Children’s Mercy Announces Leadership Role for its Joint Venture With Mercy Springfield Communities

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Children’s Mercy Announces Leadership Role for its Joint Venture With Mercy Springfield Communities

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Ettie Berneking

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Phone: 417-820-2008

Cell: 573-529-4845

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Children’s Mercy is excited to announce a significant step forward in its commitment to expand access to specialized, pediatric care in Springfield. As part of its joint venture with Mercy Springfield Communities, Children’s Mercy has named Debbie Schwartzkopf, DNP, RN, CPHQ, its Interim Chief Administrative Officer to lead the new partnership.

“Debbie is a respected and trusted leader at Children’s Mercy,” said Amy Fallon, MPH, PhD, President of Regional Operations, Children’s Mercy. “She brings more than 30 years of experience as a nurse and health care leader, with a career spanning Children’s Mercy’s Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery, Fetal Health Center, Quality & Safety, and Ambulatory Services.”

In her new role, Debbie has already begun working closely with the Mercy team.

Debbie Schwartzkopf was named interim chief administrative officer to lead the new partnership between Children's Mercy and Mercy.

“Debbie’s collaborative spirit and strategic insight make her the ideal leader to guide this exciting new chapter,” said John Myers, President, Mercy Springfield Communities. “Her deep understanding of pediatric care and her commitment to partnership will help us build a system that delivers exceptional care to children and families across Southwest Missouri.”

As Children’s Mercy brings its pediatric expertise to Springfield, the joint venture will create a seamless pediatric system of care that strengthens coordination between providers, supports community clinicians and improves access—so more kids can get the specialized care they need, when they need it, close to home.

“I’m honored and energized to lead our shared vision forward, advancing patient care for families in Springfield and beyond,” said Debbie. “Together, we’re not just improving health care, we’re shaping a future that will transform the lives of families who will now know that world-class pediatric care is available right in their own community.”

Beginning in November, Children’s Mercy will provide management for a wide range of hospital-based pediatric services including:

Pediatric Inpatient Care
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Emergency Department (Peds ED)
Pediatric Outpatient Procedures (POPs)
Child Life Services
Pediatric Social Work
Pediatric Respiratory Therapy
Pediatric Physical and Occupational Therapy

Debbie will be one of several Children's Mercy team members to work out of Springfield as the two health systems enhance pediatric care for the region.

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation’s largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 55 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2025 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.