Nemours hospital project on target; Delaware patients soon to see benefits

The expansion of the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington has been under way for the past 15 months and project leaders say their plans are actually right on schedule.

One of the best ranked children’s hospitals in the nation, according to the U.S News and World Report, has an expansion project underway that will feature a healthier environment for families. 

“We’re very delighted about our progress thus far, excited about our future, and we’re building to enhance our needs and our ability to serve children and families of the Delaware Valley,” said C.E.O Kevin Churchwell, MD.

The 415-thousand square foot construction site has many features in the works such as patient care communities — with a number of patient neighborhoods, each with a Team Station. Also there’s a five-story atrium with natural sunlight, Discovery Zone for kids, a serenity room and playroom on every unit plus two t.v’s in every patient room — one for patient and one for family.

“One of the most important things is that we really had the opportunity to bring our families, our children who receive care here as well as our clinicians together to design all the spaces in the building,” said Associate Administrator Kay Holbrook. 

As project leaders build on the legacy of Alfred I. duPont which enabled outstanding care for children for more than 70 years, the community can actually say they feel apart of it due to all of their input. The goal is to create spaces that remind families of the comforts of home.

“We’ve created a place, requested by children mainly, is to have a table in the (hospital) room that they like to go eat more family style at dinner or perhaps to do a puzzle,” added Holbrook.

As far as some exterior features, there will be more emergency room parking and 188 new underground parking spaces. The expansion project will also connect to the existing hospital at each floor.

Completion is expected by 2014 but people can preview the future now by catching daily images on the hospital’s website or call the Expansion Hotline at 1-800-842-1900 to get informed.