Akron Children’s Hospital
Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio

Care for Newborns and Beyond

Akron Children’s Hospital is the largest pediatric health care system in northeast Ohio. With a staff of more than 4,000, we care for nearly 600,000 patients each year at our hospitals in Akron and Boardman, offering services at 88 locations.

Primary medical care is conveniently available at 18 locations throughout northeast Ohio for infants, children and teens. The experienced, board-certified pediatricians offer routine immunizations, well visits and primary medical care. Many of these Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics offices offer evening and Saturday appointments to accommodate working parents.

Preconception and Prenatal Services

Akron Children’s also offers preconception and prenatal services for women planning a pregnancy, and prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies. These services are especially for mothers and babies:

• Maternal Fetal Medicine: staffed by board-certified perinatologists with advanced training and clinical experience in high-risk pregnancies. We provide basic and specialty maternity care with advanced prenatal diagnosis and treatment, available 24 hours a day to consult with doctors caring for expectant mothers. One of these programs is Maternal Fetal Cardiology in our Heart Center, which provides diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease in unborn babies, one of the more common cardiac conditions affecting infants.
• Genetic Center: assists couples, before or after conception, concerned about their chance of having a baby with a birth defect or genetic condition. Our genetic counselors obtain family and pregnancy histories to provide accurate risk assessments, and explain prenatal testing and interpret results. We supply families with the educational and support services they need, from diagnosis to delivery. 
• D. Gary Benfield, M.D., Regional Fetal Treatment Center: guides families when a genetic condition or birth defect is detected to provide seamless, coordinated care for mother and fetus. The center provides expertise from specialists in pediatric and adult disciplines. Parents-to-be meet with the medical specialists involved in the treatment of their baby’s particular needs.

Newborn Hospital Care

Now in five locations, Akron Children's neonatal team is committed to providing the most effective and efficient care for our tiny patients, as well as providing parents with the emotional and practical support they need.

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: for critically ill or premature infants who require Level III neonatal intensive care. This unit is staffed by neonatologists and professionals who specialize in treating medically fragile infants. From the special environment, which mimics the womb with subdued lighting and noise, to our lactation consultants and Reinberger Family Center, we deliver expert, family-centered care for our smallest patients. Our Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic monitors high-risk infants from birth to two years of age for developmental problems and coordinates appropriate referrals.
• Special Care Nurseries: operated by Akron Children’s staff to care for newborns with less severe developmental problems born at Akron General Medical Center, Summa Akron City Hospital and St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. We also operate a special care nursery in Boardman at our Beeghly campus.

Specialty Care

Our pediatric specialists care for children of all ages and treat a wide range of conditions: Heart Center, Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center and Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, to name a few.

Education and Family Support

Akron Children's  also offer a wealth of information including support groups, classes, online videos, Tips to Grow By®, Family Resource Center, iGrow parenting newsletter, and our free health information phone line Ask Children’s®.