Toilets, drinking fountains and anything else kids use is child-sized. Many commercial day care centers require parents to pay for an entire week no matter how many days are used. Middletown Hospital's center allows flexible scheduling, including last-minute changes, and charges only for the time the child actually uses the center. Hospitals that don't offer on-site day care say they can't afford it, can't find the space, can't hire enough day care workers or just don't want to get into the business. When it acquired the Franciscan hospitals last year, Mercy Health Partners inherited an on-site day care that opened years ago at the former Providence Hospital.
Mercy has no plans to expand the concept.
In Fairfield, we decided we needed to help start a program. The Alliance has arranged discounts at several local day care centers, but does not offer on-site day care at its hospitals, said spokeswoman Mimi Smith. We have considered it. The biggest issue is maintaining affordable health benefits. In Middletown, hospital officials say demand for day care has been intense for years.