PLANO EXPANSION
AN UPDATE ON THE 8-STORY TOWER EXPANSION AT CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER PLANO
In 2021, Children’s Health℠ launched one of the most significant initiatives in our hospital’s history — the Plano campus expansion. Philanthropic support fused with passionate advocacy garnered major buzz surrounding the potential ability to reach and serve the rapidly increasing pediatric population north of Dallas and their growing needs. With this milestone project well in progress, momentum is at an all-time high.
The new eight-story, 395,000-square-foot tower housing expanded specialty care programs, support services, an amenities center and much more is now visible from miles away and is on schedule to begin benefitting patient families in 2024. In the meantime, philanthropy has already furthered our ability to accommodate and care for the growing pediatric population through program support and enhancements, new equipment and technology, education and training, and improved access to care.
As we continue to anticipate the growing needs of the pediatric population today and for decades to come, support of the Children’s Medical Center Plano expansion has and will continue to allow us to embark on a path of significant growth, ensuring our legacy of providing the best pediatric health care for all children and families continues long into the future.
HOW WE’RE ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH IN PLANO
It is estimated that approximately 750,000 out of the more than 2 million children and teens across North Texas have a mental health need, a recent drastic increase. Children’s Health is addressing this on several fronts, from implementing and enhancing mental health programs to increasing access with telehealth to training current and new care providers, all of which have and will continue to benefit from philanthropy. Learn more about how we’re tackling the pediatric mental health crisis.
At Children’s Medical Center Plano, 2022 was a key year driven by philanthropic support for expanding and developing new programs and solutions to address the mental health and well-being of all patients.
Mental Health Assessment Team
The mental health assessment team in our Plano Emergency Department (ED) protects and advocates for each patient’s social and mental health needs through top-notch care and by providing and facilitating resources, as necessary. The Children’s Health Psychiatry team provides consults within the ED to help address this pervasive issue.
Embedded Pediatric Health Psychology
Pediatric health psychologists and therapists embedded within clinical practices provide patient-specific care for psychological concerns that may result from or be exacerbated by medical conditions. Psychologists and therapists help patients adjust to new diagnoses, cope with health concerns, prepare for medical interventions, manage pain and provide overall social and emotional support to help patients in their daily lives. Not only do these services improve the mental health and well-being of our patients, but this support leads to greater treatment adherence, more successful care management and improved associated medical outcomes.
Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT)
A team of certified clinical therapists, psych resource nurses and mental health care technicians work together to care for a full spectrum of patients’ mental health needs, ranging from general mental health consultations upon admission and as necessary through a patient’s time in the hospital, as well as serving as the BERT (Behavioral Emergency Response Team) on all inpatient mental health emergencies. Available seven days a week, this team is critical for the mental health and wellbeing of all our patients, engaging and interacting with patients and family members to teach, help them understand and cope, whether a behavioral health patient or not.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE
PLANO EXPANSION
When we first broke ground on the Children’s Medical Center Plano campus on Oct. 26, 2005, we did so with the promise to care for the children in the community and to grow alongside them. On Oct. 26, 2021, we reaffirmed our promise as we broke ground on an expansion that will allow us to provide enhanced specialty care to the children of today, tomorrow and many future generations. We look forward to welcoming patients and families into our expanded space.
Our expanded space will include:
395,000-square-foot tower with 140 new inpatient beds, increasing the total number of beds to 212
650-car parking garage for staff and families
Bright Family Emergency Room — an updated and nearly-doubled emergency care space with 48 exam rooms
26 new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit beds, increasing the total to 38 beds
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) housing six beds, a new hospital service
Expanded imaging services to include 3T MRI, plus PET/CT
Outdoor park space for families to relax in the comforts of nature
Enhanced service offerings and care capabilities in Cardiology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics, Neurology and more, offering surrounding communities the opportunity to receive world-class, critical and highly-specialized care closer to home
