In a bittersweet announcement, The Children’s Medical Center Martinsville will be closing its doors on January 1, 2025, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in the community's healthcare history.
For over 55 years, the center has been a cornerstone of pediatric care in Martinsville, providing generations of local families with trusted healthcare services.
The closure comes as a result of unavoidable financial difficulties, making it impossible for the practice to continue operating beyond the end of this year.
The center, which has been a lifeline for countless children and their families, will continue to care for its patients through December 31, 2024.
This announcement is especially difficult for the team at The Children’s Medical Center, who have built lasting relationships with the community and worked tirelessly to meet the health needs of their young patients.
In a statement, Dr. David Seamon, MD, along with physician assistants Laura Rowles, PA-C, and Tammi Hampton, FNP, expressed deep gratitude for the trust and loyalty shown by their patients over the years. “It has been an honor to serve this community for the past 55+ years. We have watched children grow, parents become grandparents, and families thrive in this wonderful community. Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do.”
For many, The Children’s Medical Center has been a dependable partner in their children’s health, providing everything from routine checkups to specialized care.
With the closure of this beloved practice, local families are facing the challenge of finding new providers for their children’s healthcare needs.
As the closure date draws near, patients are being encouraged to take steps to ensure a smooth transition.
The medical center is offering to transfer patient records to other healthcare providers, release them to families, or to a person designated by the patient, with the appropriate permissions.
Families can visit the office during regular business hours to complete the necessary forms to authorize the transfer or release of medical records.
The closure has left many feeling a sense of loss, not only for the healthcare services provided but also for the relationships that were built over decades of care.
The team at The Children’s Medical Center has long been more than just healthcare providers—they’ve been trusted advisors and, in many cases, friends to the families they served.
While the practice’s closure is a result of financial hardship, it speaks to a broader trend affecting small, local healthcare providers.
The increasing financial pressures on medical practices, combined with rising operational costs and changes in healthcare reimbursement rates, have made it difficult for independent practices to survive.
For many, including The Children’s Medical Center, staying open has simply become unsustainable.
The closure of The Children’s Medical Center Martinsville is a poignant reminder of the challenges facing independent businesses in today’s world.
It’s also a testament to the strong sense of community that so many people feel when they think about long-standing local establishments that have been there for them through thick and thin.
For those who have relied on The Children’s Medical Center for their children’s healthcare, the news of the closure is a hard one to swallow. But as Dr. Seamon and his team expressed, the center’s legacy will live on in the hearts of the families they cared for. “We deeply value the relationships we have built over the years. Our time here may be coming to an end, but the memories and connections we’ve made will remain with us always.”
As the Martinsville community bids farewell to this trusted institution, it serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting local businesses, especially those that provide essential services and become an integral part of the fabric of the community.
The Children's Medical Center will be missed, but its impact on Martinsville will never be forgotten.
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