Construction on pace at St. Mary’s

Construction at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children is well underway.
Children, doctors, staff members and community advocates gathered at the hospital recently to watch the final steel beam of what will be the new patient pavilion put in place, but not before it was autographed by the youth at St. Mary’s.
“Today is a reaffirmation of the commitment that the sisters of St. Mary’s made to children of New York and this country over 140 years ago,” said Stephen Brent Wells, the chairman of the board at St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. “The goal is to help every child realize their unlimited possibilities and through this new building and this new beginning, we are well on our way to accomplishing that.”
St. Mary’s Healthcare System is one of only a handful of organizations around the country that provides intensive rehabilitation, specialized care and education to children with special needs and life-limiting conditions. The new patient pavilion will be a 90,000 square foot facility and house 97 inpatient children. The project cost totaled $117 million dollars. The “topping off” ceremony at the hospital marking 11 months of work, included statements from Dr. Edwin Simpser, executive vice president and chief medical officer; Jeff Frerichs, president and CEO; Stephen Brent Wells and Thomas Kissane, board member and campaign co-chair in charge of fundraising.
“We have been so humbled by the generosity and commitment of the donors that made today possible,” said Frerichs, who stated that one in five children is born with a special health care need. “This new building will allow us to take advantage of all the technological advances that are available for us today and in the future.”
The new patient pavilion is expected to be completed in October of 2012.