At Stormont Vail Health, caring for the community begins long before a patient arrives. Many employees start their day just steps from the hospital — dropping off their children at Building Blocks, the organization’s trusted on-site child care centers. For more than a generation, these centers have provided families with reliability, continuity, and peace of mind.

As demands on healthcare workers evolved and early-childhood education became increasingly specialized, Stormont Vail recognized the need to sustain and strengthen this essential benefit. To ensure long-term quality and support, the system chose to transition management of its centers to Bright Horizons, a leader in early education and employer-supported child care.

Engaging an experienced child care provider

When Chief People Officer Page Bachman joined Stormont Vail, he found two well-run centers with committed teams and a strong legacy. But he also recognized that operating high-quality early education programs required expertise beyond a healthcare system’s core strengths. “That’s not a core skill set that we have in our health system,” he explained. “I immediately started asking whether there was an opportunity to partner with Bright Horizons because I know what a great job they do.”

Bachman had partnered with Bright Horizons in a previous role and had seen the impact of their model: improved enrollment, accreditation, strong teacher support, and a strengthened benefit for employees. “They delivered exactly what they said they were going to do… staff it up, fill it up with kids, get accreditation,” he recalled. “It was a great transition.”

Supporting the workforce that cares for the community 

In a competitive healthcare labor market, on-site child care is a true differentiator and one of Stormont Vail’s most valued workforce benefits. System Director of Patient Experience Renea Wilson, who has supported Building Blocks for years, sees daily how essential reliable care is for employees across roles.

That consistency, with centers open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., does more than offer convenience; it safeguards patient care. “There’s nothing more stressful than a morning when you wake up and your child care center is closed and you have nowhere for your care,” Wilson said. The effects ripple far beyond one family. “Not having a nurse on site that's expected to care for a few patients can put a lot of stress on other nurses and the system.”

For nurses in particular, balancing emotionally demanding work with family responsibilities, peace of mind is invaluable. “Every nurse gives so much… but first and foremost, we’re always a parent,” Wilson noted. “Knowing somebody is caring for your child in a way that you would is essential.”

A transition built on partnership

As Stormont Vail explored a new management model, leaders focused on preserving what families valued while strengthening the educational experience. Bright Horizons brought a structured transition plan, on-site engagement, licensing expertise, and clear communication with both families and teachers.

“Bright Horizons has this down. They understand licensing, communications. They just handle it all,” Bachman said. Wilson echoed the sentiment: “They’ve been very engaged with team members and families — organized, detailed, efficient.”

Teachers quickly connected with the opportunities ahead — new curriculum resources, professional development, and stronger classroom support. “Each teacher has a different skill set, and Bright Horizons can provide resources and planning to help them grow,” Wilson noted. “That’s what really got them excited.”

With transparent communication and consistent engagement, the center families embraced the change. The transition retained 100% of families and nearly all teachers, and Bright Horizons’ expertise in staffing and ratios will enable the centers to adopt more flexible schedules that better meet the needs of healthcare workers.

Refocusing on the heart of the mission

The shift in management allows Stormont Vail’s leaders to focus on what they do best: delivering exceptional healthcare. Operational details, including licensing, staffing models, curriculum, and regulatory oversight, now rest with a partner whose sole focus is early education.

“Partnering with Bright Horizons allows us to stay more focused on our business — and that’s healthcare,” Wilson said.

Bachman agreed, adding, “My role is to help frontline caregivers do their jobs and make their lives as stress-free as possible. This is a big way.”

An unwavering commitment to families

Today, the centers remain the warm, welcoming spaces families have relied on for decades. Children arrive eager to learn; parents head to work with confidence; and Stormont Vail’s caregivers continue to serve the region knowing their families are in exceptional hands.

The partnership with Bright Horizons builds on a simple belief that has guided Stormont Vail from the beginning: when you support the people who care for others, the entire community benefits.