(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Jim Harris/PBT, Caption for Photo: The new UPMC Children’s Heart Institute; a larger prep/recovery room at the new Heart Institute where patients will get prepped, go for their cath or scanand then return for recovery.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrenceville, PA) Cardiac care expanded this month with the opening of the new Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh yesterday. The $85 million facility, located on the hospital’s Lawrenceville campus, spans four floors and 50,000 square feet and is expected to significantly increase the number of services available to patients.

Bright colors, natural light and artwork greet patients and their families as they enter the Heart Institute through a dedicated entrance connected directly to a nearby parking garage. The welcoming design was intentional, according to UPMC Children’s President Diane Hupp.

The new UPMC Children’s Heart Institute, which treats children as well as adults with congenital heart conditions, includes three cardiac catheterization laboratories. One of the labs can connect directly to a dedicated MRI suite when needed, a capability that is not available at many hospitals across the country.

The project was funded by UPMC, the UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation and individual donors.