Toledo, OH – ProMedica and Nationwide Children’s Hospital have announced the termination of their affiliation agreement for the “Toledo for Kids” initiative, following a legal dispute involving Mercy Health.
The partnership, which was intended to enhance pediatric care in the Toledo area, will not move forward due to a breach of contract claim filed by Mercy Health. Mercy, which sold its pediatric assets to Nationwide Children’s several years ago, contends that it was excluded from key negotiations between Nationwide and ProMedica. According to court filings, the two entities entered into an agreement to collaborate on pediatric care without Mercy’s involvement, which Mercy claims violated their existing contract.
In a joint statement issued Thursday, ProMedica and Nationwide Children’s expressed regret over the termination of the collaboration, but emphasized that the dispute had become centered around business and contractual conflicts, rather than the well-being of children in the community.
“Unfortunately, this has become a business conflict over contractual language and not what’s in the best interest of the community’s children,” the statement read. “Neither Nationwide Children’s nor ProMedica will place their business conflicts over the best interests of those we serve.”
Mercy Health, in its legal filings, argued that it was left out of the discussions, which could have serious implications for the care and services available to Toledo’s pediatric patients. Nationwide Children’s, however, maintained in its statement that it made several attempts to involve Mercy in the negotiations, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
The dissolution of the “Toledo for Kids” partnership marks a significant shift in the region’s healthcare landscape, as the aim of the agreement was to strengthen pediatric services and expand access to quality care. With the two organizations parting ways, it remains to be seen how the legal battle will impact ongoing efforts to improve care for children in the Toledo area.
As of now, both ProMedica and Nationwide Children’s have indicated that they remain committed to providing the best possible care for their patients, though the specifics of future collaboration are yet to be determined.