Children's Hospital Los Angeles successfully moves inpatients into new $636 million hospital building

A new era in pediatric and adolescent healthcare began today at Children's Hospital Los Angeles when 191 inpatients were carefully moved into its new 317-bed, $636 million state-of-the-art hospital building. After months of thorough planning, more than 1,200 doctors, nurses and staff safely moved patients - from the tiniest babies in the Newborn & Infant Critical Care Unit to teens battling cancer and heart disease - into what is now one of the nation's premier medical facilities for children. It is anticipated that approximately 250 new jobs will be created as a result of the new hospital.

“It was really cool being the first patient in the new hospital. My new room is so much bigger, and I love that when I look up, I see butterflies on the ceiling. And I heard I can play video games and watch movies on the computer by my bed!”

The landmark event marks a new chapter in the hospital's rich 110-year history of serving the region. Since its humble beginnings in a small house on Castellar Street in what is now Chinatown with its lone physician making house calls on horseback, Children's Hospital Los Angeles has grown to become one of the nation's best and most respected academic and research hospitals.

"For the past year, our entire hospital team has been planning the coordination and synchronization for this tremendous task of moving almost 200 patients in a short period of time," said Richard D. Cordova, FACHE, President and CEO, Children's Hospital Los Angeles. "Thanks to the excellent planning by our wonderful staff, every aspect of the move went smoothly. The only word that comes to mind to describe this achievement is 'proud' - but not for me, for our whole organization."

Hospital staff planned the move down to the minute for each of the 191 patients in order to quickly and efficiently transport them from the existing hospital to the new building. Starting at 7 a.m., doctors and nurses began carefully rolling groups of patients down the hall, including tiny babies in isolettes, delicate patients hooked up to IVs and monitors and parents walking alongside holding their child's stuffed animals. An average of one patient was moved every 2½ minutes with all of the patients in their new rooms by 3:30 p.m. This all took place on the weekend of the 405 Freeway closure 14 miles away dubbed "Carmageddon." Hospital staff affected by the freeway closure made arrangements in advance to stay close to the hospital or drive in early to work, but there was no direct impact on the patient move.

For patient Manny Hernandez, Jr., age 10, from La Verne, Calif., who has been in and out of the hospital all his life—most recently for a month due to an intestinal illness—move day was an exciting change of pace from his typical routine. Surrounding by cheers and celebration from nurses and staff, he was the first patient to move into the new hospital.

"Children's Hospital is my second home, I know all the nurses and everyone here," Hernandez said. "It was really cool being the first patient in the new hospital. My new room is so much bigger, and I love that when I look up, I see butterflies on the ceiling. And I heard I can play video games and watch movies on the computer by my bed!"

Hernandez' father, Manny Sr., works for Rudolph and Sletten, Inc., the construction firm that built the new hospital. Manny's older sister had a heart transplant at the hospital a few years ago, so the family has strong ties to the facility. Manny Sr. even coordinated blood drives with the construction crew and donated all of his overtime pay from working on the project to the hospital as a thank you for all the care provided to his children.

The monumental project was initiated more than a decade ago when civic leaders and hospital administrators identified the need for the new hospital building. With the growth of Los Angeles and patients traveling from throughout the world to seek care from the expert physicians at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, demand for services exceeded the current hospital capacity. The new hospital allows for increased access, expanded patient care services and the ability to recruit new physicians in key specialties.

The new building is named the Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion in honor of the local philanthropists who provided the transformational $50 million gift to the project. The Anderson Pavilion is a beautiful, modern structure that is seven stories tall and 460,000 square feet in size. The renowned firm of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects designed the award-winning building, which was recently recognized with a Community Impact Award from the Los Angeles Business Council.

Nearly all of the new rooms are private and offer a friendly environment for patients and families. Interior building walls and patient rooms are painted in bright colors and feature murals, beautiful flooring and internet access in every room - as well as built-in daybeds for parents. Outside the new building there is a playground that is accessible to kids of all abilities.

In addition to beautiful and thoughtful design, the hospital is equipped with the latest in state-of-the-art medical technology, including pneumatic tube systems, real-time patient monitoring, and the GetWell Network, which allows patients in each room to order food, watch movies, surf the web, follow their treatment and more via a touch screen from their bed. Additional ICU beds in the Anderson Pavilion make Children's Hospital Los Angeles one of the largest providers of pediatric intensive care services for children in California. The Emergency Department has 39 beds and four trauma beds, making it the largest emergency pediatric center in the western United States.

"This is a truly remarkable and joyous day for all of us," said Cordova. "As a community we have designed and constructed the perfect building which is truly a work of art and certainly a precious jewel for the City of Los Angeles."

Source Children's Hospital Los Angeles