US-based health systems Cincinnati Children's and Parkview Health have expanded their alliance to improve paediatric healthcare services in Fort Wayne, Indiana and the surrounding region. 

The two entered a letter of intent in this regard. 

Under the proposed expansion plan, Parkview Health will integrate its existing paediatric hospital services, paediatric primary care offerings, and other specialty paediatric services with the expertise of Cincinnati Children's.  

It also includes the potential construction of a dedicated paediatric hospital on the Parkview Regional Medical Center campus.  

Parkview Health president, physician and clinical enterprise Raymond Dusman said: “Our two health systems share excitement of the impact that a new paediatric hospital could have for families located not just in Fort Wayne but also throughout northern Indiana and northwest Ohio.  

“As we define a new vision for paediatric specialty care in the region, we will continue to leverage our existing partnership to enhance quality, helping patients today.” 

The latest initiative builds on the existing decade-long collaboration between the two health systems.  

As the initial step of this partnership, the health systems expanded their telehealth services, providing increased access to specialised paediatric care. 

Families in the Fort Wayne region can now consult with Cincinnati Children's experts in various paediatric specialties, including paediatric neurosurgery, preventive cardiology, drug-resistant epilepsy and rheumatology, without having to travel long distances. 

The two health systems, separated by nearly 180 miles, initially joined forces in 2011 to improve trauma services in the Fort Wayne area.  

Currently, Parkview Health operates a 27-bed paediatric inpatient unit and employs over 20 paediatric specialists.  

These specialists work in conjunction with Cincinnati Children's paediatric subspecialists to provide comprehensive care locally in Fort Wayne. 

Parkview Health's network includes 13 hospitals and a host of primary care and specialty physicians, while Cincinnati Children's operates over 760 registered beds and serves patients from across the 50 US states and numerous other countries. 

In January this year, Parkview Health launched a new full-service hospital, offering inpatient and outpatient care, in Warsaw, Indiana. 

Parkview will integrate its existing paediatric hospital services, primary care, and other specialty services with the expertise of Cincinnati Children's.