UPMC Children’s Hospital building new heart institute in Pittsburgh
AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO DEPEND ON CHILDREN’S EVERY YEAR. WE WANT THE HOSPITAL TO FEEL AS FRIENDLY AND INCLUSIVE, BRIGHT, UPLIFTING AS POSSIBLE. FROM THE MOMENT PARENTS WALK THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. IT’S A SCARY TIME FOR THE CHILD, BUT IT’S A SCARY TIME FOR MOM AND DAD AS WELL. UPMC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL PRESIDENT DIANE HUFF WANTS THEM TO KNOW THEIR CHILD’S HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AND YOU CAN SEE WHEN YOU COME IN THE BEGINNING OF THE COLORS HUB LED ME ON A HARD HAT TOUR OF THE EXPANSIVE NEW HEART INSTITUTE, WITH CREWS WORKING HARD TO MEET THEIR JUNE OPENING DEADLINE. SO THE HOSPITAL CAN START PROVIDING CARE IN THE MAJOR CLINICAL AREAS. PARENTS NOW WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IN THESE ROOMS WHILE THEIR CHILD IS HAVING A CATH. THE SECOND OF THREE FLOORS INCLUDES NINE PRIVATE ROOMS WHERE PATIENTS RECEIVE PRE AND POST-PROCEDURAL SERVICES, SO WE PREP THEM HERE. THEY’LL GO FOR THEIR CATH OR SCAN. THEY’LL COME BACK AND THEY GET RECOVERED HERE. THERE ARE TWO LARGER ROOMS HERE FOR PREPPING AND RECOVERING PATIENTS TO MONITOR BOYS AND GIRLS POST-OP, WITH EXTRA ROOM FOR THEIR PARENTS, WITH A NOD TO THE CITY’S LANDSCAPE. A BRIDGE CONNECTS PATIENTS TO VITAL SERVICES, AND THE BRIDGE ACTUALLY GOES OUT TOWARDS 44TH STREET. AND I, IRONICALLY AND INTENTIONALLY CONNECTS DIRECTLY INTO WHERE OUR OPERATING ROOMS AND OUR CARDIAC ICU IS AT. CREWS ARE ALSO INSTALLING THREE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LABS, INCLUDING ONE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO A CUTTING EDGE MRI. THIS AREA HUB DESCRIBES AS THE HEART OF THE HEART INSTITUTE. THE DOORS CAN OPEN AND IT IS A HYBRID MRI WHICH CAN TAKE A PATIENT FROM THE MRI DIRECTLY INTO THE CARDIAC CATH LAB AND BACK. SO THERE ARE PATIENTS THAT WILL GET IMAGING AND CAFS THE SAME DAY. AND IT’S A SEAMLESS PROCEDURE. THE NEW CARDIAC INTERVENTIONAL MRI SUITE WILL OFFER PATIENTS DIRECT ACCESS BETWEEN THE CARDIAC MRI AND THE CATH LAB, SO DOCTORS CAN PERFORM SPECIAL PROCEDURES, WHILE ALSO REDUCING THE X-RAY EXPOSURE TO THE PATIENT. UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF OUR PATIENTS ARE PATIENTS FOR LIFE, AND THEY’RE GOING TO BE VISITING US FOR A LIFETIME. SO WE WANT TO MINIMIZE THE EXPOSURE TO RADIATION. AND THIS NEW FACILITIES ARE GOING TO HELP US ACHIEVE THAT. IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE FOR DOCTOR VICTOR MORRELL. THIS IS NOT A JOB. THIS IS YOUR LIFE AND WHAT’S BEING PROVIDED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH IS INCREDIBLE. AND AGAIN, IT WILL IMPACT KIDS LIFE, WHICH IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING. ALL LASER FOCUSED ON HELPING KIDS FROM PITTSBURGH AND AROUND THE WORLD TO HEAL. SO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT 30% OF OUR VOLUME COMES FROM OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF PENNSYLVANIA. SO WE HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF PATIENTS SEEKING OUTSTANDING CARE HERE IN PITTSBURGH THAT ARE COMING FROM THE WHOLE NATION AND FROM ABROAD, FROM, YOU KNOW, INTERNATIONALLY. SO THIS IS TRULY FOR OUR KIDS, AND OUR KIDS ARE LOCALLY. THEY’RE HERE IN PITTSBURGH, BUT THEY’RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE WORLD HAS KIDS THAT NEED CARE HERE IN PITTSBURGH. THE CARE BEGINS WITH UPGRADED REGISTRATION AND WAITING AREAS, MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ON DAYS THAT CAN BE FRIGHTENING. WIDER SPACES WITH MORE PRIVACY THROUGHOUT THE THREE FLOORS. GIVING COMFORT WHILE EXPANDING CARDIAC SERVICES WITH 14 EXAM ROOMS AND EIGHT ECHO ROOMS. DOCTOR MORRELL TELLS ME HIS PATIENTS ARE THRILLED BY WHAT THIS NEW SPACE WILL MEAN FOR THEIR CARE. OH, THEY’RE THEY’RE EXCITED. