The unit recently received a $6.6 million renovation to provide a healing environment of primarily private rooms with more space, accommodations and technologies specifically designed for pediatric patients and their families. The facility also features an enhanced working environment and technologies for physicians and hospital staff.

The renovation of the pediatric inpatient unit on level three of the John Colloton Pavilion will begin in late August and is scheduled for completion in spring 2007.

Wal-Mart and Sam's Club associates raised $1 million to support the unit's renovation. In addition, the Iowa State University Dance Marathon contributed $125,000 to sponsor the unit playroom, while the UI Dance Marathon paid for patient entertainment technology upgrades in each room through a $135,000 donation.

The new 15,400-square-foot facility provides 35 inpatient beds in 25 private rooms and five double rooms. Each room contains new patient entertainment technology, large screen televisions, VCR/DVD players, game system, Ethernet access, and cordless telephones with voice mail. Each room also includes space for parents, a sleeper chair or sofa, separate room lighting, and nurse call. Other features of the unit include the playroom, teen lounge, family lounge, a consult room, and a family laundry room.

Additional new technologies include a 12-bed patient monitoring system, epilepsy monitoring system, a new nurse call system, enhanced patient security, a treatment room for performing minor procedures, three negative isolation rooms to prevent the spread of contagious disease, and a new pharmacy substation that doubles the size of the previous pharmacy. University of Iowa Children's Hospital is the state's longest-serving children's hospital. More than 130,000 children receive care at University of Iowa Children's Hospital and its statewide network of outreach clinics each year.