Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s new Heart Center is bringing comfort and advanced care to thousands of young patients and their families.
ATLANTA — For 3-year-old Chance Vang, the hospital has become home. He’s been waiting for a heart transplant since September, and now, he’s waiting in a room filled with light, space, and the comfort of his mother nearby.
Chance was one of the first patients to move into the new Heart Center at the Arthur M. Blank Hospital campus at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. His mom says the upgraded space makes all the difference.
“It’s like a home away from home,” she said. “We can stay with our child at night—and the views are so much better.”
The Heart Center, which opened its doors eight months ago, was built to serve the growing number of children and families needing specialized heart care. Since then, the facility has cared for tens of thousands of patients.
Dr. Bill Mahle, co-director of the Heart Center, said families played a key role in shaping the hospital’s design.
“We asked parents what worked in the old hospital and what they wanted in the new one,” Mahle said. “These rooms were built so parents can sleep beside their children. There are whiteboards for doctors to draw and explain, and screens to show X-rays—because families want to understand what’s going on.”
The Heart Center now sees more than 17,000 children each year for cardiology visits and performs nearly 1,000 heart surgeries annually.
High-tech, patient-focused
From wireless systems that support IV pumps and ultrasound machines to delivery robots roaming the halls, Mahle says the new facility is one of the most advanced in the country.
“Other hospitals are looking to this one as a model,” Mahle said. “Right now, I think this is the finest pediatric heart facility in the United States.”
The building was made possible through a massive community effort, funded by donors of all sizes.
“This is not just our hospital,” Mahle said. “It belongs to Atlanta. Everyone who contributed—whether it was $20 or $200 million—helped make this happen.”
More room, more future
The hospital is already planning ahead. With the ability to build higher and expand across the campus, Mahle says this is just the beginning.
“If you’re not already involved with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, now’s the time,” he said. “You can be a part of what’s next.”
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