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Children's Hospital Makes Move To Lawrenceville

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May 2, 2009 10:50 pm US/Eastern

Children's Hospital Makes Move To Lawrenceville

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― After more than 100 years in Oakland, it was the end of an era today for Children's Hospital as it moved into its brand new facility in Lawrenceville.

It all started at this morning when the doors of the old Children's Hospital at 5th Avenue and DeSoto Street in Oakland closed and the doors to the new facility at 45th Street and Penn Avenue opened.

But moving an entire hospital was a new experience for the staff. After years of planning, building, preparation and practice, the team work of the 200 people involved with the move was put to the test.

At 6 a.m. Saturday, the Oakland signs were covered up, and just after 7 a.m. the first patient left the old facility.

Forty ambulances from across southwestern Pennsylvania shuttled back and forth from the old facility to the new one today, moving about 20 patients an hour.

Officials had initially thought the move would take 12 hours, but it only took about half the time that they had planned for.

"We moved 152 patients two and a half miles from Oakland to Lawrenceville," said Christopher Gessner, of Children's Hospital. "It took us a little over six and a half hours."

The move didn't come without some glitches, but officials say those were easily handled. Meanwhile, the patients and their parents also thought being a part of the move was pretty cool.

"I never rode in an ambulance before," said patient Durke Martin, of Ellwood City. "I was kinda nervous, but then I realized it wasn't bad."

"It's kind of exciting to be part of this history-making event," said Lisa Martin, Durke's mom.

The walls of Children's Hospital in Oakland are silent now, except for the written goodbyes to an old friend. But so far, the new facility is meeting the approval of at least some of the patients.

"This one's way better," added Durke after arriving in Lawrenceville.

The ORs as well as the ER are now open at the Lawrenceville facility. And while the staff said today's move was not business as usual, they expect that to come fairly soon.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.