Pediatrician
July 9, 2014

Shortly before this issue of Pediatrician came off the press, we reached our second year here in our new home, The Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children’s Center. Part of a $1 billion-plus hospital construction project completed in May 2012, the building was designed to launch a new era in pediatric medicine—one that would redefine the hospital experience, push the boundaries of biomedical discovery and sustain our tradition of innovation in clinical care. And it would do all this in a more accessible, family-friendly environment. Did we deliver?

Patients and families, our dramatically improved patient-satisfaction scores tell us, love the building’s naturally lit space and design, our original works of art that stimulate the imagination and soothe the mind, and, thanks to noise-reducing innovations, our quieter and more tranquil environment. Says one parent, “I think the building inspires hope and healing.”

Indeed, all single patient rooms have helped bring down our infection rates, new advanced imaging modalities have resulted in more accurate and safer imaging, and our new space has allowed us to implement innovative treatment protocols designed to improve outcomes and reduce lengths of stay. And with ten customized, dedicated pediatric ORs, we’ve been able to attract top surgical candidates nationwide. Across pediatrics, we’ve recruited 16 new faculty members since opening the new building.

Research? Twice the size of our old unit, our new pediatric clinical research unit has allowed us to see, treat and observe more children more efficiently, which in turn has accelerated the rate of our clinical research. Since May 2012 our scientists have won nearly 100 new highly competitive research grants, allowing us to study a wide range of health issues. So, yes, we’re delivering on our promise to patients and their families you refer here. But there’s always more work to do.