Dive Brief:
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, a primary pediatric hospital in Columbus, Ohio, has announced the beginning of a $730 million expansion that will encompass 11 projects.
- A blueprint was revealed Friday indicating the highlights of the expansion will include a new psychiatric hospital, a fourth lab, office space, a new data center, and improvements to existing facilities.
- The massive expansion follows another that was just completed in 2012 for $783 million, which included the new main hospital tower, Columbus Business First noted.
Dive Insight:
The hospital has billed the planned behavioral health pavillion as the cornerstone of its expansion, saying it will be the "most comprehensive facility of its kind nationally." It noted 11% of children ages eight to 11 are estimated to have a mental illness, with the number rising to 22% among teens ages 13 to 18, and that currently only half of these children and teens receive behavioral healthcare.
The facility will be eight stories and will include integrated behavioral health services and outpatient programs, with 48 inpatient beds and space to expand based on future needs. It is set for a winter 2017 groundbreaking and a 2020 opening, with a budget of $158 million.
The hospital said it will fund the expansion through a combination of operations, bonds and a philanthropic campaign and that completion of the full phase 2 mater facilities plan is expected in 2022.
It is expected to create an additional 1,000 jobs by 2019 and 1,000 more by 2024.