An amazing and somewhat bittersweet day as Children’s Hospital moves on… History in the making at 7 a.m. Friday morning

It’s hard to believe, really.

We’ve been hearing about this day for years. This move has been in the works for about a decade or more. But, it’s time. Friday morning – bright and early – the move will begin.

Staff will gather at a command center at Women & Children’s Hospital where a prayer service will be held at 6 a.m. for staff members.  Then, they’ll be off and running.

• At 7 a.m., the first patient will depart. Patients will be moved one-by-one, every 7 to 10 minutes.
• There are approximately 150 to 200 patients to move.
• The most critically ill patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Hematology/Oncology will move first followed by Labor & Delivery and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• All patients will be transported individually with the exception of moms and newborns, they will be transported together.
• Women in labor will not be moved until after the babies are delivered.
• Women & Children’s Hospital on Bryant Street will stay open until 7 a.m. Friday.
• After 7 a.m., children who need emergency care or women who are going into labor should report to the emergency department of Oishei Children’s Hospital.
• The move will take approximately 24 hours.

• Neighbors are asked to avoid about a one-mile radius around both Women & Children’s Hospital and Oishei Children’s Hospital.
• The team has done about a dozen mock moves – and have also planned for challenges, complications and just anything else that could happen.

Children’s Hospital has always been a special place. Two of my girls were born there. And all four have been treated there at some point, including the baby earlier this year for almost a week. The staff members are all professional, caring and wonderful.

The new hospital is an amazing place that will surely provide exceptional care to the women and children in our community. How lucky are we to have such a place.

I can’t even begin to imagine how much work has gone into this move. We are sending loads of prayers and well wishes to all of our friends taking part in the move.