By 1812Blockhouse
Work is set to begin on a significant new healthcare facility in Ontario, one that aims to bring a full spectrum of family-focused medical services together under one roof.
Last last year, OhioHealth and Nationwide Children’s Hospital announced a joint project that will create a 42,000-square-foot outpatient center on West 4th Street. The building will be located on the same site as the existing OhioHealth Ontario Health and Fitness Center, reinforcing the area’s role as a growing hub for healthcare services in north central Ohio.
The goal is straightforward. Make it easier for families to access care without leaving the community.
A Broader Reach for Everyday Care
The new facility will offer a wide range of outpatient services designed to meet needs across all stages of life. OhioHealth will provide adult primary care, obstetrics and gynecology services, and advanced imaging, including a new mammography unit. The expansion reflects a continued emphasis on supporting family health locally, particularly as more care shifts away from hospital settings and into outpatient environments.
“This project represents OhioHealth’s commitment to growing families in the north central region,” said Dr. Curt Gingrich, president of OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. “This expanded relationship will offer more in-depth care for the whole family to meet evolving health care needs closer to where they live and work.”
Expanding Pediatric Access
Nationwide Children’s Hospital will broaden its presence in the region through the new center, consolidating and expanding outpatient services in a single location. Offerings will include pediatric primary care, specialty clinics, clinical therapies, radiology, and laboratory services. The move builds on an existing partnership between the two organizations, which already includes around-the-clock neonatal and pediatric care at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
“This relocation allows us to consolidate and expand our outpatient services to patients and families in Mansfield and Ontario,” said Libbey Hoang, vice president of planning and business development at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “It’s about meeting families where they are.”
Investing in What Already Exists
The project goes beyond new construction. OhioHealth also plans to renovate its current Ontario facility, which has served the community for more than two decades.
The Ontario Health and Fitness Center currently houses urgent care, WorkHealth services, a public fitness center, therapy services, imaging, and primary care. Plans call for the addition of a specialty hub that will bring in a range of specialists tailored to local needs.
“This reinvestment in a 26-year-old facility will improve the patient experience and support future growth in Ontario,” Gingrich said. “As more care moves to outpatient settings, these added services will help keep care close to home.”
A Continued Partnership
The collaboration between OhioHealth and Nationwide Children’s Hospital is not new, but this project marks a deeper integration of services in the region. Pediatric hospitalists from Nationwide Children’s will continue to provide full-time care at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, ensuring continuity for inpatient services while outpatient care expands nearby. Construction on the $38.4 million facility is expected to begin this spring, marking the next step in a long-term investment in healthcare access for families across north central Ohio.
Image by HANSUAN FABREGAS from Pixabay
