Cincinnati Children’s, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital launch collaboration to elevate cardiac care

Cincinnati Children’s and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent are now working together to enhance pediatric cardiology services in the Indianapolis region. This collaboration brings world-class congenital heart surgery and cardiac care closer to home for patients and families in Indiana, including:

• Consultative support – reviewing test results or providing second opinions. 

• Shared decision-making – joint case conferences of surgeons, cardiologists, and other specialists to determine the optimal site of care.

• Integrated care management – virtual care management and surgical planning.

In addition, a new chief cardiothoracic surgeon, recruited by both health systems and employed by Cincinnati Children’s, will be based at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. Patients will receive care in either Indianapolis or Cincinnati, depending on the complexity of the case and the specialists necessary for the best outcome.

Cincinnati Children’s, a nonprofit established in 1883, is a world leader in pediatric and congenital heart care and is ranked the No. 1 pediatric health system in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. 

“Our heart care experts are now working closely with the skilled cardiologists, nurses and staff at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital to ensure that patients and families in Indiana have convenient access to the highest-quality complex heart surgery and cardiology services,” said Steve Davis, MD, president and CEO of Cincinnati Children’s. “With our organizations working together, families can expect world-class care closer to their homes.”

Located about 120 miles from Ohio-based Cincinnati Children’s, Peyton Manning Children’s is on the main campus of Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. Serving Indiana for more than 150 years, Ascension St. Vincent is a nonprofit, faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.

Today, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital provides the highest level of pediatric surgical care, designated as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center. It has one of the largest pediatric cardiology programs in Indiana. Families also are supported by one of the largest neonatal intensive care units in Indiana, and its care teams handle the most complex cases involving babies and mothers through its pediatric Level 4 perinatal center.

“It’s essential that our patients with more complex cardiac conditions, including those with congenital heart issues, have access to the best specialized care,” said Stephan Masoncup, JD, chief strategy officer of Ascension St. Vincent. “The collaboration of Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s will allow for coordinated management of patient care across our organizations, so children throughout our region have access to the level of care they need, when and where they need it.”

At the same time this new collaboration gets underway, Ascension St. Vincent is completing construction on its new Women and Infants Hospital. Set to open in November, its 268,000 square feet of space will be connected to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and offer more advanced pediatric cardiology services for Central Indiana.

“We are thrilled to be working in collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s,” said Dan Parod, president of the Central Region for Ascension St. Vincent. “Combined with a new pediatric cardiovascular ICU, opening soon at the Women and Infants Hospital, we are elevating our heart program at Peyton Manning Children’s to treat even more complex cases right here in Indianapolis.” Established in 2003, the children’s hospital is named for former Indianapolis Colts quarterback and philanthropist Peyton Manning.

Cincinnati Children’s has a long history of collaborating with other healthcare organizations to share best practices and provide exceptional care for patients. That includes the Joint Pediatric and Congenital Heart Program launched in 2017 in collaboration with Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington. The program, now among the top 10 in the country, has brought a range of improvements to pediatric heart patients in Kentucky.

“Collaboration and shared learning are the cornerstone of achieving outstanding outcomes for children with congenital heart disease, which this association with Peyton Manning Children’s will exemplify,” said David Morales, MD, director of cardiothoracic surgery at Cincinnati Children’s and executive co-director of its Heart Institute. “We are fortunate to have the personnel and infrastructure at Cincinnati Children’s to provide innovative procedures, such as complex neonatal and bi-ventricular repairs – including Fontan reversal. We also have world-renowned tracheal, mechanical circulatory support – for example, total artificial heart – and complex multi-organ transplant services.”

Michael Gaies, MD, who is division director of pediatric cardiology at Cincinnati Children’s and executive co-director of its Heart Institute, noted that the health system values innovative collaborations that ensure the latest research breakthroughs are integrated into treatment plans.

“We are committed to clinical research, innovation and education that translates the best available information into individualized care plans for patients and families,” Gaies said. “We want children and families to receive exceptional care that is right for them no matter there they live.”