Officials Break Ground on the UHS Children's Hospital Addition

Ready. Set. Dig. That is exactly what University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina officials and guests did today when they broke ground on the Children’s Hospital addition.
By: Dan Dunlop
 
June 14, 2011 - PRLog -- GREENVILLE, NC – Ready. Set. Dig. That is exactly what University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina officials and guests did today when they broke ground on the Children’s Hospital addition.

The new addition will provide dedicated space to meet the medical needs of the smallest patients and their families – from newly designed patient rooms to pediatric equipment and specially trained staff. This new Children’s Hospital addition is being designed through the eyes of a child to be patient- and family- friendly to support an environment of healing. The project is estimated to be complete in 2013.

“This is great news for every parent, grandparent or loved one of a child in our community and region,” said Dave McRae, CEO of UHS. “These families need and deserve a healing environment that is especially focused on the specific treatment of children’s illnesses.”

The first phase of the project will add 78,000 square feet and will include:

First floor:
·        Lobby area – A welcoming environment for pre-admission and admission testing; also includes a café, gift shop, theater and breastfeeding support rooms.
·        Day/medical space – A nine-bed unit for outpatient services, including the care of children requiring sedation.
·        Radiology department – Services to include ultrasound, radiology, fluoroscopy and other interventions.
·        Ronald McDonald suite – A comfortable retreat where families can enjoy meals, do laundry, shower and relax.
·        Play/therapy yard – Includes swings, a basketball court, climbing structures and picnic tables.

Second floor:
·        Kids Immunosuppressed Special Unit (KISU) – A six-bed controlled environment for children with cancer, blood disorders, sickle cell disease, kidney disorders and other illnesses that compromise the immune system.
·        Convalescent newborn unit – A 21-bed unit, all private rooms, for infants who no longer need critical care.

James and Connie Maynard of Raleigh are donating $9 million to the new Children’s Hospital addition project. A $1.5 million gift will go toward a distinguished professorship in the Department of Pediatrics within the Brody School of Medicine. Maynard is the co-founder and chairman of Investors Management Group, the parent company of Golden Corral Corp.

“Connie and I have been blessed to be able to make this gift, which will benefit children and families of eastern North Carolina. This gift is possible because of the many loyal customers of Golden Corral and the outstanding efforts of Golden Corral associates every day,” Maynard said. “We can think of nothing more worthwhile than helping East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and Pitt County Memorial Hospital continue to excel in providing world-class care to the people of eastern North Carolina.”

Once complete, the new addition will be called the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital.

“Our Children’s Hospital serves the entire eastern third of the state,” said Dr. Ronald Perkin, co-medical director of the Children’s Hospital and chair of the Brody School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. “We have a unique opportunity to expand our Children’s Hospital to embody our philosophy of care, which places children and their families at the center of everything we do. This place will be more than concrete and steel; it will be a place where miracles happen.”  

The UHS Children’s Hospital in Greenville serves children and families from 29 eastern North Carolina counties. It also serves as the teaching hospital for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

“This event is one more representation of a successful partnership between the Brody School of Medicine and the University Health System of Eastern Carolina for more than 30 years,” said Dr. Paul Cunningham, dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “Once again, history is being created here in eastern North Carolina, and for me, the realization of ‘the miracle’ of the most modern health comes to life. This amazing beginning that we celebrate today will touch the lives of countless families in the future, and will open the opportunity for long and productive lives for a multitude of children in our region.”

Other speakers at today’s event included:
·        Steve Lawler, president, Pitt County Memorial Hospital
·        Anna Perry, chaplain, PCMH
·        Joel Butler, president, Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation and University Health Systems Foundation, and
·        Mitch Jones and Mike Steele, co-chairs, UHS Children’s Hospital capital campaign.

UHS Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in eastern North Carolina designed, equipped and staffed to care for children. Children’s Hospital is part of Pitt County Memorial Hospital, the tertiary care center for 1.4 million people living in the health systems’ 29-county service area.  In addition to the Children’s Hospital outpatient volumes, the ECU pediatric outpatient center receives nearly 60,000 patient visits annually, which includes general pediatrics and pediatric subspecialties.  

This project would not be possible without the generous support of businesses and individuals throughout North Carolina. The theme of the UHS Children’s Hospital capital campaign is “Today’s Gift. Tomorrow’s Promise.” It is a time of growth and expansion for Children’s Hospital as work begins on a 78,000-square-foot addition. This addition will ensure that the promise of a brighter future for all children in eastern North Carolina can be achieved.

“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity from the community and region.  Our goal was to raise $17 million, and we are thrilled to say more than $23 million has been raised and allocated to support this special project,” said Mitch Jones, co-chair, UHS Children’s Hospital capital campaign.

“Because of this amazing support, we are excited to be in a position to continue to move forward in our quest to improve health care for the children of eastern North Carolina,” said Mike Steele, co-chair, UHS Children’s Hospital capital campaign.

Special thanks go out to all of the donors to the campaign and to the supporters of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program throughout the years.

James and Connie Maynard are giving $9 million to the addition project. The new addition will bear their name. The Service League of Greenville has committed $1.5 million. The new addition’s lobby will display its name. Ashley Turner has given more than $1.2 million toward the construction of the kids immunosuppressed special unit.

The following are businesses, foundations and organizations that have generously given to the children’s hospital addition project:

$100,000 - $999,999
BB&T
C. Felix Harvey Foundation and the little bank
East Carolina Anesthesia Associates, PLLC
Eastern Radiologists Inc.
First Citizens
Flanders Corporation
Minges Bottling Group
R. A. Bryan Foundation Inc.
The Cannon Foundation Inc.
The Dickson Foundation Inc.
The Golden LEAF Foundation
The Rural Center
Southern Bank Foundation

$10,000 - $99,999
Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc.
Beau's Buddies Cancer Fund
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Heritage Development Council
James J. and Mamie Richardson Perkins Trust
Mildred Sheffield Wells Charitable Trust
R. A. Jeffreys Distributing Company
Russell Charitable Trust
The East Carolina Bank
West Memorial Fund (In memory of S. Eugene and Vivian S. West)
Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation

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University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina
University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina Inc., a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in seven eastern North Carolina hospitals and has a management agreement with one other. UHS includes Albemarle Health, Bertie Memorial Hospital, Chowan Hospital, Duplin General Hospital, Heritage Hospital, Outer Banks Hospital, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, University Home Health and Hospice; ViQuest and physician practices, and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.uhseast.com.
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Source:Dan Dunlop
Email:***@jenningsco.com Email Verified
Zip:27514
Tags:University Health Systems, Children, Hospital
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Location:Chapel Hill - North Carolina - United States
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