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Doctors and nurses move 23 premature or critically ill infants from existing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) into hospital’s new $199.5 million pavilion
 LONG BEACH, Calif. – Dec. 22, 2009 – After six years of planning and construction, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach began caring for patients in its new, 124,000 square foot inpatient pavilion on Dec. 22. The first to be cared for in the new space were 23 premature or critically ill babies, who were moved by doctors and nurses from Miller Children’s existing 69-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) into the expanded NICU inside the new pavilion. On Dec. 23, the first surgical cases were successfully performed in the pavilion’s new Pediatric Surgical Center.
More on the Expansion >
“We’re incredibly excited and proud of the new Pavilion at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach,” said Diana Hendel, CEO of Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach and Long Beach Memorial. “For more than 38 years, our children’s hospital has been a pillar of this community, healing our children when they are sick and providing many families with a healthy and hopeful future. We are deeply committed to continuing to serve the Long Beach community by offering an environmentally-friendly and modern care facility that exists to improve the lives of children for generations to come.”
At a time when the state has lost nearly 800 pediatric beds over the last decade, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach is continuing to invest to meet the immediate needs of pediatric patients throughout Southern California. In addition to a family resource center, playrooms, conference space and a sanctuary, the new Pavilion houses:
The Henry L. Guenther Foundation Pediatric Surgical Center, which includes seven state-of-the-art operating rooms and many features designed to increase comfort and reduce stress for both patients and their families. From complex surgeries to routine operations, the surgery center is well-equipped to handle virtually any pediatric surgical need.
An easily accessible Pediatric Imaging Center for quick outpatient radiology studies, which is centrally located to accommodate inpatient and emergency department needs. The center includes dedicated X-ray rooms, radiography and fluoroscopy rooms, ultrasound rooms and dressing rooms with baby changing tables.
A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit specially designed with the quiet, comforting environment of the womb in mind. Each infant is cared for in his or her own three-walled bay, reducing noise levels. Overnight family sleep rooms and a Family Lounge, just steps away from the unit, give parents and family members the opportunity to relax, eat, watch TV, do laundry or check e-mail while visiting their baby.
Throughout the entire construction process, Miller Children’s took tremendous strides toward not only promoting a healing environment for children, but also creating a green environment that positively impacts the planet. The new Pavilion features high-efficiency lighting systems, enabling the hospital to use more direct sunlight and rely less upon florescent lighting. In addition, materials such as carpet from recycled content and linoleum floors from all-natural products are featured throughout.
Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach received $74 million for the new Pavilion as a result of the passage of California’s Proposition 61 in November 2004, which all eight free-standing children’s hospitals in the state of California received. Additional funding of $98 million was obtained from the passage of Proposition 3 in November 2008. The final $24 million was acquired as a result of the capital fundraising campaign spearheaded by the Memorial Medical Center Foundation. Miller Children’s was also the first and only non-profit hospital to receive Brownfield Grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their greening efforts. Further funding was made possible through philanthropy and hospital operations.
About Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach:
Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults, with conditions ranging from common to complex—as well as maternity care for expectant mothers—all under one roof. Only 5 percent of all hospitals are children’s hospitals, making them unique not only to children’s health care needs in the community, but across the region. Miller Children’s is one of only eight free-standing children’s hospitals in California.
 Dina Gonzalez, RN, checks on Rashad, one of the newest patients of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Miller Children’s new inpatient pavilion.
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