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Modernization Project at St. Mary’s Brings Hope to Children with Special Needs and 420 New Construction Jobs to New York

Innovative Financing and Philanthropic Support Pave the Way for a Brighter Future for New York’s Critically Ill and Injured Children

Plans are underway for the long-awaited modernization of St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, New York City’s first children’s hospital and the flagship facility of New York’s largest provider of post-acute care for children with special needs and life-limiting conditions. The project consists of the modernization of St. Mary’s existing 1950’s era building and construction of a new state-of-the-art patient pavilion. The project is expected to cost $114 million and will create 420 jobs during construction.

St. Mary’s 97-bed inpatient facility in Bayside, NY, provides intensive rehabilitation, specialized medical care, and education to children challenged with catastrophic illness, severe injury, and ongoing complications of premature birth. The modernization project will not add patient beds, but rather will provide much needed additional space for rehabilitation, patient care, education, and family visitation – and bring St. Mary’s further in line with today’s standards for pediatric care.

“We are thrilled that our dream of bringing a new state-of-the-art pavilion to our region’s most remarkable children will soon become a reality,” said Jeffrey Frerichs, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. “At St. Mary’s we are committed to improving the health and quality of life for children with special needs and their families. Our modernization project will transform the lives of the children we serve for generations to come. We are grateful to all of our supporters who have helped us get to this historic point.”

“The pediatric population treated today is drastically different than the children St. Mary’s cared for just two decades ago,” remarked Edwin Simpser, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. “As the number of children with special needs continues to grow, so too does the demand for St. Mary’s unique brand of rehabilitative and medical care. Driven by the higher acuity levels and medical complexity of our kids, we are constantly re-evaluating our focus and services to meet the emerging needs of these young patients. The new patient pavilion will be wholly dedicated to patient care, further enhancing our continuum of pediatric post-acute care from hospital to home.”

Funding for the project in the wake of the nation’s economic downturn is a marriage of innovative financing and philanthropic support. St. Mary’s secured the sale of unrated tax-exempt bonds through a private placement, one of the first times this unique approach has been approved by Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to finance a nonprofit healthcare project. Roosevelt & Cross served as the placement agent for the financing.

Project equity is being raised through philanthropic support from the community, with the launch of the “Building Hope, Restoring Lives” campaign expected to run through 2012. The $12 million Phase One goal has already been obtained ahead of schedule, a testament to the philanthropic community’s commitment to St. Mary’s mission. Lead donors to the project include Cindy and Tod Johnson, Norman Feinberg and an anonymous donor.

Funding was also provided by the New York City Council and the Queens Borough President that will support the information technology infrastructure, including an electronic medical records system that will enhance St. Mary’s continuum of care. “St. Mary’s is a jewel in New York City healthcare, providing an invaluable service to the most fragile among us,” commented NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn. “The City Council is pleased to play a part in the enhancement of patient care and safety for the thousands of children St. Mary’s treats throughout the City of New York and beyond.”

St. Mary’s and its construction manager, Turner Construction, have set an aggressive project schedule with site work beginning in late August and groundbreaking slated for this Fall, with hopes to occupy the new building by the end of 2012.

Designed by renowned architectural firm Anshen and Allen, the goal of the modernization project is to provide a nurturing and healing second home for children whose average stay at St. Mary’s can span a few weeks to several months prior to discharge home, where St. Mary’s home and community programs continue to provide rehabilitation and specialized medical care.

Key highlights will include:
  • Patient Pavilion, a 97-bed state-of-the-art pavilion dedicated to patient care, with expanded rehabilitation space, and community areas to foster healing and growth in a child- and family-friendly environment.
  • Patient Neighborhoods, a home-like environment that blends the best of children’s specialty hospital and home-like amenities for enhanced care–wireless technology for point of care charting, gasses at each bedside, alcoves for wheelchair/equipment storage, an interactive zone for patient/staff interaction, and a great room for informal dining and socialization. Based on best practices and evidence-based research, all four floors are designed the same to optimize efficient, safe care delivery.
  • Family Suites, for overnight visitation and family education and reintegration skills prior to discharge.
  • Rehabilitation Wing, enhanced indoor and outdoor space designed to accommodate multiple modalities of therapy, including state-of-the-art rehab equipment and endless pool for aquatic therapy. Contiguous outdoor space includes beautifully landscaped play areas that focus on different therapeutic goals and promote community reintegration complete with walking track, sidewalks, bus stop, and road signs.
  • Enhanced Education and Classrooms, provides a permanent home and improved educational environment for PS 23Q, St. Mary’s onsite public school.
  • Exterior Entrance that includes a covered portico and ample room to accommodate ambulances, visitors, and community children arriving by bus.
  • Redesigned Parking and Realigned Entrance, including the addition of 58 new parking spaces to reduce on street parking, improved drop off and turnaround designs for cars and deliveries to enhance traffic flow.