For a few months, the fate of the hospital’s Pediatric Unit wasn’t clear. Would the unit close? Move? Be remodeled in its current location?

A pediatric task force, made up of physicians and hospital staff, was given the job of finding the most cost-effective way to provide top quality care to kids in our community who need to be hospitalized.

The group looked into several options, but the final recommendation was to move the pediatric unit from building B to building D (Family Birth Center), and convert 10 beds next to the mother/baby unit into a pediatric unit.

 “Placing the pediatric unit next to an existing unit, instead of in a wing in an entirely different building on the hospital campus, isolated from others, makes sense,” said Andrea Bell, Nurse Manager.

The Salem Hospital Foundation Board of Directors approved spending $145,000 to fund the move, which included the renovations necessary to convert the existing area into a pediatric unit.

Construction was finished in early November, and the unit officially opened on November 7.

“We’re glad the Foundation board agreed with the findings of the task force, and saw the crucial need to have a pediatric unit so that sick kids who need to be in the hospital can stay in our community,” said Bell.

“We are so appreciative of the generous donors who gave, and continue to give, to the Foundation’s pediatric fund so that when projects like this come along, there is money available to make those projects a reality,” said Sherri Partridge, the Foundation’s Annual Giving Officer.

For more information about the pediatric project, or the Salem Hospital Foundation, call 503-561-5576.