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO WHO KEEP COMING BACK, AND THEY’RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE THIS INCREDIBLE FACILITY THAT’S BEEN CREATED FOR THEM. AND MORE PATIENTS WILL BE COMING BACK HERE. THE PROJECT’S TOP FLOOR, THE HOME OF THE FIRST PEDIATRIC CARDIAC REHABILITATION GYM AND CLINIC IN THE TRISTATE AREA, BUILT EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHILDREN WITH HEART CONDITIONS. WE’RE FORTUNATE IN THE COMMUNITY OF PITTSBURGH’S FORTUNATE AND OUR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES I KNOW WILL BE THRILLED WHEN THEY WALK IN HERE AT WHAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, BUT THEY CERTAINLY WILL EXPERIENCE SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND SOMETHING THAT’S ALL ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE HEART OF OUR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES. DIANE SAYS THE ENTIRE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STRONGER TEAMWORK AND SMOOTHER CARE COORDINATION, ENHANCING THE PATIENT AND FAMILY EXPERIENCE. THE FIRST TWO FLOORS ARE SET TO OPEN TO PATIENTS IN JUNE, WHILE THE T
UPMC Children’s Hospital building new heart institute in Pittsburgh
Updated: 3:58 PM EDT Apr 6, 2026
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is building a new, state-of-the-art heart institute, designed to be a premier destination for advanced pediatric and select adult cardiac care in a family-centered setting.The massive undertaking is really beginning to take shape. The $85 million heart institute is the biggest addition since 2009, when Children’s moved to Lawrenceville.Hospital President Diane Hupp says the entire project will provide the opportunity for stronger teamwork and smoother care coordination, enhancing the patient and family experience.The first two floors are set to open to patients in June, while the top-floor rehab gym and cardiac clinic will open sometime in 2027.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 anchor Mike Clark received an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of this 50,000-square-foot addition, and what it will mean for the tens of thousands of children and their families who depend on the hospital every year.ONLY ON 4: Watch the video above.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is building a new, state-of-the-art heart institute, designed to be a premier destination for advanced pediatric and select adult cardiac care in a family-centered setting.
The massive undertaking is really beginning to take shape. The $85 million heart institute is the biggest addition since 2009, when Children’s moved to Lawrenceville.
Hospital President Diane Hupp says the entire project will provide the opportunity for stronger teamwork and smoother care coordination, enhancing the patient and family experience.
The first two floors are set to open to patients in June, while the top-floor rehab gym and cardiac clinic will open sometime in 2027.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 anchor Mike Clark received an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of this 50,000-square-foot addition, and what it will mean for the tens of thousands of children and their families who depend on the hospital every year.
ONLY ON 4: Watch the video above.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.