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Rep. Taylor Pledges Funds for Children’s Outpatient Center for Mission Hospital


Washington, DC, Oct 29, 2004 - Western North Carolina Representative Charles Taylor pledged $3.5 million dollars in federal funds today for a new children’s outpatient building, part of the Mission Children’s Hospital in Asheville. The new children's outpatient building will contain 75,000 square feet and is expected to cost $12.3 million for the building and an attached education center. It will be the first building at Mission in 80 years to be completely constructed using charitable donations and grant funds. Mission Healthcare Foundation's Windows of Childhood Campaign has commitments for the building totaling just under $7.5 million according to Bruce Thorsen, president of the Mission Healthcare Foundation. The federal funds will make possible a unique, nature themed, child-friendly, outpatient care center, provide new equipment and furnishings and provide a special "procedures suite.” It will offer children and families a single place to receive specialized outpatient care without having to make multiple appointments or go to different locations for care.

“This is a very worthwhile project and I am proud to offer my support,” said Rep. Taylor. “As a parent, I understand the trauma that having a sick child can bring to families. This new center will give Western North Carolina families a single location dedicated to children’s health. The last thing families need to worry about when dealing with a sick child is running around to several locations for treatment. Mission Hospital’s new Children’s Outpatient Center will be a tremendous asset to families all over the Eleventh District.”

Mission’s pediatric outpatient visits have increased 600% in the last six years. The current pediatric outpatient services are located in several different buildings, some of them more than 50 years old. Access and parking are often difficult. Construction of the children’s outpatient building will significantly increase community access to Mission’s specialized pediatric services for children. These include the children’s dental program and the pediatric subspecialties of orthopaedics, hematology/oncology, pulmonology, surgery, child medical evaluation and developmental pediatrics. The Family Resource Center for families of children with special needs will also be housed at the center.


Mission Healthcare Foundation Trustee Chairman Ed Broadwell praised Congressman Taylor for putting this key funding in place. "Our community and region are stepping forward to help raise the critical funds needed to create the Children's Outpatient Center, having already contributed over $7 million. This is a great example of a public-private effort to benefit all the children in Western North Carolina."

"This funding will touch the lives of mountain children for many years to come, improving their health and well being. We are grateful to Congressman Taylor for making this project a priority for our next generation," said Mission Hospitals' Board Chairman Stephen Miller.

The new children's outpatient building has been designed and located to be convenient and accessible for families throughout Western North Carolina. The Center will be built just off Interstate 40 at exit 50 and will have ample parking to serve patients, as well as many other special features. This will make children and their families more comfortable, enabling them to receive quality service in a state of the art facility. The building will be named the Reuter Children's Outpatient Center in honor of the late Irving and Jeanette Reuter, creators of the Janirve Foundation, who have made a $2 million grant to the Windows of Childhood Campaign.

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