Akron Children’s Hospital begins offering pediatric care in Lorain County

Rendering of the new Akron Children's Health Center, Amherst

12-15-2020 (Akron, Ohio)

Akron Children’s is now providing pediatric primary care in Lorain County and beginning construction on a new health care center to open in about a year.

Thanks to its partnership with Mercy Health – Lorain, Akron Children’s is now serving patients at two locations. The Mercy Health – Lorain Pediatrics office at 3600 Kolbe Road, Suite 209, is now Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Lorain, and the office number is 440-960-6500. The Mercy Health – Oak Point Primary Care and Specialty Care pediatrics office at 5940 Oak Point Road, Suite E, is now Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Amherst, and the number is 440-282-1941.

Pediatricians Rashmi Shekhawat, M.D., and Alba Ortega Close, M.D. will continue to see patients at those locations, and additional Akron Children’s Pediatrics providers will soon join the practices to further enhance the pediatric care offered to area families.

On Jan. 5, the Mercy Health – Oberlin Primary Care pediatrics office at 224 W. Lorain St., Suite 100, in Oberlin will become Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Oberlin, with Dr. Shekhawat planning to see patients there. The number will be 440-775-2250.

Medical records of established patients have already been transferred to Akron Children’s, so families do not need to do anything to continue to receive care. The offices are currently accepting new patients as well. The Akron Children’s Appointment Center can be reached at 330-KID-APPT (543-2778).

In addition to pediatric primary care at the Amherst location, Akron Children’s will provide specialty care. Pediatric cardiology is now available – with gastroenterology, nephrology and neurology starting in January.

This month Akron Children’s also began construction on the new Akron Children’s Health Center, Amherst.

The new 23,000 square-foot Health Center is a $7.5 million project on nearly 4 acres on Cooper Foster Park Road in Amherst. Akron Children’s is working with Cambrad Development on the project with building contractor Adena Corp. MPG Architects designed the building.

Primary and specialty care previously based at the Oak Point Road location will move to the new Health Center once it is complete. The Health Center will also provide an economic boost to the area with around 50 employees and Akron Children’s commitment to work with a local developer and subcontractors.

“This project is the latest enhancement of our partnership with Mercy Health - Lorain and will further improve access to high quality pediatric health care services for families in Lorain County,” said Craig McGhee, chief ambulatory officer for Akron Children’s. “We look forward to welcoming local families to this beautiful new facility.”

Akron Children’s and Mercy Health-Lorain announced their partnership in August. In addition to primary and specialty care, Akron Children’s will provide its extensive expertise in pediatric emergency medical care at Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital. Akron Children’s is expected to begin offering those services in early 2021.