Thursday, May 08, 2008
BY DAVID WENNER
Of The Patriot-News
Original Article
Construction on the midstate's only children's hospital is expected to begin at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in January, giving parents a local option instead of having to travel to Philadelphia or Baltimore.
The four-story, 72-bed facility, which officials hope to open by 2012, will replace the children's wing housed on the seventh floor of the main hospital.
In addition to having 18 more beds, rooms will be designed specifically for children and have sleeping space for a parent.
"The bottom line is this is the only children's hospital in the region, and I think everyone agrees we provide state-of-the-art care," Dr. Harold Paz, CEO of the medical center, said Wednesday.
"No one should have to travel to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia or Baltimore to have state-of-the-art facilities," Paz said.
A first-rate children's hospital, combined with the center's LifeLion helicopter services, means local children are minutes away from life-saving care for the most severe illnesses and injuries, Paz said.
The hospital, which will stand next to the new cancer center, is being built so three floors can be added later, officials said.
The center has raised $50 million of the hospital's expected $200 million cost through a fundraising campaign that focused on businesses, corporations and wealthy individuals, officials said.
Officials said the goal is to raise $15 million from the public, including through efforts such as the Penn State Interfraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, known as "Thon."
The center plans to borrow the rest of the money.
Paz said community hospitals lack the volume of pediatric patients needed to justify and support the newest and most specialized treatments and equipment.
Previously, Paz has said he believes the medical center can provide important services without infringing on the role of the region's community hospitals, which he said will continue to be important in providing routine care.
The medical center is also interested in collaborations that enhance community hospitals, he has said.
"You have to have specialized centers like this in every region of the country," Paz said of the planned children's hospital. "That's a responsibility we have, as the only academic medical center in the region, to do these types of things."
