CHOP’s emergency pediatric department set to open this fall in King of Prussia

Source, The Times Herald, Gary Puleo

Thanks to a generous donation, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will launch the first dedicated pediatric emergency department in the King of Prussia area this fall.

The hospital will name the facility after the late Madlyn K. Abramson, in recognition of a $2.5 million gift from the Abramson Family Foundation. The Madlyn K. Abramson Emergency Department will be built next to and operate seamlessly with CHOP’s existing King of Prussia Specialty Care & Surgery Center and Urgent Care, located on South Goddard Boulevard.

The expansion has long been a part of the CHOP vision, noted Dr. Jan Boswinkel, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the new CHOP King of Prussia Hospital.

“CHOP opened its first Specialty Care Center in King of Prussia in 1997 adjacent to the King of Prussia Mall. In 2015, we expanded our King of Prussia Specialty Care and Surgery Center and moved to the current location at 550 S. Goddard Blvd.,” Boswinkel said. ““King of Prussia has always been an important part of the CHOP footprint, and we anticipated that we would continue to expand our services in the future. The hospital that will open this fall will provide inpatient and emergency services to complement the broad range of outpatient services already available at our King of Prussia campus.”

Back in 2018, CHOP announced the major expansion of its main campus, calling for the construction of a new facility in King of Prussia, where a growing population was in need of pediatric services, including inpatient hospital care, according to a press release.

“The Abramson family’s philanthropic support of the region’s healthcare providers is both longstanding and steadfast,” added Madeline Bell, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Throughout the years, the Abramsons’ generosity has enabled CHOP to make great strides in improving healthcare for children all over the world, and for that we are forever grateful.”

The Madlyn K. Abramson Emergency Department will include 20 beds equipped with the latest technology and most advanced diagnostic equipment, with a 24/7 pediatric emergency department that will also include options for quickly transporting patients when needed.

In addition to the emergency medical care, patients and families will have access to pediatric-specific support services including, Child Life, pediatric behavior health providers and advanced telemedicine consultation.

“When it opens later this year, the Madlyn K. Abramson Emergency Department within the CHOP King of Prussia Hospital will be the only dedicated pediatric emergency department in the area. It will be staffed by CHOP Pediatric Emergency Medicine specialists and offer a family-friendly environment for patients,” Boswinkel said. “The hospital will also have inpatient beds, four operating rooms, state of the art radiologic imaging technology and a pediatric intensive care unit, all staffed by CHOP physicians, nurses and other staff providing the world-class care we are known for.”

The Abramson family has supported the CHOP project for decades. In 1995, Leonard Abramson and his wife, Madlyn, made a gift for a pediatric research center — the Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Pediatric Research Center heralded a new era of accomplishment for CHOP and its Research Institute, more than doubling the space available for scientific discovery at CHOP, the release noted.

Three generations of the Abramson family have also held volunteer leadership roles at CHOP. Leonard was an active member of the CHOP Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2008. His daughter, Nancy Wolfson, also served on the CHOP Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2016.

Stephanie Wolfson Cohen is currently a member of the CHOP Foundation Board of Overseers and has joined the King of Prussia Hospital Advisory Council.

“I am so excited for my family to be a part of CHOP’s expansion into the suburbs, as we know the new hospital will help so many families,” said Wolfson Cohen. “It is really meaningful to name the Emergency Department in my grandmother’s memory, as she loved CHOP and helping children was so important to her. I know this would make her proud.”

The hospital has a goal to raise many more millions to support construction of the King of Prussia hospital.

“Philanthropic contributions will enable us to continue building the kinds of facility our patients deserve: spaces that are conveniently located and welcoming for children and families,” Boswinkel said. “Our goal is to raise $75 million in philanthropic support for the hospital, and we hope to secure the funding by the time the hospital is fully operational in spring 2022. We currently have an active fundraising campaign and continue to seek donors to be part of a new era in children’s care.”

Visit www.chop.edu/kophospital for more information.