Helipad Planned for New Oishei Children’s Hospital

Kaleida Health and Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo are planning a helipad on the roof of the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital. The hospital filed a certificate of need with the New York State Department of Health this week for the $1.1-million project.

“Having a helipad is vital to our mission of providing the best possible care for critically sick and injured patients throughout Western New York and beyond,” said Allegra Jaros, president, Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. “Much like it does now for the hospital on Bryant Street, the new helipad will save lives. It allows our pediatric and neonatal transport teams to dramatically improve access and time for their patients who need specialized pediatric and neonatal critical care.”

The funds necessary to construct the helipad have been donated by Sal H. Alfiero and family. Alfiero is a long-time community leader, supporter of Women & Children’s Hospital and successful businessman who was the founder and former chairman of Mark IV Industries.

The City of Buffalo Planning Board has approved the helipad project. Kaleida Health is also in the process of seeking approvals from the City of Buffalo Common Council, the Federal Aviation Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation Aviation Services Bureau.

The Oishei Children’s Hospital will replace the current hospital on Bryant Street in Buffalo. Ground was broken in October of 2014 to make way for the new $270-million facility and will be located on Ellicott Street, bounded by High and Goodrich Streets across from Buffalo General Medical Center.

The historic project will right-size and consolidate services in a 12-floor, 183-bed, free-standing, modern facility on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. It will be an integral part of the campus, linking with Buffalo General, the Gates Vascular Institute, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the new University at Buffalo Medical School and more.

Construction of the new hospital is expected to take approximately 34 months to complete, with doors opening in late 2017.

Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo is the only access point for pediatric critical care, Level III neonatal intensive care and Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Centers in and for Western New York. The sickest babies and children come to the hospital for care, either directly or through transfers from other hospitals. Without the resources available at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, these young patients would have to travel out of area for care.

Rendering source: kaleidahealth.org.