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The largest expansion and modernization project in Children’s 80-year history is nearly complete. The Children’s - Minneapolis portion of the project includes the renovation of current spaces and the addition of 250,000 square feet to our hospital. We’re pleased to offer a closer look below at some of the new spaces and programs that have been designed to offer patients and their families one of the most unique and effective healing experiences available.

Private Patient Rooms
Cardiovascular Center
Surgery Center
UnitedHealthcare® Pediatric Emergency Department
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal Project
Ronald McDonald House Charities®
Great Clips® Sibling Play Area
Great Clips® Family Resource Center
Geek Squad
Marketplace


Private Patient Rooms

Spacious private patient rooms were designed with input from members of Children’s Youth and Family Advisory Councils and our staff. The resulting spaces are bigger, brighter, and more like home.

They help reduce stress by making it easier for parents to stay with their children and continue family rituals like bedtime stories, snuggling, and helping with homework. They also enhance patient safety by minimizing the need to move patients from room to room.

Room features include:

Pull-out sofas and in-room refrigerators make it easier for families to stay with their child
Flat-panel TVs, with free on-demand movies and video games to provide entertainment and relaxation
Dedicated space for patients, healthcare providers, and families within the room


Take a virtual tour of our private patient rooms
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Cardiovascular Center

Designed to make patient experiences safer and more comfortable, Children’s new cardiovascular center is the only one of its kind in the Upper Midwest to consolidate all inpatient and outpatient services onto one floor.

This consolidation offers greater effectiveness and efficiency in a flexible space that has extra capacity to grow and improve patient care. It is an important advantage for a program that ranks in the top 20 hospitals in the U.S. in pediatric cardiac surgery volumes and performs the most pediatric cardiac procedures in Minnesota.

Other features of the cardiovascular center include:

A large lounge with a kitchen, sitting area, and play space that offers families a calm and comforting environment
A hybrid operating room — one of only a few nationwide — which combines imaging and surgery to minimize patient transport
Integrated technology that links operating rooms, patient rooms, medical records, and radiology images on demand


Read more about Children's Cardiovascular Program
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Surgery Center

Children’s new surgery center was designed specifically to serve the needs of a program that performs more than 24,500 surgical procedures annually — the largest volume in the five-state area.

It features nine large operating rooms and supports a host of new and innovative procedures, including fetal surgery, and programs for vascular anomalies and cleft and craniofacial conditions.

Families benefit from features including private rooms dedicated to provider/family consultations and access to an on-site pharmacy that allows parents and patients to receive their pharmacy teaching inside the surgery center prior to discharge.

The surgery center also includes:

38 combined pre/post-operative rooms that allow families to be with their child before and after surgery without requiring a move
A high-tech communication system that makes it easier for providers to update families
Education rooms that can double as private waiting areas for parents in need of rest or privacy


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UnitedHealthcare Pediatric
Emergency Department

Children’s newly expanded emergency department is designed to reduce wait times and streamline care at the seventh busiest pediatric emergency department in the country and the only trauma center in Minnesota that caters exclusively to the needs of Children.

Twenty-six treatment rooms, a new triage system that speeds diagnosis, and a new, more efficient layout of the emergency department help staff deliver faster, more effective care.

Additional highlights of this Level III trauma center include:

A large, comfortable waiting room that offers privacy and decreases stress
Covered short-term parking and a separate ER entrance, improving ease of access
A separate and enclosed climate-controlled ambulance bay that protects patients from the elements and offers space for multiple emergency vehicles, as well as workspace for EMS providers.
Resuscitation and orthopedic procedure rooms located just inside the bay doors for quicker response


Read more about our emergency department
Take a virtual tour of our emergency department
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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Children’s, recognized annually as one of the top neonatal programs in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” ranking, continues to lead the way in neonatal intensive care with a 44-room NICU, in Minneapolis, featuring private, tranquil and well-equipped patient rooms that support the newborn’s development, improve outcomes and relieve stress on the family.

Caring for more than 1,900 patients annually, Children’s neonatal team has more than 500 members including 19 neonatologists so one is in-house 24/7 on both campuses. The specially trained staff also includes neonatal nurse practitioners, dietitians, nurses, child life specialists, and more.

Our neonatal transport group provides ground and air transport services and is one of only a few teams in the country capable of transporting neonates on nitric oxide therapy and high frequency oscillation therapy, simultaneously.

