North Hills

News Record

Nov. 4, 1997

A train is parked in the waiting. room, Dalmatian spots coat the elevator, and tiles with hidden. or leasing space.

pictures line the halls...The new $10 million FranklinThis is a hospital??Park facility merges services thatIt's actually Children's North, a were available in rented space new satellite of Children's along Route 19 and outpatient Hospital of Pittsburgh, which will surgery accessible once a week in have its grand opening Sunday in operating rooms leased from St.Franklin Park. Doctors will see Francis Medical Center North in the first patient on Monday.Cranberry.

We know very clearly that fami-Now available are 22 rooms for lies do not want to traipse intoIf vou go:Children's North will have its grand opening from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the facility at 2599 Wexford-Bayne Road. The event will feature bicycle safety demonstrations, a family fitness challenge course and guest appearances from Children's doctors as well as the Pirate Parrot and McGruff the Crime Doglofty ceilings with skylights, wider hallways and spacious examination rooms. The bigger exam rooms, for example, make it easier for parents, siblings and strollers to accompany patients."We're so landlocked inOakland, space is at a premium,' Children's Spokeswoman Deanne Haag said.The new building, located along Wexford-Bayne Road, covers 57,000 square feet. Children's North occu-examinations, therapy and otherOakland," said Dr. Donald outpatient speciality procedures,pies 30,000 square feet, mostly onFischer, medical director of Chil-about 15,000 children yearly in the top floor.

The ground floor willsuch as audiology, cardiology anddren's Hospital. "This has the neurology.office visits, about 3,000 more contain administrative offices for same high-quality services in aA same-day surgery center in than the Route 19 facility nowChildren's Community Care pediatrics and a pediatric dentist. The way that is consumer-friendly." the building's west wing offers sees, according to figures from With kid-size doors and low two operating rooms and a proce Children's. About 500 same-day hospital is finalizing agreements for windows, the facility was designed dure room for services including Magee-Women's Hospital to lease surgeries are performed at St.part of that space as well.with. the younger set. in mind. dental work, ophthalmology, pedi-Francis - a number that couldBut for all that space, the building.Bright blues and sunny yellows atric surgery and plastic surgery.triple now that outpatient surge- looks surprisingly small from the splash through the buildings. and. Children still will have to travel to eries are available daily. carpet swatches resembling aOakland for major surgical proce Rapid growth in the North OUtsides the look Blanco wanted child's drawing give little patients dures, although followup appoint-Hills made the area attractive for when he designed it, he said. Instead plenty to watch........•....... Ments can be scheduled at the an expanded satellite, Fischer of an imposing multi-floor office."The whole building. designed to be as stress-free aswaS. satellite.said, but he expects physicians building, Children's North resem.The Monday-through-Friday will see patients from farther bles a home, with windowed peaks possible, said.architect Ross Bianco. hours in the surgery center and north in Pennsylvania and from and a sloping roof. Only one floor is.visible from the front.Children's Hospital, based in medical offices, as well as the eastern Ohio.'The structure, the colors inside building's accessibility from Inter- Support Services CoordinatorOakland, had branches in the and the little.state 79, has Children's antici-Robin Harper said the new just for kids"extras add to the building, Haag salNorth Hills, South Hills and east pating higher numbers of patients.building gives employees and suburbs. But all involved sharing

"This is the next generation..