Gilbert Doctor expands Sick Child Care concept, plans statewide franchising.

The following post has been recreated from an article written by Angela Gonzales and published in the Phoenix Business Journal on 3-4-11.

Despite the closure of sick child care centers at two Valley hospitals, a Gilbert doctor is venturing into the business and plans to franchise the concept nationally.

Dr. Eric Hampton, founder and medical director of Arizona Prohealth, LLC, opened his second Sick Child Day Care center this week. The first opened in January.

Pro-Kids, Get Well Child Care centers, may be the only facilities in Arizona that meet the needs of working parents whose children become ill, Hampton said.

John C. Lincoln Hospital-Deer Valley closed its Wee Care program two years ago for lack of volume, said Kathy Northrop, director of pediatric services at the hospital.

Chandler Regional Medical Center closed its sick child care facility last June after 12 years of operation, said hospital spokeswoman Danielle LeBlanc. She declined to comment further about Chandler Regional’s Sick Kid Care program.

Hampton said the hospital services struggled because of the relatively low number of sick kids using them. He said his business model is unique in that he created joint venture agreements with existing day care and preschool facilities.

His Pro-Kids, Get Well Child Care centers are located inside the Maxwell Preschool Academies in Mesa and Chandler. The centers accept children ages 6 weeks to 15 years suffering mild to moderate illnesses such as cold, stomach flu, bronchitis, strep throat, pink eye and ear infections.

Hampton said he would like to have five centers open by year end and double or triple that number by the end of 2012.

“The long term goal is to franchise this model,” he said. “We are already investigating options in that respect to take it statewide and continue throughout the Southwest.”

Connect with Angela Gonzales at agonzales@bizjournals.com or on twitter at @AngelaMGonzales.