Leaders of Genesis Health System in the Quad Cities and University of Iowa Children’s Hospital in Iowa City announced Monday, April 2, that they are now caring for area children in a joint pediatric specialty clinic located in Bettendorf.

Jean Robillard

“University of Iowa Children’s Hospital is committed to creating a system of care for children, connecting families with specialty services, family resources, community providers, support services, and electronic medical records,” says Jean Robillard, M.D., UI vice president for medical affairs. “Our goal is to collaborate with local providers to improve the health of children and families at home, in school, and in the community.”

The services being offered include Pediatric Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Genetics, Nephrology, Neuromuscular, Surgery, and Child Health Specialty Clinics for children with special needs. The specialists are in Suite 500 at the Genesis Health Group offices located at 865 Lincoln Road in Bettendorf.

Genesis and the UI have a successful history of collaboration to serve the health care needs of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Highly skilled UI Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care physicians care for sick and at-risk babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Genesis East Medical Center, Davenport, on a full-time basis.

Vickie Pyevich, M.D, a clinical associate professor in the UI Department of Pediatrics, also provides pediatric cardiology care and treats children diagnosed with lipid disorders on the Genesis East campus.

In addition, Riad Rahhal, M.D. and Judith Heckman, P.A.-C. see patients twice per month in a special pediatric gastroenterology clinic in the Center for Digestive Health in the Genesis Medical Park Gastroenterology Associates P.C., located at 2222 53rd Avenue in Bettendorf.

“This relationship will provide UI Children’s Hospital care close to home in collaboration with their own trusted providers,” says Doug Cropper, president and CEO, Genesis Health System. “Patients and families will have access to highly specialized pediatric care without leaving the Quad Cities.

“This is an exciting partnership and an opportunity for Genesis to join with one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals. And, of course, our youngest patients will benefit from the relationship."

“Our specialists provide pediatric specialty care to communities throughout the state in collaboration with local providers,” explains Thomas Scholz, M.D. interim head of the UI Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief, UI Children’s Hospital. “Relationships with local providers not only improve access to pediatric specialty care for children and their families, but also lead to better health outcomes and lower medical costs.”

Children who require additional care, or more urgent consultation, will receive care at UI Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. To schedule an appointment, call 1-877-891-5350.