In July 2021, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital announced a major expansion, including the addition of four floors and a revamp of the ninth floor to offer more useable space. Despite deadlines, shipment delays and the logistics of construction in a busy hospital, the team has not lost sight of what’s most important – the kids and families they serve.
“We try to engage our construction team as a part of the Le Bonheur family,” explained Brandon Edgerson, Le Bonheur’s vice president and COO. “They meet with our team so they’re a part of our culture, and they understand why we do what we do.”
The crews and Le Bonheur teams have worked together seamlessly to choose times of day that will cause the fewest disruptions in patient care areas; the construction team also attends the hospital’s daily safety meetings. This emphasis on communication keeps everyone informed as plans evolve.
This project will expand the hospital’s critical care capacity, most notably for the cardiovascular and neonatal intensive care units. It will also create an 11-bed, step-down cardiac unit and an MRI-guided catheterization lab.
Le Bonheur’s top-tier reputation continues to grow, and making sure the hospital has the space necessary to maintain high-capacity volume while providing high-level care was an immediate need.
“As we looked at our critical care areas, we realized there’s an opportunity to provide those vital units with additional space,” said Edgerson. “Knowing that we’re continually striving to be a premier hospital, we want this space available to families in our region.”
Building in the midst of a global pandemic has slowed down supply chains and shipments for crews all over the world, and Le Bonheur has not been immune to that challenge. But the construction team has also made other adjustments.
“We’ve set up infection-control barriers to isolate the crew from patients,” said Blake Tyler, project manager for Turner Construction Co. “It’s so important to keep immunocompromised kids safe from drywall dust and other debris.”
Along with the additional floors and units, there will be a major staffing impact. Le Bonheur is recruiting to meet these staffing needs, and the job growth is expected to be significant. Once complete, this major undertaking will give Le Bonheur the space and resources to care for even more children in the region.
In March, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held with Le Bonheur staff, patients, families and supporters coming together to celebrate the newly opened ninth-floor space.
As with every project Le Bonheur undertakes, the patients and their families are at the center of each decision. That’s also true for everyone else involved in the expansion.
“On all Le Bonheur projects, my team and I are fortunate to not only do what we love, but also do something with a purpose. I’ve got two children myself, so it’s very near and dear to my heart to help kids in the tri-state area and beyond,” said Tyler. “We’re building something with a higher vision and a higher purpose, which definitely gives us a vision of a bigger impact.”
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital depends on the generosity of friends like you to help us serve 250,000 children each year, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. Every gift helps us improve the lives of children. Click here to donate now.
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital is one of the nation's best children's hospitals, featuring expert physicians and staff, state-of-the-art technology and family-friendly resources. We are also part of the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare group of hospitals.
