Nurturing Infinite Possibilities at Our Innovative Care Center

Innovative Care Center Facts and Figures

• In-patient capacity will double to 70 beds, so we can welcome even more children in need
• Private rooms and space per patient will grow from 700 to 1,000 square feet, accommodating equipment and providing family comfort
• State-of-the-art therapy spaces adjacent to patient rooms will maximize time spent on crucial rehabilitation rather than transport
• Sensory-programmable environments tailored to patient needs and preferences will transform the environment into a therapeutic tool
• A rooftop therapeutic playground and respite space will prepare patients and families for life beyond our walls
• Maryland’s first in-hospital family sanctuary, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, will offer a home-like environment for inpatient families

Overcoming Our Greatest Obstacle

As we imagine infinite possibilities for progress, our greatest obstacles aren’t medical complexity or rare conditions—they’re physical constraints across care, research, and education. Now imagine the barriers we could dismantle if our environment matched the extraordinary expertise of our team.

Patient stays in our hospital now average seven weeks—and sometimes six months or more—as we treat infants to young adults with increasingly complex conditions and comorbidities. Yet our infrastructure, with concrete laid in the 1960s and last updated in the 1980s, strains to meet modern demands.

Barriers to Extraordinary Care

• In 2024 alone, we had to turn away over 20 children due to lack of space—20 futures put on hold.
• Outdated layouts restrict delivery of intensive, technology-driven therapies necessary for modern rehabilitation—including limited space for equipment.
• Cramped spaces compromise family comfort and privacy during extended stays.
• Semi-private rooms, once the norm, limit infection control and personalized care delivery.

As pediatric care advances and the number of children with complex, chronic conditions continues to rise, expanding our bed capacity is not just about replacing outdated facilities—it’s about meeting a growing need and ensuring we can provide the transformative care.

Equipment and Technology Gaps

• Outdated spaces force critical equipment to be stored in difficult-to-access closets, delaying care and limiting efficiency.
• Many patient rooms lack modern technology, such as systems to provide translated daily schedules for families who speak languages
  other than English, creating barriers to communication and care. 

Barriers to Seamless Integration

• Physical divides between patient rooms, therapy spaces, and family areas disrupt the continuity of care and make it harder to provide a supportive environment.
• Limited space for collaborative care teams hampers efforts to integrate medical treatment, education, and family support.

Every day, the gap between our extraordinary potential to help children and the constraints of our outdated facilities grows. To bridge this, we’re embracing innovative technology like KIRA so that we can transform care to meet their needs.