Nationwide Children’s Hospital Opens New Close To Home Center in Athens
Starting this week, Nationwide Children’s Hospital will provide specialized pediatric outpatient care for the Athens community and surrounding areas at a new Close To HomeSM center. The new center that is located in OhioHealth’s O’Bleness medical office building at 26 Hospital Drive in Athens will offer convenient access to care under one roof.
“Our clinicians are always striving to reach our patients and families right where they are, and we are thrilled we get to meet them in their own community,” said Libbey Hoang, vice president of planning and business development at Nationwide Children’s. “In order to continue to bring specialized care to southeast Ohio, we wanted to build on our partnership with Athens, OhioHealth, surrounding communities and partners.”
The Athens Close To HomeSM center will be the first location to offer nurse facilitated telehealth visits for select specialized services. Under this facilitated model of care, a patient and family would arrive at the center for an appointment. While there, a dedicated on-site nurse will check vitals, coordinate lab and imaging services as needed, and facilitate the video connection to a provider at the main campus in Columbus. Telehealth appointments will be scheduled at the discretion of care providers based on the condition and patient needs.
Nationwide Children’s Close To HomeSM centers offer community-based diagnostic and therapeutic services for children in all stages of life, with services varying by location. With the opening of the Zanesville and Athens locations in 2024, Nationwide Children’s operates 24 Close To HomeSM centers. Plans are in development for future locations in Grove City and New Albany in the coming years.
The Athens Close To HomeSM center will operate Monday through Friday and clinics will be held by appointment only. For more information, call (740) 331-6341 or visit NationwideChildrens.org/Athens.
