2025 Annual Report

CONSTRUCTION WRAPS UP ON NEW CRITICAL CARE UNIT

Construction on a new 50-bed critical care unit at Children’s of Alabama wrapped up in mid-November—two months ahead of schedule. Hospital leaders expect to open the new unit by late February 2026. The project, which began in 2024, will relocate and expand the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Special Care Unit (SCU) into a previously shelled space on the 12th floor of the Benjamin Russell building. Children’s began the project in response to the increasing demand for pediatric care, particularly for those with higher acuity needs. “As the only freestanding pediatric organization in the state, Children’s recognized the growing challenge of ensuring we can offer our specialized services to every child in need, regardless of the complexity of their condition,” said Jeannie Etheridge, division director of Inpatient Nursing Services at Children’s. “To address these challenges, it became clear that a newly designed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit was necessary to maintain our high standard of care while expanding our PICU capacity.”

“Children’s recognized the growing challenge of ensuring we can offer our specialized services to every child in need, regardless of the com plexity of their condition.”

JEANNIE ETHERIDGE, MSN, RN, CNML

The project has been a collaborative and multidisciplinary effort, involving a wide range of teams from across the organization, including nursing leaders and bedside staff from the SCU and PICU, physician leaders, respiratory care specialists, integrative care experts, pharmacists, IT professionals, facilities management, and other service partners. Leadership teams have engaged in extensive research to guide the project’s direction. “The 12th floor project reflects our unwavering commitment to meeting the growing demand for specialized pediatric care while maintaining the highest standards of patient care and safety,” Etheridge said. “It is a direct response to the challenges posed by an influx of higher acuity patients and a necessary step in our mission to serve every child who comes through our doors. What began as a need to expand our capacity has now become a vision for the future— one that embraces collaboration, innovation, and a culture of wellness. Together, we are building a future where Children’s of Alabama continues to lead the way in pediatric care, ensuring that we remain a trusted resource for children and families across the state and beyond.” ●

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2025 ACADEMIC ANNUAL REPORT