NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday for Baptist Health Floyd's new pediatric unit.
The 10-bed unit is located on the second floor of the hospital, and is for patients 18 and under. It will be staffed with pediatric healthcare providers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dec. 11 was the first day patients could be admitted to the unit.
"This will be impactful for the community," Emily Banet, director of Women and Children's Services, said in a news release. "There is no other place in southern Indiana for these kids to receive in-patient care."
Baptist Health Floyd Michael Schroyer attended Monday's ceremony.
"We're just very excited to be here this morning to do a grand opening of our pediatric unit here at Baptist Health Floyd to serve kids, sick kids here in southern Indiana so they can stay close to home," Schroyer said.
Schroyer said the unit will allow parents to seek care for their children in southern Indiana instead of traveling to Louisville.
"When I got here a little over three years ago, I spent a lot of time talking to our community, our physicians, our staff, really looking at where we needed to take Baptist Health Floyd into the future," Schroyer said. "And one of the things we heard -- especially our parents -- who wanted their kids to be able to stay here in southern Indiana if possible so they could stay closer to home. So we're meeting that need by opening this unit."
Young people who require a higher level of care will be taken to Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville.
Several new employees have been added to staff the new unit, which cost about $500,000 to complete.
The hospital opened a six-bed Level II neo-natal intensive care unit in April.
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