov. 19 announcement.

Additionally, the project earlier this month received a seven-figure lead donation from the families of Charlie and Mary Beth O’Reilly, David and Stacey O’Reilly, Larry and Anya O’Reilly and Rosalie O’Reilly Wooten. Of the $30 million cost for the pediatric outpatient clinic, $10 million is targeted for fundraising. Several members of the O’Reilly family are serving as honorary co-chairs for the capital campaign.

At CoxHealth, the health system in June formalized a collaboration with St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University Medicine to expand pediatric services in southwest Missouri. The partners plan to build a pediatric hospital within CoxHealth, along with the construction of a comprehensive outpatient center that will include ambulatory surgery, pediatric specialty care, imaging, laboratory services and infusion, as well as physical, speech and occupational therapy offerings. The joint venture plans to break ground on the outpatient facility in 2026 on CoxHealth-owned land at 851 E. Primrose St.

Officials say the partnership opens up CoxHealth to the nationally recognized expertise of St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Washington University School of Medicine and promises to bring more advanced care to children and families in Springfield and the surrounding region. A goal is to reduce the need for families to travel long distances for care. 

In November, CoxHealth and St. Louis Children’s Hospital announced Sarah Becker as vice president and administrator of the new joint venture, dubbed St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth.