Children's of Alabama approved for renovations

Montgomery, Ala. (Oct.19, 2023)—The State Health Planning and Development Agency has approved the Certificate of Need (CON) by Children’s of Alabama for renovations that will allow the hospital to more effectively care for patients in behavioral health, critical care and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

The project involves the building out of the 12^th floor of the Benjamin Russell building—which is currently shelled space—to serve as a 50-bed unit for critical care patients. To better serve behavioral health patients, the hospital will renovate the 5^th floor of the McWane building and operationalize 11 additional beds for the unit. Six bassinets will be added to the NICU.

“We are pleased with this approval, which will allow us to begin the next chapter of 110-plus years of caring for pediatric patients. The expansion will provide room to serve more patients who need critical care, behavioral health services and the NICU,” said Children’s of Alabama CEO and president Tom Shufflebarger.

Children’s licensed bed capacity will remain at 332. The project, which will cost nearly $55 million, will be completed in the fall of 2026.