WVU Children’s Hospital ribbon cutting set for Saturday

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The 150-bed, nine story WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital will officially open with a Saturday ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. WVU Medicine Chief Administrative Officer, Amy Bush said this facility offers a new level of complete care for the entire family.

“We’re one of 25 hospitals in the country that we call “free-leaning” where we do provide that care for both mom who is expecting and delivering and the child,” Bush said. “But, to have that all under one roof and on one campus is very special.”

The group of specialists, doctors and nurses combined with advanced technology features now bring many procedures and services to the state for the first time ever. The facility features a spa-like birthing center, a dedicated emergency department, cardiac services and a cancer center all surrounded by a design and amenities designed to make families feel at home.

“We want any child who comes to us for help to be able to help them and their families,” Bush said. “We want to ensure they do not have to leave the state or the region to get that health care in a pediatric environment.”

The hospital has a completely independent infrastructure- electricity, boilers and generators. The building has access to two helipads and is physically connected to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, the flagship hospital of the West Virginia University Health System.

“The connector that gets us from one end, Children’s on the east all the way to west end of our campus, we call it a “Beacon of Hope,” it keeps patients and families together,” Bush said.

Now, care is consolidated. Consolidation reduces wait times and conserves valuable time when care becomes critical.

“We have adult and pediatric sub-specialists/surgeons here, so they can work together as a team without getting in their car, without going outside,” Bush said. “They can go back-and-forth between the two hospitals to help one another to ensure the best care.”

The original eight kids who turned the first shovels of dirt for the groundbreaking along with two of WVU Medicine’s Champion Children will cut the ribbon.

“We will start community open house tours from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday,” Bush said. “Community being as far wide as people want to come- bring family and bring friends.”