ALCOA, Tenn. — There's a one-stop shop for pediatrics now open in Blount County.
The East Tennessee Children's Hospital opened its Blount Outpatient Center on Thursday, putting the well-known Maryville Pediatrics physician's office, urgent care and therapy services under one roof.
ETCH President and CEO Matthew Schaefer said the healthcare system serves thousands of Blount County families every year and this new location gives people the option of a shorter trip to see a doctor.
"Our responsibility at Children's Hospital is not to just stay on Clinch Avenue," Schaefer said. "We have the opportunity to serve families where they live, they work and where they play. And that means more than 20 locations across this region, Children's Hospital is there."
Schaefer said the new office, located in Alcoa, allows the hospital to serve Blount County residents closer to home.
Alcoa City Manager Bruce Applegate said the office is one of several healthcare facilities going into Alcoa's Springbrook Farm area. A University of Tennessee healthcare center has already opened in the area and a Covenant healthcare center is in the works.
"Individuals who are in the area are going to have much closer access to some of the services they need," Applegate said. "I think most of the improvements we are trying to make within the city of Alcoa are really geared around trying to ensure people can stay closer to home for those services instead of trying to drive to Knoxville or elsewhere."