"It's a plan that's been executed to perfection," says President and CEO of Kaleida Health, Jody Lomeo. He's talking about the transport of hundreds of patients from Women and Children's Hospital to the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital.
Starting at 7 a.m. on Friday morning, patients and equipment started their journey to the new hospital on Buffalo's Medical Campus. The first patients moved were from the pediatric ICU and hematology and oncology units.
And we are off! First patient, 11 year old Olivia Reger cuddled up in blankets, moving from pediatric ICU on the move to Oishei..@WCHOBisMoving @WKBW pic.twitter.com/b5O6PJZspn
— Thuy Lan Nguyen (@ThuyLanWKBW) November 10, 2017
The move wrapped up just before 6 p.m. Friday. About 125 patients will be transported by AMR ambulance crews, on designated routes guided by Buffalo Police.
The transfer of patients and services from WCHOB to Oishei has been a plan in talks for decades and planned for about four years. Crews took part in 12 mock moves before the official move on November 10th.
Command posts monitoring each patient, their location and status are set up at both hotels. About 1,000 volunteers are assisting in the movie.
As of November 10th, all patients should go directly to John R. Oishei Children's Hospital at 818 Ellicott Street.
