Cleveland Clinic will always have a special place in my heart! It is where our son Darrick II spent 58 days of his life before gaining his angel wings. Not only was it his home, but it was also our second home for those 58 days. And to this day it’s still hard to ride pass the hospital or go inside without tearing up.
On September 15, 2018, I along with my family were invited to the Open House for the new Children’s Outpatient Center, I actually cried when I told my husband we were invited. He asked if I wanted to go or was it too much for me, I told him I would get all my tears out in advance and we were going…and it was AMAZING!!!
Spending time in the hospital with Emma (50 days in NICU, then back and forth for appointment and surgeries) Darrick II being in the NICU, and DJ having ear tubes we have had our share of hospital visits and stays. Its unfortunate but this is our reality, so when it comes to hospitals, unfortunately, #TeamGodbott knows all about it.
When we arrived we completed a tour of the Children’s Outpatient Center…
Infusion Medicines are filled on-site in a matter of minutes for patients that are coming in for infusions. They no longer have to wait for them to be filled in another area and transported to them during their appointments.
The Sub Wait Lounge was one of my favorite areas! I loved that once you are checked in if you have multiple appointments in one area, instead of going back to the main area you can sit in the sub wait area.
Lockers for Parents and Patients…I can’t tell you how many times I have walked through a hospital with all of our belongings because there was no secure lockup for our belongings.
Patients and their parents will definitely love this feature.
I loved the small details of the “Cleveland Clinic Hand” giving directions on how to get around the center…
2nd Floor Waiting Area…
Facts about the new Outpatient Center…
- An outpatient facility dedicated to children
- Expanded front entrance on Euclid Avenue with valet services
- Sibling drop off
- Centralized check-in on the first floor
- Positive distractions in the waiting area
- Separate “quiet” waiting area
- Education center for families
- Family restrooms
- Our Café features food offerings for all ages, which will accommodate special dietary needs and medical conditions
- Retail pharmacy
- Short-term parking for pharmacy pick up
- Pediatric lab services
- Pediatric radiology services including x-ray and ultrasound testing
- Four procedure suites for outpatient procedures staffed by board-certified pediatric anesthesiologists
- 20 private infusion rooms
- Four ECHO rooms
- Three pulmonary function rooms
- Stress testing
- 65 exam rooms
- Blood draw lab with five private rooms
- Two lactation rooms
- New technologies focused on enhancing the care and experience for patients, families, and caregivers
Open House Fun…
Teddy Bear Clinic…
The kids had the opportunity to perform checkups on their Cleveland Clinic Bears!
Super Heroes and Facepaint…
When Darrick II was living we called him our little Superhero and put Superman signs all around his bedside. He even had a Superman blanket that stayed on his crib. I walked off to take some pictures to come back to his twin DJ with a Superman logo painted on his cheek (this wasn’t one of the options for the face painters to paint, he asked for it and she did it). I immediately felt Darrick II presence, and even though DJ doesn’t understand it now, I know he will keep his memory alive forever! He is his brother’s keeper!
LifeSize Operation Game…
My children are too young for Operation, so they cheated when we played. But Darrick, Solana and I tried our hardest to remove the body parts without touching the sides and although it was lifesize it was pretty hard to do!
Made Tambourines (which are still being played around the house today…who’s idea was that LOL)
Taste Test from the Café…
Before leaving we checked out the Mobile Units…
The first truck was a Mobile Health Unit and this truck goes around to school campuses and students can get their annual checkups on the truck. And the other unit is a Mobile Vision Clinic, while we were visiting both children had a chance to get their eyes checked! And we are good to go…No Glasses for the Little Godbott’s!
Today, was the opening day of the new Cleveland Clinic Outpatient Center, and I know that the patients that come to this facility will LOVE IT! I love that Cleveland Clinic has provided a one-stop shop for their patients and their families! And it’s amazing that this was created with ideas and suggestions from families just like mine that may have had a child or two that visits the doctors often. I know where I will be scheduling our next Cleveland Clinic Appointments for the children! Although it’s a little ways away from home, its so worth it to not have to drive around the city for everything, its all in one building!
