By 1812Blockhouse
A major healthcare investment is moving forward in Ontario, where officials gathered Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new OhioHealth and Nationwide Children’s medical facility designed to expand access to care for families across north central Ohio.
The $38.4 million project will bring together a broad range of outpatient services, including adult primary care, women’s health, pediatric care, specialty services, therapies, imaging, radiology, and laboratory services. The goal is to help more patients receive high-quality care closer to home, without needing to travel farther for many routine or specialized needs.
Care For Every Stage Of Life
OhioHealth’s portion of the new facility will focus on adult primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, and advanced imaging. That will include the addition of a new mammography unit, strengthening local access to preventive and diagnostic services. The project reflects a larger shift in healthcare, as more services move from hospital campuses into outpatient settings that are easier for patients and families to access.
A Larger Pediatric Presence
Nationwide Children’s Hospital will also expand its regional presence through the new center, consolidating and growing its outpatient services in one location.
The pediatric offerings will include primary care, specialty clinics, clinical therapies, radiology, and laboratory services. The expansion builds on the existing relationship between Nationwide Children’s and OhioHealth, 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.”
Pediatric hospitalists from Nationwide Children’s will continue providing full-time care at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, helping maintain continuity between inpatient and outpatient services.
Reinvesting In Ontario
The new construction is only part of the plan. OhioHealth also intends to renovate its existing Ontario facility, which has served the area for more than two decades.
The Ontario Health and Fitness Center currently includes urgent care, WorkHealth services, a public fitness center, therapy services, imaging, and primary care. Planned improvements include the addition of a specialty hub that will bring in a range of specialists based on local healthcare 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 Long-Term Investment In Access
For Richland County and the surrounding region, the groundbreaking represents more than a new building. It signals a continued investment in local healthcare capacity, with a particular emphasis on family-centered services and easier access to outpatient care.
Construction on the new facility is expected to begin this spring. Once complete, the center will deepen the partnership between OhioHealth and Nationwide Children’s while giving families in Mansfield, Ontario, and across north central Ohio more options for care close to where they live and work.
Source, Photo: Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development
