On a Quest to Redefine Children’s Health

Nemours Children’s Health: We are asking you to join us

BY MARK MUMFORD

NEMOURS CHILDREN’S HEALTH recently announced the evolution of our name and introduction of a new logo to better reflect the organization’s bold vision of redefining children’s health. We want to create the healthiest generations of children. To do that we must go “beyond medicine,” beyond what we have always been known for—excellence in pediatric medical care—to reach children where they live, learn, and play.

We know that 80 percent of a child’s ability to achieve health occurs outside the doctor’s office, and that there are social, economic, and demographic factors that impact health. These factors, known as social determinants of health, include health equity, food insecurity, housing, homelessness, exposure to violence, racism, and others. We will address these challenges with the same vigor used to treat children with acute and emergent health needs.

By simplifying our name to Nemours Children’s Health, we are creating a unified brand across a five-state health system, which operates two hospitals—including the flagship hospital here in Wilmington, Delaware—a network of nearly 80 primary and specialty care practices, a National Office on Policy & Prevention, a robust international program, and our corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida.

And while our hospital name in Wilmington has changed from Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, our commitment to providing the very best in pediatric care will never change. Our commitment to the legacy of Alfred I. duPont is only growing with our recent announcement of the Alfred I. duPont Campus, which encompasses the hospital, the Nemours Mansion and Gardens, and the iconic Carillon. And, of course, our commitment to our patients and their families will never waver.

In fact, our new logo, The Loop of Care, artfully represents Nemours’ unique approach to patient care and our bright future as an organization dedicated to improving the world in which every child lives. This new brand mark helps to illustrate our ultimate goal of a whole child health model of care, of moving to value, while creating and advocating for a national strategy for children’s health, innovating health delivery system research, and leveraging clinical expertise.

It’s a bold undertaking. And we know we cannot do it alone. These ambitious goals require a multi-stakeholder approach to address our community’s social determinants of health through a holistic approach beyond healthcare, which includes the home, school, and community. We are committed to working with public, private, governmental, and community partners. We are counting on you to partner with us to create the healthiest generations of children.

Mark Mumford is executive vice president and chief executive of the Delaware Valley operations at Nemours Children’s Health.