Martensville Messenger December 1, 2016 | Page 11

martensville messenger - DECEMBER 1, 2016 - Page 11 Children’s Hospital Of Saskatchewan Construction One-Third Complete Minister of Health Jim Reiter announced Friday, November 25th that the construction on Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan is now one-third, or about 33 per cent, complete. He made the announcement after touring the construction site and hearing firsthand about the progress. "I am very pleased that the construction progress of the Children's Hospital has reached the one-third completion landmark," says Reiter. "Our government believes Saskatchewan families deserve a modern hospital that exemplifies patient-and-family-centred care, and meets unique needs of mothers, babies, children and teens in our province. This maternal and children's hospital will have a long lasting impact to Saskatchewan people for many generations to come." Joining Minister Reiter on the tour were a team of people dedicated to both the construction project and who are preparing for its opening, along with important partners working diligently to raise funds for the new facility. "Walking through the site and seeing it now nearly at its maximum height, you can't help but picture the difference this will make to pediatric, maternal and emergency care in our province," says Mike Stensrud, Saskatoon Regional Health Authority board chair. "We are thankful for the province's unwavering commitment to this hospital, as well as our project partners and Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. We, as a Region, are also grateful for the passion and dedication of hundreds of our staff, physicians and patient advisors who are working each day to prepare and make improvements to ensure the care provided inside these walls will match the beauty of this new facility. It will be an amazing legacy for Saskatchewan families." Construction completion remains on schedule and the $285.2 million project remains on budget, with $235.5 million (82.5%) coming from the provincial government, $21.4 million (7.5%) from Saskatoon Health Region, and $28.3 million (10%) funded through the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan capital campaign. Prior to the start of main building construction, the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan had already committed to raising $50 million for state-ofthe-art equipment, furnishings, and patient and family enhancements for the majority of the hospital. In August 2015, they expanded that commitment by another $25 million. That same day, Children's Hospital Foundation 16121DS2 ABOVE: Construction on Saskatoon’s Children’s Hospital is now 33% complete. The project is expected to be completed and open to the public by late 2019. Picture provided as of November 2016. of Saskatchewan announced it too is closing in on an important milestone that will bring a significant contribution to Saskatchewan health care, and most importantly, Saskatchewan families. "The perseverance and unwavering generosity of our province is why we are proudly able to announce that $54 million has been raised toward a $75 million goal for the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan," says Brynn Boback-Lane, President and CEO of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. "As the sole Foundation responsible for pediatric and maternal care within our new maternal and children's hospital, we are steadfast in our goal of ensuring that the equipment, enhancements, and technology is being supported today and will be in place when the doors open. The impact of each donation will impact generations of families that need our collective support." This exciting progress with fundraising comes as the concrete structure is being completed up to the fifth floor. The fourth floor will be home to a new neonatal intensive care unit with all private patient rooms. The third floor will house maternal care, including three maternal operating rooms, and the second floor will be home to pediatric inpatients units, including a pediatric intensive care unit. Soon, the structural steel will be placed on the fifth floor which will support the rooftop enclosure, which will contain all the building’s air handling units, and on top of that will be home to a new helipad for emergency helicopter service, allowing a direct connection to the new emergency areas. Construction on the building’s lower floors is advancing with mechanical and electrical systems now being installed. This includes the ground floor which will house the separate adult emergency department and the children’s emergency department, along with pediatric surgery. The main floor will be the entry point for the new hospital and will include a lobby with food services, along with pediatric outpatient services. "Construction crews will soon begin working on the parts of the building which cantilever out over the current roadways and rest on the structural columns which are being put in place. Once this aspect of the structure is completed, you will truly see the footprint this new hospital will have," explains Craig Ayers, Saskatoon Health Region's project director for Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan. "In the new year, all construction activity should be confined to the new hospital site and building, meaning the site disruptions our patients and families, along with staff and physicians, have been experiencing over the last year should be greatly reduced. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during these first phases of construction. It's truly an exciting time for all of us involved in this important work." By spring, the entire shell of the building should be in place. Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan is expected to open in late 2019. ABOVE: The construction site for the Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon as of this time last year. From November 2015 to November 2016, the construction has been 33% completed. Word Search Answers Crossword Puzzle Answers