Designed for Connection – Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s
How St. Joseph’s Future Facility Will Redefine the Patient Experience for Children and Families
It may not actually be a resort, but when the Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s opens its doors in 2030, it’s safe to say that families will find something to enjoy here — even in the midst of a medical situation.
Recently, BayCare released renderings of what the facility will look like, and the response has been exciting. That activity list you get from your cruise director or resort front desk? St. Joseph’s aims to mirror some of that vibe in a healthcare setting.
“The biggest thing we want to make sure we achieve is that we are building a facility that encourages interaction, community, and people to come out of their rooms, their clinical spaces,” says Sarah Naumowich, president of St. Joseph’s Children’s and St. Joseph’s Women’s hospitals.
“We were very intentional in a lot of our design. That’s not just to be playful, and to have that connection to the playfulness of children. It’s also to serve as a destination for pediatrics, make it clear visually where pediatric care is located, where it fits into campus, but really has its own identity. It’s where you go for your children.”
When you can create an entire pediatric hospital from scratch, you get to incorporate some very special touches. As well as spaces dedicated to play, art, reading and music, the new facility will feature family-friendly features such as intuitive wayfinding, welcoming common areas, and environments that reduce stress while supporting healing.
“If you think about children in general, they are always learning, seeking, and curious, and they dream. They have the ability to see the world differently than we do,” Naumowich says. “Inside the building, we are very intentional with design that encourages playfulness and exploration. Even if you come in the hospital every day, you’ll see something different. You’ll see something you can interact with and learn from.”
The design also aims to give children back one thing that they often lose when going through medical issues – control – in a very special way. Naumowich points out that each room has lighting on the outside that can be set by the occupant of the room.
The child can customize the color. No two nights will be the same, and no two rooms will be the same, as the decision of what color to beam from their room rests solely with the child.
“It seems like such a small detail, but really alludes to how we think in pediatrics and what makes pediatric care different,” she says. “The child doesn’t have a lot of control. Their parents are the ones consenting and making decisions. Color selection, while it feels small, is so important. Only they get to make that decision.”
When a child is sick, the whole family is involved, and family-centered care will be a big focus in the new facility. “We don’t just take care of the patient, but also the family that comes along with them. We don’t want to forget siblings. It’s so important families stay connected and stay in routine as much as they can be,” says Naumowich.
This means creating spaces where a teen can take a final, a child can catch up on homework, or a parent can take a work Zoom call. Within their rooms and outside of them, the facility offers places for families to be together and maintain family rituals and school and work habits.
It’s also important for families to connect with others that might be going through similar experiences, and the layout of the building facilitates such casual meeting. “Those little things matter a lot,” Naumowich says.
The building is expected to open in 2030, but Naumowich wants to reassure patients that all services will continue to be offered even during construction.
“People have been so excited to see it come to life,” she says, explaining that the new facility is designed to become a place of community, support, and hope. “Children need that in their life. Just because you're in the hospital doesn't mean that part of you stops.
Being able to be that health care destination that brings everything to one place … that is what we are striving to make sure every family has the opportunity for.”
Presented By: BayCare | Photo Credit: BayCare