UnityPoint Health – Blank Children’s Hospital Opens Cardiology Clinic to Expand Pediatric Care Services

UnityPoint Health – Blank Children’s Hospital is expanding pediatric care services with the opening of a new cardiology clinic, in partnership with Children’s Nebraska’s Criss Heart Center, the region’s leader in pediatric cardiac care.

A trusted leader in pediatric care in Iowa for more than 80 years, Blank Children’s is dedicated to meeting the unique health care needs of children from birth to young adulthood with individualized care and treatment plans centered around the patient and family. Children’s Nebraska’s team of experts provide comprehensive care in cardiology and heart surgery, and Des Moines-based cardiologist Jill Shivapour, MD, will guide patients and their families through their pediatric cardiology diagnosis, treatment plan and follow-up care needs for various congenital heart defects and conditions.

“We are proud to announce the opening of our pediatric cardiology clinic in partnership with Children’s Nebraska,” says Amy Groen, DO, MHA, medical director at Blank Children’s Hospital. “Blank Children’s is a leader in pediatric care with 32 specialty services right here in Central Iowa. We’re happy to bring expert pediatric cardiology care to our patients and families."

Opening in September 2025, the Blank Children’s Cardiology clinic will be located on the Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Blank Children’s Hospital campus at 1206 Pleasant Street, Level 2. The healthcare team is expertly trained to care for infants and children from birth through young adulthood with pediatric cardiology conditions including congenital heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, murmurs, fainting spells and more.

“Children’s Nebraska is excited to partner with Blank Children’s Hospital,” says Jeffrey Delaney, MD, Children’s division chief of pediatric cardiology. “Dr. Shivapour and the team of pediatric cardiologists in Des Moines have a long-standing, excellent practice, and this clinic will optimize access to cardiology care for children in the UnityPoint Health system.”

Blank Children’s Cardiology is a referral only clinic. A primary care provider can determine if a referral to Blank Children’s Cardiology is the next step for their pediatric patient. Common procedures a patient might encounter include electrocardiogram, also known as ECG or EKG, echocardiogram, also known as echo, blood pressure monitoring and Holter monitor.

Blank Children’s Cardiology makes it a priority for patients and their families to feel fully informed about the diagnosis, treatment plan and follow-up care.