Nemours Receives Federal Appropriation in Support of Hospital Expansion

Wilmington, DE – Today, Delaware’s Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Thomas Carper (D-Del.), U.S. Senator Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) and U.S. Representative Michael Castle (R-Del.) announced a federal appropriation of $350,000 to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in support of a new pediatric intensive care unit. The hospital is set to embark this year on an upgrade and expansion project its leaders say will provide significant benefits to patients and their families.

“Delaware is a great place to live, work and raise a family,” remarked Senator Carper. “We are fortunate to represent a state with an organization like Nemours that cares so much about our children, families and community. I am pleased to help support their efforts.”

“Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is one of the country’s finest children’s hospitals,” said Congressman Castle. “We are proud to support this expansion project that will offer better facilities to care for our youngest, most vulnerable citizens.”

The duPont Hospital for Children has been recognized in the “Top 25 Children’s Hospitals” in the U.S. by Parents magazine and its orthopedic services were ranked sixth in the nation in the recent U.S. News and World Report ranking of children’s hospitals. The 200-bed facility, built in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, will undergo a major expansion starting in 2010. The building project is necessary “to provide our patients and families with consistently excellent care and service,” said hospital CEO Thomas Ferry. “We thank our legislators for making children a high priority.”

A new five-story patient pavilion will have all private rooms with sleeping accommodations for parents, offering enhanced patient care delivery as well as better support for families.  A new, expanded pediatric intensive care unit will be located in this structure. Space in the existing hospital building will be re-purposed to accommodate a variety of outpatient services, such as rehabilitation, diagnostic and surgical services.

“My three daughters grew up less than five miles away from Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children,” said Sen. Kaufman. “It was a comfort to my wife and me that such a prestigious children’s hospital was so close by. Even though my children are fully grown and have kids of their own now, Alfred I. duPont Hospital shows the same care and support to many families across the Delaware Valley.” He added: “In return, it is important to make sure that the hospital has the proper funding to keep up with developments in health care and the needs of its patients.”