MUSC sets new opening date for children’s hospital, women’s pavilion

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The MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion has passed inspections and is expected to open on Feb. 22.

The opening of the children’s hospital and women’s pavilion was delayed twice last year because of delays in inspections.

MUSC Health CEO Dr. Patrick J. Cawley said in a news release that contractors informed the medical institution Monday that they had passed all necessary regulatory inspections.

“Our children’s and women’s leadership and care teams have been eagerly awaiting this day, and we are all excited to share this opening date with our local and statewide community,” Cawley said.

On Feb. 22, current MUSC Children’s Hospital patients and women in the labor and delivery and mother/baby areas on Ashley Avenue will be moved to the new facility at the corner of Courtenay Drive and Calhoun Street in Charleston.

“We’re finally getting our keys to this one-of-a-kind facility, and it’s been the dedication, commitment and faith of many that have gotten us to this wonderful day,” said Dr. Mark Scheurer, MUSC Children’s Hospital chief medical officer and project leader. “Our children’s and women’s teams deserve high praise for their perseverance, flexibility and expertise as we move through the final stages of occupying this new facility.”

The hospital includes more than 1,200 rooms and will have an advanced fetal care center, labor and delivery unit, neonatal intensive care unit, 24-hour cafeteria, and indoor and outdoor play areas for children, among other things.