Understanding St. Louis Children's at CoxHealth: A Collaboration Expanding Care for Kids

Families across southwest Missouri will soon have access to more pediatric specialty care, near their homes.

St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth, with the support and expertise from WashU Medicine pediatric physicians, is a collaboration that brings highly specialized pediatric care closer to the communities we serve. By combining the trusted local care families know at CoxHealth with the nationally recognized expertise of St. Louis Children’s Hospital and WashU Medicine, we will reduce the need for long trips and keep more care close to home.

Over the past year, our vision has taken shape in two important ways.

In March 2026, St. Louis Children's at CoxHealth opened the region’s largest independently licensed children’s hospital, located inside the walls of Cox South.

In 2027, the collaboration will reach another milestone with the opening of the new St. Louis Children's at CoxHealth Specialty Care Center. This state-of-the-art facility, which includes outpatient care and surgery, is currently under construction on the Cox South campus.

Together, these facilities will create a pediatric care destination designed around the unique needs of children and families throughout southwest Missouri.

One collaboration, two locations

The joint venture known as St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth provides both inpatient and outpatient pediatric care through two locations on the Cox South campus.

The pediatric hospital at Cox South

Earlier this year, St. Louis Children's at CoxHealth opened a dedicated pediatric hospital located inside Cox South. The hospital includes:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
• Inpatient pediatric services

This pediatric hospital is the only independently licensed pediatric hospital in southwest Missouri and allows families to access specialized hospital care closer to home.

The Children’s Specialty Care Center, opening in 2027

The next chapter is already underway.

Construction crews are building the new 133,000-square-foot St. Louis Children's at CoxHealth Specialty Care Center, which will serve as the region's largest dedicated pediatric outpatient facility.

When it opens in 2027, families will find a wide range of services under one roof, including:

• WashU Medicine pediatric specialty clinics
• Pediatric primary care offices
• Pediatric urgent care
• Outpatient surgery
• Infusion services
• Imaging and lab services
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Pharmacy services
• Family support programs

The center is designed to make care more convenient, allowing families to access multiple services in a single location while reducing the need for travel outside the region.

Bringing specialized care closer to home

For many families across southwest Missouri, accessing pediatric specialty care has often required traveling several hours away from home.

St. Louis Children's at CoxHealth is working to change that. Through the collaboration of CoxHealth, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and WashU Medicine, more children will be able to receive advanced pediatric care in Springfield while remaining close to family, school, and support networks.

At its heart, this collaboration is about one goal: ensuring children throughout southwest Missouri have access to exceptional pediatric care without having to leave their community.

Frequently asked questions

What is St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth?

St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth is a joint venture between CoxHealth and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, with the support and expertise of WashU Medicine physicians. The collaboration was created to expand access to pediatric specialty care across southwest Missouri.

Is St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth a hospital?

Yes. The joint venture currently operates an independently licensed pediatric hospital located inside CoxHealth Medical Center South. The hospital opened in March 2026 and includes inpatient pediatrics, the NICU, and the PICU.

What does “hospital within a hospital” mean?

It means the pediatric hospital is physically located inside Cox South but operates as its own independently licensed pediatric hospital. The inpatient pediatric units, NICU, and PICU are part of St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth.

Is the building under construction across Primrose the hospital?

No. The building under construction is the future St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth Specialty Care Center. It is an outpatient facility that will open in 2027. The pediatric hospital is already operating inside Cox South.

What is the Specialty Care Center?

The Specialty Care Center is a 133,000-square-foot outpatient pediatric facility being built on the Cox South campus. It will house pediatrician offices, pediatric specialty clinics, urgent care, therapy services, imaging, surgery, infusion services, and other outpatient programs.

Will the St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth name be used for both locations?

Yes. St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth is the name of the joint venture. The joint venture operates the pediatric hospital inside Cox South today and will also operate the Specialty Care Center when it opens.

Where will inpatient pediatric care be provided?

Inpatient care, including the NICU, PICU, and pediatric inpatient units, will continue to be provided through St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth inside Cox South.

Where will outpatient pediatric specialty care be provided?

Many outpatient pediatric specialty services will be located in the new Specialty Care Center when it opens in 2027. Services are expected to include specialty clinics, therapy services, infusion care, imaging, laboratory services, pediatric urgent care, and outpatient surgery.

Why is this expansion important?

The expansion helps children receive specialized care closer to home. It reduces travel for families, improves access to pediatric specialists, and creates new opportunities to bring nationally recognized pediatric expertise to southwest Missouri.

What is the long-term vision?

The long-term vision is to create a leading pediatric care destination for southwest Missouri, bringing together dedicated inpatient services, advanced outpatient specialty care, and the expertise of St. Louis Children's Hospital and WashU Medicine in one connected system focused on doing what's right for kids.