Cleveland Clinic Plans to Close Pediatric Inpatient Unit at Hillcrest Hospital Affecting More Than 150 Employees

CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Clinic will close the pediatric inpatient unit at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights effective August 5, 2025, according to information confirmed by Cleveland.com and additional details obtained through an insider tip provided directly to the Cleveland 13 Newsroom. The closure is expected to displace over 150 employees, including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, residents, and medical students.

The decision has raised serious concerns throughout Cleveland’s eastern suburbs, where families are now facing a future with fewer options for inpatient pediatric care. Some of the most affluent communities in Ohio rely on Hillcrest Hospital for local pediatric services.

"Cleveland Clinic has never respected the work we do in Pediatrics," is a common sentiment reported among staff in the department, reflecting years of concern about how pediatric care is prioritized within the institution.

According to internal sources, despite the unit being profitable, Cleveland Clinic executives determined that converting the pediatric inpatient space for adult care would generate greater financial returns. This decision has led to criticism that the organization is prioritizing profits over pediatric healthcare. Once the closure takes effect, pediatric patients requiring care beyond basic observation will have to be transferred to facilities such as University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s or Akron Children’s Hospital.

While Cleveland Clinic executives have tried to reassure staff and the community that patient care will not be impacted, many within the hospital strongly disagree. Employees who helped build Cleveland Clinic’s pediatric program report feeling devastated and blindsided by the announcement.

CEO Tomislav Mihaljevic was informed of the closure plan by the executive team and did not object, according to the insider tip provided to Cleveland 13 News. Some staff members have expressed concern that the move signals a long-term strategy to reduce or eventually eliminate pediatric services across the health system in favor of expanding adult care offerings.

The Cleveland Clinic has not released detailed public statements outlining specific plans for the staff affected by the closure. The medical staff directory for the Hillcrest pediatric inpatient unit includes numerous physicians in pediatric hospital medicine, as well as their clinical teams, all facing uncertainty regarding their positions and future roles within the healthcare system.

The move adds to a growing list of pediatric care reductions throughout Northeast Ohio, leaving many in the community anxious about access to quality care for children. As of now, official details on what services, if any, will remain for pediatric patients at Hillcrest Hospital following the closure remain limited.

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