Mercy, CMKC continue developing plan for pediatric partnership

John Myers: Partnership progress was slowed amid a leadership change at CMKC.

CoxHealth stays mum on pediatric center construction timeline

 While Mercy Springfield Communities and Children’s Mercy Kansas City continue to finalize details of their partnership, CoxHealth is amid a construction project to also bring expanded pediatric care to the Queen City. The project was launched, in part, due to a collaboration with Mercy last year not coming to fruition.

CoxHealth officials declined this month to disclose details of the timeline for its pediatric clinic construction at 851 E. Primrose St. and when enhanced pediatric services are expected to begin at the facility.

The Mercy Springfield Communities and CMKC partnership announcement on March 19, 2024, came a day after Mercy ended a previously planned collaboration with CoxHealth announced in November 2023, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. At the time, the two local health systems were searching for a pediatric partner to serve as the third organization in the pact, with plans for a full-service pediatric hospital. In response, CoxHealth officials said they “were surprised” and “greatly disappointed” by Mercy’s decision.

CoxHealth in May 2024 inked a pediatric agreement with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, a division of Barnes-Jewish Hospital parent company BJC HealthCare. CoxHealth’s pediatric partnership envisions the creation of a stand-alone pediatric outpatient center, among other initiatives.

In February, Springfield City Council approved the rezoning of 29 acres of property at 851 E. Primrose St. to a government and institutional use district with a conditional overlay from its original planned development designation, according to past reporting. The measure was requested by CoxHealth to establish a pediatric clinic along with other unspecified future uses, according to council documents.

Rod Schaffer, vice president of facilities management for CoxHealth, told the council in January that the region needs comprehensive pediatric care.

“Our plan is to meet those needs by creating a stand-alone pediatric outpatient center on that site, which will allow families to stay close to home and the care that’s needed,” he said.

CoxHealth spokesperson Beth Woods said May 7 via email that the project is still in the works, noting the health system is “taking the time to do it right.”

“We are committed to expanding children’s services in southwest Missouri – our plan remains unchanged,” Woods said. “We are staying the course and making progress every day. With the dedication, expertise and shared passion of our team and partners, we know we will achieve our vision.”

Last edited 12:45 p.m., May 10, 2025 [Editor's note: The abbreviated organization name in the headline should have been CMKC. It has been corrected.]

Nearly 14 months beyond announcing a pediatric partnership with a Kansas City-based health system, Mercy Springfield Communities officials say the collaboration is still moving ahead. However, details of the ongoing discussions between the local health care provider and Children’s Mercy Kansas City are sparse.

At the time of the March 19 announcement last year, local Mercy executives said a goal was to bring CMKC services and staff to its Queen City campus as soon as possible. A few months later in July, CMKC’s executive vice president and chief strategy and innovation officer Robert W. Steele said during a visit to Springfield that hiring pediatric physician specialists to live and work in Springfield was happening “right now.” 

Mercy Springfield Communities President John Myers declined this month to project a timeline for when CMKC employees will begin local pediatric care.

“We’re excited to share our collaboration with Children’s Mercy Kansas City is progressing well,” he said in a statement provided to Springfield Business Journal. “Children’s Mercy is actively recruiting physicians to join its team to provide much-needed enhanced access to pediatric care for kids right here at home. We’re meeting weekly to ensure the programs and specialties we partner to develop address the immediate needs of families across the region, and we look forward to being able to share more as we finalize details of our partnership.”

The financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

“We knew it would take time to formulate a path forward that is sustainable and meets the immediate needs of our community,” Myers said, answering questions from SBJ via email. “This is a massive undertaking, and we have to get it right the first time.”

He acknowledged that an executive change at CMKC a few months ago slowed the process as the Kansas City company sought its new leader.

Dr. Alejandro Quiroga replaced former CMKC President and CEO Paul Kempinski, who retired in January, according to a news release.

“This ensured their new leader could be involved in the early stages of the process, which we believe has allowed our two teams to become even closer aligned in our strategy to enhance care for kids in the Ozarks,” Myers said.

He added that the partnership “has the potential to transform pediatric care across the Ozarks” when services come online.

“If we do this right, it will mean far fewer kids have to leave Springfield to get the care they need. Our doctors and nurses are excited to see CMKC on-site,” he said, adding as CMKC specialists come to Springfield, they will work on Mercy’s main campus at 1235 E. Cherokee St.

The Kansas City organization didn’t address questions from SBJ this month about how many they plan to hire in Springfield, the types of positions and specialties covered and when the employees will start.

“We are excited to bring world-class pediatric care to the growing needs of patients and families in the Springfield community,” said Amy Fallon, CMKC president of regional operations, via email. “In collaboration with Mercy, we have identified key areas where specialized pediatric care is most needed, and we are engaged in active recruiting efforts.”

Fallon said CMKC continues to meet regularly with Mercy to develop the partnership.

An independent operation in business for over 125 years, CMKC is a separate entity from Mercy Springfield Communities. It was recognized last year as one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals, according to annual rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Children’s Mercy finished first in Missouri and tied for third place in the Midwest region, which includes more than 40 hospitals across 13 states, according to a news release.

CMKC operates a 367-bed, free-standing children’s hospital in Kansas City and more than a dozen health care facilities in Missouri and Kansas, according to its website. It has over 800 pediatric specialists among its nearly 8,900 employees.

“To have the No. 1 pediatric provider in Missouri here on our campus will impact our recruitment and retention, our depth of care and our range of services,” Myers said. “Springfield is already a medical hub for the region, and this will only deepen that.”

When first announcing the partnership, Mercy officials stressed that the arrangement with CMKC is not exclusive. Other health systems will be able to work with the Kansas City organization and refer patients.

“We are still evaluating which operating model will provide the smoothest care pathway for patients, but Mercy and CMKC will remain independent while collaborating on patient care,” Myers said this month. “As they continue to actively recruit, our teams are continuing to work through logistics to ensure patients have a seamless experience.”

Myers said one of the takeaways he heard at a recent leadership meeting with CMKC was excitement for Mercy’s patients, especially those having to travel out of town when their children need care that the local health care system doesn’t currently provide. The partnership will improve access to services, he said, noting a wide range of medical specialties are needed in the community.

“A few of the specialties we know are most in need include gastroenterology, general surgery, neurology, emergency medicine and several others,” he said.

The medical partnership arrives as health care spending in the U.S. increased by 7.5% in 2023 to $4.9 trillion or $14,570 per capita, according to the most recent American Medical Association data. That followed a growth rate of 4.6% in 2022 and, except for the 10.4% rise in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 marked the highest growth rate observed in 20 years.