Children's of Minnesota to Break Ground on Major St. Paul Campus Expansion

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, Minn., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota kicked off its St. Paul campus expansion project and celebrated the organization's largest development plan in its history at a groundbreaking ceremony in St. Paul. The $300 million plan includes both the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses and is the most significant project since opening its doors in 1924.

The campus development plan for Children's -- St. Paul reflects the organization's continuing commitment to children and their families. Planned enhancements and expansion includes enlarged single patient rooms where parents can comfortably stay around the clock with their children; a renovated and expanded emergency room; new operating rooms with enhanced technology and more space; relocation and enhancement of the Pediatric Epilepsy Unit; expanded neonatal services; and a new and distinct Children's entrance. In addition, terraces and rooftop gardens will be added to create green spaces for families and employees.

"This major renovation and expansion at both campuses will help solidify Children's position as one of the finest pediatric hospitals in the nation," said Alan L. Goldbloom, MD, president and CEO of Children's. "The new facility will provide more space, better technology and a family-centered and healing environment that will match the quality of care we continue to provide children and families in our community."

More than 50 percent of the patients served by Children's are critically ill, and many others manage chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Nationally, Children's emergency department is ranked sixth largest for pediatric emergency cases. Children's performs the largest number of pediatric surgeries in the region, with nearly 24,000 performed in 2007. The outcomes in Children's neonatal intensive care units rank among the best in the world for highest survival rates and lowest complications.

Children's high quality of care has been nationally recognized for many years and was recently reinforced by being named to US News & World Report's rankings of America's finest children's hospitals. Children's is ranked among the top eight pediatric hospitals for quality and safety by the respected Leapfrog Group, and is one of only five percent of hospitals nationwide to be named a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a designation that recognizes excellence in nursing.

The existing main hospital facilities in St. Paul and Minneapolis are about 30 years old. Recent renovations and additions include the 2003 renovation of the neonatal intensive care unit in St. Paul (transforming to all private patient rooms) and the 2004 addition of an ambulatory care center in Minneapolis.

Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is the seventh-largest children's health care organization in the U.S., with 332 staffed beds at its two hospital campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis. An independent, not-for- profit health care system, Children's of Minnesota provides care through more than 14,000 inpatient visits and more than 200,000 emergency room and other outpatient visits each year.

SOURCE Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota