When a child needs critical medical attention, families in the Puget Sound area and beyond can get the most sophisticated care in a setting that combines the best of science and technology with caring professionals in a beautiful new facility.
MultiCare opened its brand new, state-of-the-art Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma on May 16 and welcomed its first 57 patients.
Built from the ground up just for kids, the five-story, $479 million facility can serve 82 patients in private rooms (where their families can also stay). The 24-hour pediatric-only emergency department has 29 exam rooms.
The hospital also has eight operating rooms, a helipad, and a mental health crisis stabilization unit. It is Western Washington’s only Level II pediatric trauma center and has a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit.
The hospital will serve newborns through adolescents from across the state, as well as Oregon and Idaho, with a full spectrum of care.
Beyond the facts, figures, and technical terminology, Mary Bridge Children’s is also a beautiful and welcoming place, home to hundreds of specially trained, driven, and committed professionals who provide child-focused care, healing, and hope.
“Children are not small adults,” explains Jeff Poltawsky, president of Mary Bridge Children’s. “Everything has to be specific to them.” They also have different emotional needs and require different types of support.
Special spaces throughout the facility are designed with kids and families in mind, recognizing that play and movement are essential to children’s healing.
There are two playrooms plus an additional space designed just for teenagers. There’s a special therapy gym to help children build strength and confidence before returning home. A garden patio on the top floor is a place to play, relax, and get some fresh air.
There’s also an on-site bistro and coffee shop.
“By having unique spaces for all age groups, we make it as familiar and comfortable as possible for kids,” Poltawsky says.
There are even mobile Nintendo gaming stations, powered by Starlight Children’s Foundation, designed to bring joy to children in the hospital. Additionally, Mary Bridge Children’s has a gaming and technology specialist trained to tailor gaming experiences to children in a medical setting.
The decor was thoughtfully designed to reflect the Northwest and the patient population. Poltawsky describes the hospital interior as “beautiful and also playful.”
“Every child will see themself in the spirit of the building somewhere,” he said. Local artists were involved in designing spaces that reflect our area: the sea, mountains, forests, and rivers. They added special touches and fun details to be discovered upon close examination.
All in all, Poltawsky said, the design creates a safe, pleasant, comforting environment that also sends a message: You’re in good hands here.
The specially trained staff definitely reinforces that message.
Child Life Specialists aim to reduce kids’ anxiety by involving them in their care and explaining things in ways they can understand.
The rooms, all private, have beds and bathrooms for families.
At 305 South L Street, the new Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital is across the street from the building it previously shared with MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital and stands on the site of the original 1955 children’s hospital at the corner of Division Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
It has dedicated parking, a single, easy-to-find entrance, accessible outdoor green spaces, and wide sidewalks. The hospital is also easily accessed via the Tacoma Link Light Rail.
Five years in the making, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital might be Tacoma’s “best-kept secret,” Poltawsky says.
There’s also a special Tacoma story that unites the current and future Mary Bridge Children’s hospitals.
Of the $479 million cost to build the new facility – much of which was spent locally – $106 million came from local donations, including $10 million from the Mary Bridge Brigade, which had been the driving force behind the original, 1955 hospital. That facility became possible when local physician Dr. Albert Bridge bequeathed his estate to build a children’s hospital, which was named for his mother, Mary.
“Their legacy continues,” Poltawsky said, “and will position Mary Bridge to be a dominant force in pediatrics.
“It’s a new era of world-class health care here in everyone’s backyard.”
“We are all able to be science doers, system thinkers, and problem solvers – and here are some ways that could look in your future.”
