Pediatrics at University of Rochester Medicine has historically taken place inside of pediatric units within Strong Memorial Hospital, which combined added up to a 124-bed capacity. These units were known as Children's Hospital at Strong before being renamed to "Golisano Children's Hospital" in 2002 after a $14 million donation from Paychex founder, Tom Golisano. In 2011 plans were made to build a new freestanding children's hospital and Tom Golisano once again donated $20 million to help with the construction of the new project, with his donations totaling $34 million to the hospital. Plans called for new 245,000 SqF, nine-story building with 2 floors empty to use as shell space for future expansion. Construction was set in two parts, with part one opening in 2015. The project was set at a price of $134 million, the largest project ever for the University of Rochester. Large donations were made to the hospital from large charities including $7 million from the Wegman Family Foundation, $5 million from Georgia Gosnell, and $3 million from Rick Aab in honor of the Ganatra family. Phase two of construction began in fall 2016 and included pediatric specific operating rooms and a new pediatric intensive care unit. Construction for phase two took place in the 2 floors that were left for later expansion. Phase two was completed by the summer of 2017. In early 2020 the hospital rolled out a new service for parents of babies that were in the neonatal intensive care unit. The service run by company, AngelEye is able to provide video 24/7 to parents when they can't be in the nicu with their child. Currently there are 20 cameras installed entirely funded by local donations. These cameras are free for parent use.
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The new hospital offers many amenities to children previously unseen at Children's Hospital at Strong including a teen lounge, multiple playrooms, and child friendly theming and design.
Parents Magazine has ranked the hospital as one if the best 20 best children's hospitals in the country in their top 20 pediatric technology and innovations rankings. In 2012-13 U.S. News & World Report ranked Golisano Children's Hospital nationally in 4 pediatric specialties. Rankings included #41 in pediatric gastroenterology, #27 in pediatric neonatology, #44 in pediatric neurology and neurosurgery, and #38 in pediatric orthopedics. In 2013-14 U.S. News & World Report ranked Golisano Children's Hospital nationally in pediatric orthopedics. In 2019-20 U.S. News & World Report ranked Golisano Children's Hospital nationally in pediatric nephrology and neonatology. On the 2020-21 U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital nationally in neonatology taking the #23 place nationally.