Dimming lights, sliding glass doors and soundproof ceilings and floor tiles allow the infant to sleep better and grow faster
Comfortable sleeping area and breast pumps in each room make it easy for parents to stay with their baby
Advanced communication system provides efficient response to patient and family needs


Read more about our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
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Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

For those patients who require close observation and specialized care, Children’s offers 24/7 on-site access to 24 board-certified pediatric intensivists in its new 31-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The new PICU features spacious private rooms large enough to accommodate the necessary clinical equipment while fostering an environment of patient and family healing.

Other features of the PICU include:

New technology that allows for care of a full spectrum of pediatric critical illness
Interior windows that allow providers to visually monitor patient from the hallway, avoiding unnecessary disturbance
A home to Children’s Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program — the largest in Minnesota and recognized nationally with the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Award for Excellence in Life Support


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Arts & Healing
and Urban Renewal Project

At Children’s, we are strong believers in the healing power of art. That’s why we’ve integrated art, architecture, and landscape with health care in an innovative program designed to create an inspiring and unique healing experience indoors and out.

Through Children’s Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal Project, the arts — from paintings on the walls to performances in our halls — are an integral part of the new spaces and healing environment at Children’s.

Fast facts about Children’s Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal Project:

Children’s - Minneapolis features 350 pieces of original art by 38 Minnesota artists – all art is funded through our generous donors
A public art display and 23,000 square foot aspen grove and healing garden enhance Children’s urban landscape
Star Studio provides space for live performances and filming of our own “Kids Clubhouse” program
More than 9,000 square feet of rooftop greenery promote sustainability


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Ronald McDonald House Charities

Children’s - Minneapolis is now the home of the largest in-hospital Ronald McDonald House in the country. Through a partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest, the new Ronald McDonald House allows inpatient families to stay close to their loved one, regardless of their home’s proximity to Children’s.

Occupying 8,500 square feet of space, the 16-bedroom Ronald McDonald House is only the fifth such facility in the world located inside a hospital. By fostering a sense of community and offering support for families, it is a critical component of the family centered care and healing environment offered at Children’s.

Ronald McDonald House facts and features:

A true home-away-from-home environment, including a kitchen, living room, laundry facilities, exercise room, and patio
All families of critical care patients in the hospital have access to the living spaces to take a break
No distance requirement for families to use the facilities


Read more about our in-hospital Ronald McDonald House
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Great Clips Sibling Play Area

In 1975, Children’s was the first pediatric hospital in the country to offer a sibling play area in its facility. Today, the new Children’s - Minneapolis is home to an even larger and better equipped space designed to offer siblings a supervised, friendly, and activity-filled place just for them.

The sibling play area gives family members a break with the comfort of knowing that siblings are receiving special attention, and enjoying themselves in a creative environment. From the indoor play area and library to the rooftop garden, it is yet another way that Children’s completes the circle of care for patients and their families.

Children’s sibling play area highlights:

Extensive Children’s library and a quiet place to read
Outdoor play area allows kids to burn off energy
Art area and interactive games offer entertainment and diversion
Children are supervised by child life specialists who understand the needs of siblings at the hospital


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Great Clips Family
Resource Center

Located next to the sibling play area, Children’s newly expanded family resource center offers a quiet, comfortable, soothing environment where patient families can find up-to-date health information, connect with community resources, learn about child safety and development, or simply escape the stress that comes with being in the hospital.

Family Resource Center highlights:

Library of parenting and medical references offer extensive information
Complimentary fax, photocopier, and computer services make research convenient
On-site financial counselors, who are fluent in Spanish, help families with medical and other assistance


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Geek Squad

A partnership with Best Buy has yielded a unique addition to the patient and family experience at Children’s: the world’s first in-hospital Geek Squad precinct.

The precinct makes it easier for patients and their families to stay connected during their hospital stay by offering access to technological expertise and hardware like laptops, printers, and phone chargers. These services help ease the challenges parents face when juggling the demands of their job with their need to be with a sick child.

Geek Squad services include:

Access to Kodak® photo printers to enable families to share important moments
Support with CaringBridge® websites to help loved ones stay in touch
On-site agents capable of addressing questions and issues involving many devices


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Marketplace

Located on the second floor of the new Children’s Specialty Center, Children’s Marketplace offers convenient, one-stop shopping for patients, families, and staff.

From an outpatient pharmacy and an array of personal and health care products to refreshments, including coffee and sandwiches, Children’s Marketplace offers a convenient one-stop shopping experience that saves time and eases stress.

Additional highlights of the Children’s Marketplace include:

A pharmacy that specializes in teaching dosing/medication delivery including compounding prescriptions
Pharmaceutical offerings including pediatric specialty items not found at the local drug store, including an allergy-free section, and a wide variety of medical products to support neonatal patients/families
Jazzman’s Café, which features coffee, deli, and bakery items to go
A gift shop offering a variety of safety and childcare products


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