Edwin Rodas of Commercial Paint Inc. puts some finishing painting touches to walls in the business center at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Patients will move into the new hospital this winter, as soon as final touches on the construction are completed. See page 4 for other moving preparations.
‘Punch list’ delays patient move to new hospital
The official opening of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital has been delayed. The opening date, and patient move, originally scheduled for today, has been moved back because of construction-related issues.
“We are very close, and this delay is difficult for staff and faculty who are excited to move into the new building,” said Jim Shmerling, chief executive officer of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. “But we want to ensure the building is completely safe, functional and ready for occupancy before we move our patients.”
The delay is the result of unfinished items on the building’s construction “punch list,” a list of essential items needing completion before the building can be occupied. The hot water and medical gas systems are not yet complete.
“You can generally count on projects of this magnitude, and this special in nature, taking a lot of time to get wrapped up,” said Shmerling. “We have high standards for our patients and will move when the time is right.”
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital staff and faculty were notified of the delay earlier this week.
Shmerling thanked all faculty and staff for their patience on the completion of the new facility and offered assurance they will be notified when a new move date has been finalized.