By Tim Bonfield
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CORRYVILLE - Greater Cincinnati residents know that Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is among the best pediatric hospitals in the world. But its role in the local economy may not be as well-known.

In terms of creating jobs, buying supplies that support other businesses, and bringing research grants to town, Cincinnati Children's has a $1.3 billion annual economic impact, according to a report to be issued today.

The report, the second since 1996, shows that Cincinnati Children's has shown dramatic growth in otherwise rough economic times: employment up 82 percent; spending on buildings and equipment up 322 percent; federal grants for research up eight-fold in 10 years.

"A decade ago, we never talked about ourselves as a growth engine for the region. Only in the past few years has that become apparent," said Jim Anderson, chief executive for Cincinnati Children's.

"People thought of the non-profit sector as somehow not as relevant to the economy as a publicly traded company. A lot has changed in the past decade."

Indeed, the impact of Cincinnati Children's outpaces the $256 million a year credited to the Cincinnati Reds, the $88 million traced to the Cincinnati Zoo, and the $60 million a year cited for the Newport Aquarium combined.

Specifically, the report notes that since 1996:

• The number of direct jobs is 6,433, up from 3,542.

• The number of indirect jobs created is 7,360, up from 2,747.

• Capital spending is $91 million, up from $21 million.

• Non-local grant revenue is $84 million, up from less than $33 million.

The hospital's economic impact study was conducted by the University of Cincinnati Economics Center for Education and Research. The figures for the other organizations come from recent impact studies conducted for them.

Beyond the numbers, the medical staff, researchers, and investment in facilities at Cincinnati Children's directly impacts people's lives. Not just here, but all around the world.

Just last year, patients traveled from all 50 states and more than a dozen countries for care at Cincinnati Children's. The hospital ranks third nationwide in research funding from the National Institutes of Health ($57 million).

At least 10,000 premature babies born in recent years owe their lives to artificial surfactant, a substance developed primarily by experts at Children's Hospital that improves the function of under-formed lungs.

Meanwhile, thousands of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are living better lives thanks to the center's clinical trials on the drug Enbrel.

Others are hoping the hospital finds better ways to control sickle cell anemia. Cincinnati Children's has been researching sickle cell anemia since 1972. Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health gave the hospital a five-year, $9.5 million grant to continue its sickle cell work.

Success can't come too soon for Lisa James, 39, and her 19-year-old daughter Nikkia. Both have sickle cell anemia.

Lisa has been coming to Children's Hospital since she was a toddler. Nikkia has been treated since infancy.

The genetic disease, which affects about 70,000 people nationwide, mostly African-Americans, causes frequent episodes of pain and plays havoc with blood flow, which in turn can cause life-threatening organ damage.

There is no cure but there are better medications now than 20 years ago, Lisa said. And with medical technology advancing so quickly, there is hope for even better treatments to come.

That's why she participates in every study she can at Cincinnati Children's and why she stays in Cincinnati.

In fact, when Lisa's husband was transferred to jobs in Michigan and Atlanta, she and Nikkia didn't move with him so they could stay close to the medical center.

"We are blessed to have the best right here," she said.

Comparing Children's

Economic impacts:

• All Cincinnati hospitals: $7.5 billion

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport: $3.9 billion

• Cincinnati Reds: $256 million

• Fine Arts Fund: $169 million

• Cincinnati Zoo: $88 million

• Newport Aquarium: $60 million

• ATP Tournament: $23 million

(Figures based on economic impact reports issued by those organizations from 1998 through 2003)

Source: UC Economics Center for Education and Research

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E-mail tbonfield@enquirer.com