PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phoenix Children’s Hospital proudly opened the doors to its new 11-story patient tower today and completed a strategic alliance with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, making it the largest freestanding children’s hospital in the Southwest.
This morning, the tower sported a giant red bow, signifying the hospital’s expansion as a gift to the community. Following a brief ceremony, staff began the transition of pediatric patients from St. Joseph’s to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Approximately 30 patients were transferred by ambulance to become the first to stay and be treated in the tower’s new private patient rooms. Simultaneously, a total of 28 St. Joseph’s pediatric specialists and approximately 300 additional staff became employees of Phoenix Children’s, completing a strategic alliance that unites the two organizations’ pediatric programs into one exceptional pediatric health care delivery system.
Not only does the alliance enhance patient care and facilitate the development of comprehensive programs and regional Centers of Excellence, it strengthens a pediatric hospital, already known for its quality care. Recently, five clinical programs at Phoenix Children’s Hospital were listed in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.
“Arizona needs and deserves a leading provider of complex and specialty care dedicated to children to support the tremendous population growth ahead,” said Robert L. Meyer, President and CEO of Phoenix Children’s. “Today is a remarkable milestone as Phoenix Children’s Hospital stands as a symbol of hope and healing for the children and families of the Southwest.”
In 2006, Meyer recognized the looming pediatric population boom that was facing Arizona, a trend unique to the Southwest; at the time, the Maricopa Association of Governments estimated the number of children in Maricopa County was expected to swell to more than 1.5 million by 2030, compared to about one million then.
The expansion – Phoenix Children’s response to this community need – means the hospital will grow from 345 licensed beds to 465 this summer, ultimately targeting a total of 626 licensed beds at full build-out, which is expected in 2013. The tower features expanded clinic space, state-of-the-art operating rooms, cutting-edge pediatric radiology technology, a new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and a separate Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit to support the hospital’s growing Children’s Heart Center. Three floors remain as “shelled space,” ready for future expansion.
Construction costs for the new tower totaled $370 million, $50 million under original budget. The complete expansion, which also includes renovation of existing buildings and the addition of satellite centers, totals $538 million. The hospital was designed by architects HKS Inc., and the general contractor is Kitchell Corporation. Both were selected for their extensive experience with designing and building healthcare projects.
“Being a part of this project from the very beginning, it’s an honor to see the end product knowing pediatric health care in Arizona has now changed forever,” said David Cottle, Executive Director of Planning, Design and Construction of Phoenix Children’s. “Now it’s time for the medical team of Phoenix Children’s to leave their handprint on the 11-story tower.”
“We cast a bold vision to offer the most comprehensive pediatric care by attracting world-class physicians, conducting innovative research and advancing education and training for clinical providers,” said Meyer. “Today we find ourselves setting a new standard in children’s health care in a setting that’s 100 percent for children.”
About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital, ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals, is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class care in more than 40 pediatric specialties to children from throughout the state and region. Phoenix Children’s expansion has met the needs of the Southwest’s rapid population growth. The signature element of the expansion is a new 11-story, 750,000-square-foot tower which will enable the hospital to grow from 345 licensed beds today to a total of 626 licensed beds once the project is complete. The hospital’s expansion also includes an aggressive physician recruitment effort and new satellite centers in high-growth areas of the Valley. For more information, visit the hospital’s web site at www.phoenixchildrens.com.
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