Springfield Regional Medical Center hopes by January to spin off its Bright Beginnings Child Care Center to a new operator.

SRMC spokesman Dave Lamb said the organization is “entertaining offers” to lease the facility on the former campus of Mercy Medical Center to an organization that “best meets the needs of children.”

“The intent is to allow us to focus on providing exceptional health care,” he said.

Founded in the 1950s to support then Mercy Medical Center employees with children, Lamb said the facility now “serves children of employees, but not exclusively.”

Mercy Medical Center merged with Community Hospital to form Springfield Regional Medical Center.

Bright Beginnings cares for about 68 children a day, most of them infant, toddlers and preschoolers. It also looks after some older children during school breaks and during the summer.

Requests for proposals to operate the center went out to 28 possible providers.

Lamb said staff and parents have been made aware of the move “and we’ll keep them updated on timing and details. There should be a determination by January.”

Because proposals have just gone out, Lamb said it would be premature to discuss whether the costs of the service would increase for parents. He did say, however, that the medical center would not financially support the facility as it does now.