CANTON, Ohio (Oct. 10, 2018) — Akron Children’s Hospital and Aultman Hospital announced today that they will sign a letter of intent for Akron Children’s to operate both the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) practice at Aultman Hospital. The agreement is subject to final approval by the Aultman Health Foundation Board of Directors.

This new agreement expands on the hospitals’ 10-year collaboration that includes the Akron Children’s inpatient pediatric unit at Aultman Hospital and Akron Children’s outpatient subspecialty services on various Aultman campuses. These outpatient services will move to the newly-constructed Akron Children’s Health Center, North Canton located on the Aultman North campus when it opens in March 2019.

Aultman women and children’s services have become a regional focal point for expecting and new mothers, offering the full spectrum of obstetrics and gynecology, neonatal care, maternal fetal medicine and maternity support services for mothers and babies, as well as an obstetrics and gynecology residency to help train future physicians to provide these vital services. By the end of 2018, the Aultman Birth Center will have completed an estimated 2,799 deliveries and 7,333 NICU patient days.

“The Aultman NICU has been providing exceptional care to our community and patients for the past 47 years,” said Chris Remark, CEO of Aultman Hospital. “We are excited to partner with Akron Children’s yet again, continuing to use the strengths of two independent systems to serve two of our community’s most valuable resources – our mothers and our children.”

“This partnership will allow us to further our impact in the Stark, Carroll, Holmes, Wayne and Tuscarawas counties area,” said Grace Wakulchik, Akron Children’s president. “We are committed to offering continued advances in pediatric and maternal care close to home.”

Teams from Aultman and Akron Children’s will work collaboratively to ensure the quality of care is maintained for all patients and professional opportunities are sustained for the staff.

“Many other level III NICUs in the state have partnered with children’s hospitals to help reinforce their women and children’s services,” explained Remark. “Our goal is to remain independent through interdependence and keep these vital level III services right here in our community.”
The hospitals hope to finalize the agreement soon. In the meantime, Aultman will continue to operate both the NICU and the MFM practice without any changes.