MUSC Children's Hospital celebrates 15 years of success
Editor's note: The following is a speech delivered by Lyndon Key, M.D., professor and chairman, Department of Pediatrics, honoring MUSC Children's Hospital 15 year anniversary Monday, Nov. 11.In 1982, Dr. (Charles) Darby became the chair of the Department of Pediatrics.
It was apparent to him, as it had been to other child care leaders, such
as Dr.
Biemann Otherson in pediatric surgery, that the develop of its first
rate children's medical and surgical services required the creation of
a children's hospital. Dr. Darby spent countless hours lobbying the university
and the state of South Carolina to support this project. After a series
of disappointments, these pioneers received approval to build a children's
hospital. In 1984, construction was begun.
Drs.
Lyndon Key and Carol Dobos, director of children's services, cut the first
piece of cake honoring MUSC Children's Hospital's 15 year anniversary.
As the first children's hospital in South Carolina, the Children's Hospital of MUSC became the flagship for the care of pediatric patients. Our Children's Hospital has spawned and continues to lead the movement to provide quality and innovative health care for children of South Carolina. After the Children's Hospital was completed in 1987, Dr. Darby worked tiredlessly, along with Dr.Othersen, hospital administration, and the numerous directors of the many special children's programs to provide a full-service children's hospital. As a result of their success and the hard work of every person involved in the provision of services within the Children's Hospital of MUSC, our hospital was named one of the Top 10 children's hospitals in the United States by Child Magazine in 2001.
Today, 15 years after its completion, we are celebrating the success of our very special children's facility. It is only proper that while celebrating the facility, we should celebrate the main reason that we have been so successful, the people who staff the Children's Hospital with such loving care. We have some of the world's best doctors. We have celebrated programs in nursing, child life, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, and in all other areas that provide each of the many services that support the care of children. We are all about children.
The future holds many new vistas. We cannot afford to rest upon our laurels, but each of us must continue to strive to provide the very best programs for children. The creation of the Children's Research Institute, the development of emergency room services, the continued drive to recruit outstanding practitioners and staff at all levels will sustain our mission. If we are to succeed, we must continue to keep our mission in mind: providing acute and preventive health care to all the children of South Carolina. Through discovery we will develop better ways to understand, prevent and treat illness. Through understanding the needs of our patients will prepare our students and ourselves to meet the needs of the future. This preparation will ensure that we and they provide the services of healing for the body, mind and spirit of children for whom we care.
We would like to provide the top 15 reasons, one for each year of our
existence for why we feel the Children's Hospital of MUSC is the best place
for children to receive care:
15. We have the best logo and Web page
14. We provide family-centered care for children
13. We have wonderful volunteers
12. We have outstanding community support through the efforts of the
Children's Hospital Fund and the Division of Community Advocacy and Development
11. We emphasize preventive care and safety
10. Our Atrium symbolizes our commitment to the whole child
9. We have the number one children's research program in South Carolina
8. We have 35 physicians listed in the Best Doctors of America
7. We have outstanding cardiology, cardiac surgery, neonatology and
critical care services
6. Our surgeons specialize in pediatrics
5. We have all pediatric subspecialty services
4. We have the “FISH philosophy” and “We CARE”
3. We are “All about Children,” with a patient-care team that is committed
and
compassionate
2. We are a Top 10 Children's Hospital
1. We build on the dreams of the past, provide the very best care for
children today, and commit ourselves to follow an even greater standard
of excellence in the future.
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