Akron Children's Hospital operates a major health center in North Canton, Ohio, serving pediatric patients from across Stark County and surrounding areas. If you are looking for a pediatrician, need specialty care for a child's specific condition, require occupational or speech therapy, or need pediatric behavioral health services, this location is one of the primary options for Stark County families. This guide covers the location, services available, how to schedule appointments, insurance accepted, and what to expect as a new patient.
Akron Children's Hospital is the largest pediatric healthcare provider in Northeast Ohio, with over 7,000 employees serving more than half a million children annually. The network includes two hospital campuses (downtown Akron and Beeghly in Boardman), 3 ERs, 5 urgent care facilities, 44 pediatrician offices, and more than 50 primary and specialty care offices — including the significant North Canton Health Center.
Location & Contact
Akron Children's Health Center — North Canton
Timken Foundation Building
6076 Whipple Avenue Northwest, North Canton, OH 44720
Pediatrics Phone: (330) 433-1777
Fax: (330) 305-5001
Main Information Line (Ask Children's): (330) 543-2000 (Mon-Fri 8 AM - 4:30 PM)
A second adjacent facility houses pediatric practices:
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatrics
6046 Whipple Avenue NW, Building B
North Canton, OH 44720
Phone: (330) 433-1777
Hours at the pediatrics location: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (some providers until 6:00 PM), Saturday 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM. Sick visits often have same-day availability — call first thing in the morning for best chance of scheduling. Some specialty services have extended hours or Sunday availability; check with the specific specialty when scheduling.
Services Offered at North Canton
The North Canton Health Center provides full-range pediatric care across multiple service lines:
Primary Care Pediatrics: Well-child visits from birth through age 18, sick visits for acute illnesses, immunizations following current CDC schedules, developmental screenings, school physicals, sports physicals, and chronic condition management (asthma, ADHD, diabetes, etc.). Most Stark County families use this location as their child's primary pediatrician.
Pediatric Specialty Care: Specialists visit North Canton on rotating schedules, covering cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, neurology, orthopedics, and others. Instead of driving to Akron's main campus, many specialty appointments can happen locally. Ask which specialties are currently scheduled at North Canton when you get a referral.
Pediatric Rehabilitative Services: Occupational therapy (for fine motor, sensory, or daily living skill development), physical therapy (for gross motor, gait, or recovery after injury), and speech-language therapy (for speech production, language development, feeding/swallowing). These services require provider referrals but are commonly prescribed for children with developmental delays, injuries, autism spectrum disorder, or speech concerns.
Behavioral Health: Akron Children's has been expanding pediatric mental health services due to increasing need. Behavioral health providers at North Canton can address anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral concerns, and other mental health issues for children and adolescents. For acute psychiatric crises requiring inpatient care, transfer to Akron's main campus Behavioral Health Center may be needed.
Lab & Radiology: On-site lab services handle bloodwork, urinalysis, and other testing ordered by providers. Pediatric radiology (X-rays) can be done locally for minor injuries and routine imaging. Complex imaging (MRI, CT) typically happens at the main Akron campus.
Virtual Visits: Akron Children's offers virtual visits (telehealth) for certain conditions — minor illnesses, follow-ups, behavioral health. This saves travel time for routine care. Not all conditions are appropriate for virtual visits; the scheduling staff will guide you.
How to Schedule Appointments
For pediatrics (new patients): Call (330) 433-1777 to establish care. First well-visits typically schedule within 2-4 weeks. Bring previous medical records, immunization records, insurance card, and photo ID for parent. If your child is coming from another pediatrician, have records transferred ahead of the visit.
For existing patients: Use MyChart (mychart.akronchildrens.org) to schedule routine appointments 24/7. Sick visits require calling the office — same-day availability is often possible if you call first thing in the morning.
For specialty care: Specialty appointments require a primary care referral. Your pediatrician sends the referral; Akron Children's specialty scheduling contacts you. Wait times vary by specialty — some specialties book 2-3 months out.
For rehabilitative services: Occupational, physical, and speech therapy all require provider referrals (usually from your child's pediatrician or specialist). After referral, call to schedule. Many services have daily availability; waits for initial evaluations are typically 2-4 weeks.
For urgent care/after-hours: North Canton does not have an urgent care at this location. For pediatric urgent care, the closest Akron Children's urgent care locations are in Boston Heights or Montrose (Akron). For emergencies, go to any hospital ER — Aultman, Mercy, or Akron Children's main campus.
For General Information
Call Ask Children's at (330) 543-2000 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. This line handles general questions, provider searches, and can direct you to the right department. For medical questions outside of appointments, call your child's provider office directly.
Insurance & Payment
Akron Children's accepts most major insurance plans including Ohio Medicaid (all managed care plans), Medicare for eligible dependents, TRICARE, and commercial insurance plans including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, United Healthcare, Medical Mutual of Ohio, and many others. Verify your specific plan is accepted when scheduling.
For uninsured families, the financial counselors at Akron Children's help handle options including Ohio Medicaid applications (coverage can be retroactive), financial assistance programs, and payment plans. As a large nonprofit healthcare system, Akron Children's has significant financial assistance resources for families who cannot afford full-cost care. Do not delay needed pediatric care due to insurance concerns — contact financial counseling to explore options.
What Makes Akron Children's Different
Unlike adult-focused hospital systems that also treat children, Akron Children's is 100% pediatric. Every provider, every nurse, every piece of equipment is designed for children. This matters for several reasons: providers have extensive pediatric training (not just adult medicine with some children added in), facilities have child-life specialists who help kids cope with medical procedures, medication dosing is pediatric-appropriate, and the environment itself feels less intimidating for young patients.
For Stark County families, having the North Canton location means you do not need to drive to downtown Akron for most routine and many specialty services. The facility is new, well-equipped, and staffed by providers experienced in the full range of pediatric care. This is particularly valuable for children with chronic conditions who need frequent appointments — local access makes consistent care more manageable.