Blythedale Children's Hospital Makes Move To New, Improved Facility

VALHALLA, N.Y. (CBS 2) -- Moving day is always stressful. That's especially true when you're trying to transport a hospital full of very sick patients.

CBS 2's Lou Young was hand as some vulnerable Tri-State Area residents underwent a full-scale evacuation.

Controlled chaos unfolded Tuesday against the steady emergency beep of an empty nurse's station. Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla is closing its old facility not because of an emergency, but because it's moving into a brand new building.

The $65 million facility is a big step up that includes spacious individual rooms, each with its own shower, sofa seating, bright lighting and state-of-the-art medical equipment.

A small army of doctors, nurses and therapists had to clear out the dormitory-style hospital rooms of all patients and their belongings. It was the kind of thing every hospital has to plan for -- moving patients in emergency situations. In this case, it was 75 profoundly-ill children in which a slip-up could spell disaster.

"We have a lot of children who are on ventilators with multiple lines," Chief Medical Officer Joelle Mast said. "You really have to be ready to transport them with all their equipment...without any interruption really in the complex medical care that they need."

The move even required military-style precision, including an incident commander to oversee the undertaking. The destination, however, brightened the day for a lot of sick kids.

The move was completed Tuesday afternoon. The old hospital building is now being sealed off and prepared for renovation.

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