New Children’s Hospital Opens in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Ala. — Construction on Memphis’ new multimillion-dollar Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children’s Hospital wrapped up in late January. The centerpiece of the new facility, a $14.1 million, 10-room, 17,000-square-foot emergency department, began accepting patients on Jan. 28. The hospital expects to see upwards of 7,300 patients in its first year.

The new children’s hospital offers round the clock emergency services, a pediatric diagnostic area and surgery prep space. It also houses the system’s comprehensive pediatric eye care center, which provides a continuum of care from diagnosis and treatment to surgery and follow up. The hospital’s dedicated parenting center, which will provide a variety of educational and supportive services, will likely open in late March or early April.

Hospital administrators hosted several open house events to introduce the new facility. Attendees were treated to a very different type of hospital interior specifically designed to help children of all ages feel more at ease. For example, the entryway includes a play area featuring stylistic trees, a colorful lighting, a 400-gallon fish tank and engaging artwork and nature-filled photography.

Anita Vaughn, CEO and administrator of the Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children’s Hospital, estimated that since 2001 roughly 65,000 children have been born at Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, to which the new children’s hospital is attached, creating a need for more child-focused care.

“We’ve had so much support,” Vaughn told WREG News on Jan. 26. “I have to say, so many people from our hospital, the community and, of course, the physicians, have all had their hands and hearts engaged in building [the hospital]. The challenge is trying to just get everybody together in a room to make a decision and stick with it, but it’s well worth it.”

ESa of Nashville designed the facility, while Robins & Morton, a Birmingham, Ala.-based construction and engineering firm, managed construction.

Robins & Morton also began work on the new 600,000-square-foot Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in October 2014. That project will provide 217 new patient beds across five stories, making it one of the area’s largest hospitals. Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi will bring more comprehensive medical and surgical services to the area, including the Baptist Cancer Center, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery and an expanded emergency department.