Kaleida Health breaks ground on new children's hospital on Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday Kaleida Health broke ground on the new John R. Oishei Children's Hospital on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy joined local officials and community leaders to break ground on the $270 million hospital that will make patient care more effective and efficient, and which replaces the current Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo to become the only comprehensive pediatric health care facility for Western New York.

"The children's hospital will bring together some of the best medical expertise in Western New York and become a state-of-the-art health provider for this region's children," Cuomo said. "Through the 'Buffalo Billion,' this hospital will join a growing landscape of world-class medical and research institutions that has already created more jobs and investment in than any other time in a generation."

The John R. Oishei Children's Hospital is expected to be completed in 2017. The project will right-size and consolidate services in a 12-floor, 183-bed, freestanding and modern facility. The hospital will be an integral part of the campus, linking with Buffalo General, the Gates Vascular Institute, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the new University at Buffalo Medical School and others.

New York will assist Kaleida Health in closing its current funding gap by providing $35 million for the project, including $15 million from the "Buffalo Billion" for infrastructure at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and up to $20 million from other state resources to support the new hospital.

"Securing the funding for the new John R. Oishei Children's hospital is a huge win for Buffalo and Western New York," Duffy said. "Thanks to Gov. Cuomo's leadership through the 'Buffalo Billion,' the hospital will give communities throughout the region access to specialized health care. I thank all of our state partners and Kaleida Health for making this excellent project a reality."

Kaleida Health President and CEO Jody Lomeo said, "On behalf of the 10,000 employees at Kaleida Health, and the tens of thousands of mothers and children that we serve at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo, I thank our partners from the state of New York. We thank Gov. Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Duffy for their support of this project, for their support of the City of Buffalo, and for their unwavering commitment to Western New York. Gov. Cuomo and his team have clearly stated that they believe in us and they have made our community a focus. They have made the commitment - now it's our opportunity to deliver. And we will deliver a world-class children's hospital to serve generations to come."

Western New York Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi said, "The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council has consistently designated projects on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus as priorities, because they play a significant role in providing quality health care and contributing to the economic revitalization of Buffalo. I'm pleased that the WNYREDC, which developed the 'Buffalo Billion' investment development plan, supports the new Oishei Children's Hospital."

WNYREDC Co-Chair and Larkin Development Group Managing Partner Howard Zemsky said, "The John R. Oishei Children's Hospital will be another key component of comprehensive health care on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. This project aligns with WNYREDC strategies by facilitating smart growth and providing job opportunities in our region's health care industry."

The Oishei Children's Hospital ensures pediatric and maternal services remain available for patients in the Western New York region. The vision for the new hospital is to be recognized as the innovator, the highest quality, highest value provider and partner, and the regional referral center for women and children's health care for Kaleida Health, Western New York and beyond.

Women & Children's Hospital (and the new Oishei Children's Hospital) is the only center with the pediatric specialists (physicians, surgeons, respiratory therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, child life, along with trained and compassionate support staff such as aides, housekeepers, dieticians) who can care for all children ages 0 to 21 and their families.

It is also the only access point for pediatric critical care, level three neonatal intensive care, and level one pediatric trauma centers in Western New York. The sickest babies and children come to the hospital for care, either directly or through transfers from other hospitals. Without the resources available at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo, these young patients would have to travel out of the area for care.

Turner Construction Co., an international construction services company and a leading builder in diverse and numerous market segments, is the construction manager for the building of the new John R. Oishei Children's Hospital. Turner is headquartered in New York City with a local Buffalo office. In August, Kaleida Health began preparation on the site, which is located on Ellicott and High streets across from the Buffalo General Medical Center. Site preparation includes fencing the site, implementing a traffic plan, removing the asphalt from the parking lot, ordering steel and releasing the shop drawings for shoring, steel and outer walls.

State Sen. Tim Kennedy said, "This is an exciting day in Western New York as we celebrate the continued growth and development of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. New York is grateful to the many donors who made this project possible, and we are especially grateful to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for New York state's generous commitment of $15 million from the 'Buffalo Billion.' The new John R. Oishei Children's Hospital will continue a storied legacy dating back over 100 years of providing world-class life-saving medical care to the children of Western New York. Not only will this new facility ensure that children have access to the latest and most advanced medical care possible, but it is also going to continue the unprecedented growth we have seen here at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, where we can expect to see 17,000 Western New Yorkers coming to work every day by 2017. Congratulations to Kaleida Health and to the Hospital's physician-led steering committee on this exciting accomplishment."

Assembly Member Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "Today highlights the continued growth of Buffalo's health and life sciences industry. The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is home to The Buffalo General Medical Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute and more. Kaleida Health institutions have served Buffalo residents proudly for decades; this 12-story facility will ensure those services into the future. Relocating the new $270 million John R. Oishei Children's Hospital to a centralized Buffalo Niagara Medical campus is a welcome addition. The $15 million that the state is providing for gap-funding through the 'Buffalo Billion' is just another example showcasing Gov. Cuomo's commitment to Buffalo and Western New York."

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, "The new John R. Oishei Children's Hospital will combine cutting-edge health care services for women and children with a top-notch team of partners committed to providing the best care possible. This project reaffirms and builds on our region's reputation for excellence in health care, with a focus on providing high-quality care for all children and their families in a setting that provides pediatric specialists and integrated care. Families in Erie County will now have access to the latest in services and care right here in Buffalo at the new children's hospital."

City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, "This is a proud day when we can start constructing the new world-class John R. Oishei Children's Hospital for our city and region's children and families. Buffalo has a strong history of providing high-quality pediatric care, and that mission will continue with this new state-of-the-art children's hospital, located on the still-growing medical campus. I'm grateful for the city's strong partnership with Gov. Andrew Cuomo during this extraordinary period of expansion and renewal in Buffalo that is creating thousands of new jobs and opportunities for city residents, particularly on the medical campus. The start of construction on Kaleida Health's new facility adds to the positive momentum that's underway in Buffalo and continues a great tradition of top pediatric care in the City of Buffalo - an attractive place to live, work and invest."