The start of the New Year brings change to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. On Thursday, Children’s unveiled a new corporate identity during an employee celebration in the hospital’s atrium.
Known since the early 1990s as Children’s Hospital, the organization added the term “Medical Center” to more accurately reflect expert clinical care and pediatric specialty services available at Children’s.
“We are excited about the future at Children’s and we believe this change is a positive reflection of our enthusiasm and continued dedication to the children and families we serve,” said Gary Perkins, president and chief executive officer at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.
Along with the updated name comes a new Children’s brand. Known as a “spira mirabilis” in Latin, or the marvelous spiral, it rises above Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, as a warm and welcoming symbol that also captures the energetic spirit of a child. Five vibrant and colorful rays spring from the spiral, representing the joy of a child’s imagination as well as the infinite possibilities offered by modern medicine and the discoveries yet to come.
“We see this new Children’s brand as a symbol of a new era in pediatric health care for our community, our state and our region,” Perkins said.
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“Congratulations to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center on this historic day! More than just a change in name, the new name sends a strong message that Children’s is moving forward and expanding the breadth and depth of its programs and services,” said John Sparks, M.D., chairman of the UNMC Department of Pediatrics. “The new name better reflects both the expert care currently available at Children’s, and Children’s broad future vision for serving our community in clinical care, education and research.
“With the recent affiliation between Children’s and UNMC, we are very excited about the possibilities this new name and vision bring to the care of children. This is an exciting time for pediatric medicine in our community.”
Children’s has experienced solid growth over the last decade, with a 20 percent increase in overall patient encounters. In 2008, Children’s experienced more than 250,000 patient visits ranging from physician office visits to hospitalization, surgery, emergency and specialty clinic care.
“Not only does Children’s Hospital & Medical Center proudly serve Omaha and surrounding communities but nearly half of our patients come from greater Nebraska, western Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas and Missouri,” Perkins said. “We also provide vital medical and surgical services to children born with congenital heart defects, and our metabolic bone diseases program treats children from around the country with osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition that causes brittle bones.”
Children’s anticipates the future will bring continued growth with the addition of its Specialty Pediatric Center, which is currently under construction at the corner of 84th and W. Dodge Road. The center is an expansion project, offering more space for Children’s outpatient specialty clinics that provide treatment and services for chronic conditions and illnesses including birth defects, congenital heart defects, childhood cancer, neurology, gastroenterology, asthma, diabetes and more. The Specialty Pediatric Center is scheduled to open in 2010.
Along with the updated image for Children’s Hospital & Medical Center comes a similar change at Children’s Physicians offices in Omaha, Bellevue and La Vista. The pediatricians’ offices will reflect the same Children’s brand and vibrant, colorful rays.
Signs at all Children’s locations will be changing in the weeks and months ahead. To learn more about this new identity, specialty pediatric services at Children’s, or to find a physician, visit the new and improved Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Web site at www.ChildrensOmaha.org.