Rochester Regional Health is announcing a new partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities to support families whose children are receiving healthcare.
Officials cut the ribbon today on a new Pediatric Family Lounge at Rochester General Hospital.
President of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, Kelly McCormick-Sullivan, says the new lounge will provide a respite space for families of pediatric patients, and an opportunity for families to take a break from the clinical environment.
"Get into some comfortable space, grab a cup of coffee, something to eat. And most importantly, interact with other families or with our staff and volunteers," she said. "So that when they go back to care for their child, they're that much stronger and re-energized. So it's really about respite and supporting the families so that they're in a better position to support their child."
And that's important for improving health outcomes, according to Dr. David Siegel, chief of pediatrics at Rochester General.
"We haven't had a place where mother can take some time away from the baby, mother and father and meet with other members of the family. So now with the family lounge that's one of the things that will be able to take place in a real calming, peaceful setting," he said.
The partners in the project say the role of Ronald McDonald House Charities will become even more important at the end of 2020, when Rochester General Hospital opens a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) located in the Sands-Constellation Center for Critical Care, which is currently under construction.
The new Pediatric Family Lounge is expected to be fully operational in early January.