New children's hospital integrates play and movement into care

The Mary Bridge Children's Hospital moved into a new facility across the street from the MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital.

Image courtesy of ESa

The MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Wash., recently welcomed patients into its new freestanding pediatric facility. Designed by ESa, the Level II pediatric trauma center, part of MultiCare Health System, is a bright, dynamic facility that integrates play and movement into its design.

Three patient play and activity rooms bring movement and fun into the design.

Image courtesy of ESa

The hospital layout includes spaces for discovery and rehabilitative movement with featured playrooms on every inpatient floor, an outdoor garden area and a therapy gym to help children build strength and confidence.

The 82-inpatient bed hospital brings the full continuum of pediatric services to one location and is designed for children of all ages — from infants to adolescents.

The hospital's 82 inpatient beds are designed to accommodate all care levels.

Image courtesy of ESa

The hospital’s emergency department includes 29 exam rooms, a 10-bay treatment-in-process and results waiting area, a dedicated ambulance bay and four behavioral health reduced risk rooms.

Other critical services include a heliport; eight operating rooms supported by a new, all-in-one hybrid catheterization/interventional radiology suite; a dedicated neonatal and pediatric transport team; a 400-space parking garage; and a bistro and coffee shop.

The facility features the latest technology in imaging and surgery care.

Image courtesy of ESa

“We begin an important new chapter in the 71-year history of Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital by opening our new, freestanding children’s hospital and expanded outpatient center on the site of our original campus in Tacoma,” says Jeff Poltawsky, president and market leader, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Network. “This hospital comes at a critical moment as we expand to meet growing demand for children’s specialty care and serve as the referral center for some of the most complex pediatric cases in our region.”