Overview:
Cincinnati Children’s is expanding collaborations with Akron Children’s and healthcare providers in the United Arab Emirates to enhance pediatric care, aiming to improve access to world-class care for children both locally and globally.
By Barrett J. Brunsman
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
For decades, Cincinnati Children’s has collaborated with health care organizations throughout the United States and abroad – sharing best practices, aligning on treatment protocols and advancing innovations that are based upon the latest research.
This collaborative approach not only enables the nation’s No. 1 ranked pediatric health system to attract and retain world-class talent to our region but also cultivates an unparalleled environment of continuous learning and groundbreaking discoveries that change the outcome for kids both in Cincinnati and around the world.
“Collaboration is in our DNA,” explains Steve Davis, M.D., M.M.M., Cincinnati Children’s president and CEO. “We believe that all children should have access to world-class care, close to their home, and we recognize that by sharing our depth of knowledge and experience through education and advocacy, while also learning from others, we are creating a brighter future for all children.”
This work to improve access to the highest quality pediatric care continues through two recently expanded collaborations:
In Eastern Ohio, Cincinnati Children’s is teaming with Akron Children’s to provide complex care in several medical specialties, including pediatric otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), hepatology (liver disease) and bone marrow transplant.
The two health systems have collaborated for over a decade to care for kidney transplant patients, and now Akron Children’s will provide enhanced care for local patients in other specialties where Cincinnati Children’s excels. Over time, they will explore expanding clinical collaboration based upon the evolving needs of the region and evaluate opportunities to work together in other ways, including research and education.
Chris Gessner, Akron Children’s president and CEO, said, “We are proud to build upon our successful collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s to ensure Akron Children’s patients can receive complex care, close to home. We know how important the relationship is between a patient and their care team, and now our patients in ENT, hepatology and bone marrow transplant will have access to Cincinnati Children’s specialists at Akron Children’s locations.”
In addition, Cincinnati Children’s is expanding relationships globally. For the past 10 years, thousands of children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have received care from Cincinnati Children’s, both in the United States and in the UAE.
Working with Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), the leading health care provider in the United Arab Emirates, and subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest integrated health care network in the Middle East, Cincinnati Children’s has embarked on a six-month assessment of current pediatric services in the region and readiness toward achieving designation as a pediatric “center of excellence.”
Shaista Asif, group chief executive officer of PureHealth, said, “PureHealth is committed to nurturing the future of Abu Dhabi by ensuring our children, the cornerstone of tomorrow, receive the best possible start in life. We remain dedicated to advancing Abu Dhabi’s position as an international leader in specialized health care. This collaboration will enhance our healthcare framework, enabling facilities to elevate their standards and enhance patient outcomes, crafting a healthier, brighter future for our youngest generation.”