Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

With a new $340-million replacement hospital planned, a broad fundraising effort was initiated in Memphis. To date, nearly $105 million has been raised, making the Le Bonheur campaign the largest in the city's history. Contributions came from all constituencies, including young children who donated pennies through their schools to corporations, which in turn made large contributions to the campaign. Yet it is important to keep in mind that Le Bonheur's reach goes well beyond the Mid-South region. Every year, more than 135,000 children from all 50 states and throughout the world are treated there.

Doing what's right for the kids

In keeping with research that shows patients recover more quickly from illness when cared for in a private room surrounded by family and friends, all patient rooms allow two parents to stay overnight. Even the intensive care unit accommodates family members, allowing them to be part of the healing process.

All diagnostic and treatment services, including a 14-room surgical suite, a two-room hybrid cardiac catheterization laboratory, an interventional radiology suite, and an endoscopy suite, are located in the new building. Keeping in mind the young age and the fragility of the patients, a 3T intraoperative MRI (IMRI) was incorporated into one surgical suite, providing neurosurgeons high-resolution images of the brain before, during, and after surgery. The IMRI moves on a massive overhead beam between an operating room and diagnostic facility so the child never has to leave the operating table. A 320-slice CT scanner, one of the most advanced scanners available, is also part of the latest technology in the new facility. Traditional, older scanners only show a 16-slice view; the new equipment now gives physicians the ability to view 320 cross sections as opposed to the 16 slices.

Prior to the start of construction, Le Bonheur's emergency department was treating approximately 70,000 cases annually-about twice as many as it had been designed to accommodate. The emergency department of the new facility was built to handle expected patient volumes beyond 2014.

On the fast track for families

Work on the new hospital began in February 2008. By May, demolition of the old facility was complete. Patients were moved into the new building in early December 2010. The quick turnaround was due in large part to the use of fast-tracking, an approach that allows construction to begin in anticipation of specific design phases, making necessary adjustments if parameters change along the way.

To make sure the new hospital truly responds to the needs of families, FKP Architects worked closely with the Le Bonheur's Family Partners' Council and Teen Advisory Council. As a result, many family-friendly touches were incorporated throughout the building. It features a mini movie theater that shows films on public release dates, providing family members and recovering patients a chance to chill out. Playroom and family spaces on every floor give parents the opportunity to spend quality time with their child. A family training center provides new parents with the skills they need to care for their children before leaving the hospital.