NC Children’s hospital | Duke, UNC Health join forces to open new children’s hospital in the Triangle

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NC Children’s hospital | Duke, UNC Health join forces to open new children’s hospital in the Triangle

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The Triangle’s two largest healthcare providers will be teaming up to open a new children’s hospital.

UNC Health and Duke Health have partnered on North Carolina Children’s, a newly-formed hospital with 500 beds, a play area, and rehabilitation facilities.

“Faculty from both schools will serve as clinical staff. They will also teach medical students, pediatric residents, fellows, nurses and other healthcare professionals, and they’ll do so in facilities built specifically for children,” said Dr. Craig Albanese, the CEO of Duke University Health System.

The joint venture will operate as a 501c3, as both health systems will transfer all pediatric-related clinical services to North Carolina Children’s Hospital when construction is completed. It is set to be completed in the early 2030s.

“This is a big splash that will ripple out literally for years and years and impact the people in our state and region in ways we can’t even imagine yet,” said Dr. Wesley Burks, the CEO of UNC Health.

While there are children’s hospitals in North Carolina, this will be the first freestanding children’s hospital in the state, as administrators highlighted existing limitations.

“We’re running out of pediatric beds, and there are not enough specialty appointments available to meet the state’s growing population and needs. North Carolina’s current children’s hospitals do not have the ability to build broad-based, highly-specialized pediatric care,” said Dr. Burks.
“The need is real. North Carolina is the most populous state in this nation that does not have a freestanding, independent children’s hospital. There isn’t one between Atlanta and Washington, D.C.,” added Governor Josh Stein.

Officials are reviewing several areas in the Triangle, though an exact location is not expected to be determined until the summer.

“This is truly a remarkable step to tell the nation we recognize that children are different. And we’re doing something about it. We’re doing something about it in behavioral health, we’re doing something about it that is truly unique across the country,” said Rep. Donny Lambeth, a Republican who represents Forsyth County.

The partnership aims to provide a higher volume of highly specialized pediatric care, enabling families from across the state to remain in North Carolina when seeking complex care.

“This means that sick kids often have to transfer within hospitals. Or worse, and often have to leave North Carolina for treatment. This increases the burden on a family already suffering from the stress of having a child with really highly complex medical needs,” said Burks.

The facility is expected to include 70 inpatient behavioral health beds, 70 emergency department bays, and have approximately 3,000 daily staff. Further, plans call for a 250,000 square foot Ambulatory center of Excellence located on a campus of about 100 acres.

“We have a North Star that guides this work. We are doing this because children’s hospitals not only impact lives but truly impact lifetimes,” said Albanese.

“I think it’s wonderful that there’s a focus on children specifically in this facility. The fact that they’re already talking about making sure that behavioral health, child, and adolescence psychiatric services will be combined in the same space and not separated out is important,” explained Dr. Lisa Tyndall, who serves as Associate Director at the Center of Excellence for Integrated Care at the Cary-based Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation.

Albanese noted the two health systems do currently work together on fellowship training programs and subspecialty providers, though this announcement represents a major progression of the relationship. As acknowledged, there are logistical challenges that patients face while seeking simultaneous care at both hospitals.

“The kidney stones were being treated at UNC and the SVT was with Dr. (Angelo) Milazzo at Duke,” said Max Steffey, a Raleigh native.

While he and his family praised the level of care he received at both hospitals, they added the extra work required in navigating two separate systems.

“I had to do a lot to really try to weave our team together to understand all of the symptoms, and how some symptoms might impact the treatment another doctor was doing, or medications,” said Jill Steffey, Max’s mother.

The Steffey’s were in attendance for Monday’s event, grateful for the impact syncing up coverage will have on future patients.

“I was so excited to hear about this combined effort. If we had had this, it wouldn’t have been easier to have a child with an illness, but it would have been a whole lot more comforting,” said Jill Steffey.

“The collaboration is what’s important,” added Max.

The State Legislature has approved a $320 million investment towards the project, with private backing expected to play a major role. Senator President Phil Berger said they will review future requests for funding, as they gain a better understanding of what’s required.

“This is just one of the most remarkable things that I can think of that the state of North Carolina would do. And the fact that we’ve seen folks at Duke and the folks at UNC come together to do this for the state of North Carolina, for the children of North Carolina, not just today’s children, not just today’s state, but tomorrow’s state, this will be something (to the) benefit of the state and our people for decades to come,” said Stein.

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