OLATHE MEDICAL CENTER: Stephanie Manning, PR & Marketing Manager 913-791-4311 Stephanie.manning@olathehealth.org CHILDREN’S MERCY: Lisa Augustine, Media Relations Manager 816-302-0197 laugustine@cmh.edu

Children’s Mercy and Olathe Medical Center to Work Together to Expand Pediatric Services in Olathe

OLATHE, KAN. (SEPT. 19, 2016) – Leaders from Children’s Mercy and Olathe Medical Center

have agreed to work together to provide an enhanced level of pediatric services for children in

Southwest Johnson County and the surrounding areas. Planning for the services is still in its early

stages, but most likely will consist of a new facility at Olathe Medical Park (the Olathe Medical

Center Campus) to complement the expansive pediatric primary care network of Olathe Health

System. The new facility is initially expected to offer pediatric urgent care and pediatric specialty

clinics provided by Children’s Mercy.

This announcement comes as a new obstetrics wing is under construction at Olathe Medical

Center. The new Birth Place will include a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and all the latest

technology and amenities for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care.

“We continue to be impressed with Olathe Medical Center’s extraordinary commitment to patient

care and its dedication to bringing the very best in medical services to its community,” said

Randall L. O’Donnell, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Mercy. “We are

delighted by this opportunity to work alongside Olathe Medical to bring additional pediatric

specialty services to the area.”

With hospitals in Kansas City, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas, Children’s Mercy is

consistently ranked as of one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation by US News and World

Report. Children’s Mercy also is one of only a handful of hospitals nationwide to receive Magnet

Designation for excellence in nursing care. Last year, Children’s Mercy treated more than 82,000

area children in its three urgent care centers and saw more than 275,000 patient visits in its

pediatric specialty clinics located throughout the metro area and across Missouri and Kansas.

The planning process will begin in September when the timeline for the project will be set.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Children’s Mercy,” said Frank H. Devocelle,

President/CEO of Olathe Medical Center (OMC). “We completed our initial meetings with a great

deal of confidence in an ongoing working relationship between the two organizations that can

further enhance the care available to young families in our area.”

Across 38 clinic locations, Olathe Health System providers see approximately 450,000 patient

visits annually. Olathe Medical Center was listed by U.S. News and World Report as one of only

137 “Best Regional Hospitals” in America for 2015-2016.

The addition of an increased level of services for children is another step in providing a full

continuum of care at Olathe Medical Park. Recent and upcoming expansions of services on the

campus have included:

1. The new Birth Place. Construction is currently underway at OMC on a 105,000 square

foot addition to the medical center. The new Birth Place will include a Level II Neonatal

Intensive Care Unit and all the latest technology and amenities for labor, delivery,

recovery and postpartum care.

2. Hospice House. The first free-standing hospice house on the Kansas side of the

metropolitan area opened at Olathe Medical Park in late 2014. The need for this service

has proven true as many families have received the much needed support during those

vulnerable last days or weeks of life.

3. Memory Care Neighborhood at Cedar Lake Village. This addition to the senior living

community opened earlier this year to provide a comfortable and safe living environment

for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals at all stages of

dementia and Alzheimer’s can now be cared for at Olathe Medical Park.

4. Expanded Cardiovascular Center. A major expansion of the catheterization lab of Olathe

Medical Center opened in May to allow for very sophisticated treatments of heart rhythm

disorders such as atrial fibrillation.

5. Cancer Center. Construction will begin this fall on a comprehensive cancer center at

Olathe Medical Park. The new facility will provide convenience for individuals and their

supporters to receive as much of their cancer care as possible in one modern, high-tech,

high-comfort location.

“All of these expansions are occurring as part of our mission to meet the healthcare needs of the

people in our service area,” Devocelle said. “We are here to provide quality care at all stages of

life.”

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