Come Celebrate the Opening of the New C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital November 6

Tours, entertainment, surprises on tap for public open house

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University of Michigan is throwing a party to celebrate the opening of its new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital.

"Thousands of individuals have been involved in the planning, designing and building of this extraordinary facility over the past 10 years," says Pat Warner, executive director of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital. "We're delighted to welcome the community to tour the beautiful new space."

The Public Open House is the culmination of five years of construction, and offers the public a unique opportunity to see the hospital before it opens for business and access is limited to admitted patients and their families.

The open house is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun., Nov. 6, 2011, at the new hospital. Parking will be available at various locations and shuttles will take people to Mott's new home.    

Families are invited to tour the new facilities and enjoy a day of:

• Musical and other entertainment throughout the day, including performances by Gemini (a folk group), Fiddlers Restrung (from Saline), the U-M Dance Team and more.
• An eco-friendly green station with opportunities to learn about green aspects of the new hospital as well as The Arb.
• An MHealthy exercise station with inflatables, hula-hoops, an obstacle course and other kid-friendly activities and giveaways.
• Representatives from Gift of Life to educate about organ donation.
• Recyclable bag giveaways for each family.
• Visit an ecology station and learn about the green aspects of the new hospitals as well as The Arb.
• Tours of the new hospitals and the children's emergency department.
• 8 injury prevention stations at Children's Emergency Services with information on bike helmets, car seats and more.
• A treasure hunt for kids.
• A giant version of the game Operation in the operating rooms.
• Visits with Therapaws therapy dogs in the Radiology waiting area.
• Visits with Ronald McDonald.

Begin the adventure parking at the Biomedical Science Research Building (109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor) where buses will take the public to and from the new hospital.

Tour the 12-story inpatient tower. Among the hospitals' new features are: a dedicated pediatric emergency department, a Women's Birth Center, with 50 private, large birth and recovery rooms. Enjoy a beautiful space surrounded by nature and designed for privacy and efficiency.

Free parking will be available in the following garages:
Ann (M86) - entrance on Ann St.
Catherine (M5) – entrance on Catherine St.
Glen (M61) - entrances on both Glen and Catherine St.
Palmer (N26) – entrance on Washtenaw Ave.
View a map of parking facilities: http://pts.umich.edu/maps/north_medical.pdf

Learn more about the new hospital, including a floor-by-floor sneak peek, photos of the new hospital and the museum-caliber artwork at: www.mottchildren.org/newhospital

Or to give, visit www.givetomott.org/donate or call (734) 998-6069.

This event is sponsored in part by Health Alliance Plan, Barton Malow and Terumo. Please join us to celebrate the opening of the new hospitals. Hope to see you there.

The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital is consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the country. It was nationally ranked in all ten pediatric specialties in the U.S. News Media Group's 2011 edition of "America's Best Children's Hospitals" including third in the country for heart and heart surgery. In December, the hospital moves to a new 1.1 million square feet, $754 million state-of-the-art facility that will be home to cutting-edge specialty services for newborns, children and women.

SOURCE University of Michigan Health System