Taylor, Komiske: New state-of-the-art Children's Hospital is investment in our city

Chattanooga has become a destination city for tourists and is considered one of the nation's greatest cities to call home. The growing recognition of our city did not occur by chance. It was the result of forward-thinking leadership and a community that created a vision of what Chattanooga could become.

At Erlanger, there is also a vision. This vision supports high quality advanced medicine, results in a significant reinvestment in our facility and technology and creates jobs for the medical center's sustainability for future generations.

A major component of this vision is a new Children's Hospital, including an ambulatory care center for physician offices, diagnostic care and wellness. This will allow our children and grandchildren to continue receiving the exceptional care provided by Erlanger in a state-of-the-art facility.

Consider this:

* The pediatric oncology team today treats more than 90 percent of the children diagnosed with cancer in our region.

* The neonatal ICU is the only one in the region meeting the highest national standards.

* The pediatric surgeons, critical care and emergency physicians, along with a multi-disciplinary team of pediatric subspecialists care for this region's youngest trauma victims.

* Children's craniofacial and thoracic chest reconstruction programs help children who have congenital syndromes look and feel better and gain confidence.

The new state-of-the-art children's facility will house these services and help recruit and retain the best clinical minds.
The current children's hospital is over 40 years old, qualifying as one of the oldest pediatric hospitals in the nation, and needs more than a facelift to accommodate the advancements in medicine. The state-of-the-art children's hospital will provide the proper setting for our children and accommodate parents who want to stay overnight with their child during a time of care and need. The plan provides for about 20 percent additional capacity, and will incorporate the latest technologies and treatment programs, which are ever-changing.

We have designed the hospital with input from physicians, associates, community members, parents and children. They have given us great ideas about the overall design and functionality of public spaces and individual rooms. The Foundation members have also provided invaluable input.

This new vision calls upon our local community to provide philanthropic support. Chattanooga is the great city it is today because of the public and private support for every major project. This is the beginning of our journey. The first phase of this project is a $35 million ambulatory care building for children not requiring overnight hospitalization. More than $6.5 million in community funding has already been raised, plus $11.5 million from Erlanger through a recent bond offering. That leaves an additional - and very achievable - $17 million to launch the first phase of this project.

The second and third phases include an inpatient Children's Hospital, women's hospital and neurosciences center.

Erlanger, the 10th largest public system in the country, has stabilized its finances by becoming more efficient, growing business by reinvesting in technology, in people and in programs and most of all, creating a sustainable vision and plan for the future. Additionally, Erlanger is training future physicians with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. There are 26 pediatric residents and over 125 teaching faculty.

Erlanger could design a visually unappealing generic hospital that will neither enhance the healing process nor help to minimize the fears of children entering the hospital during a very difficult and uncertain time. The difference in cost between an unremarkable and an imaginative hospital setting is minimal. Good, creative design does not have to cost more - but why would anyone from a city that has seen the value of a grand vision ever aspire to anything less?

World-class hospitals are always more than brick and mortar. This is not about wanting a new building. This is about a community wanting and coming together to create a premiere children's hospital which provides the highest level of patient and family-centered care. It is about care that allows families to be with their children throughout their hospital stay. It is about recognizing the needs of our patients, their parents and families during a critical hospital stay. It is about being together, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.