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Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare ER Director, Dr. Barry Gilmore and his charge nurse, Stephanie Plunk

The Emergency Department at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital is almost always bustling. With more than 70,000 children treated each year, the ED is always a hub of activity.

Friday, Dec. 3 was no different, except it was. The new Le Bonheur ED officially opened for patients, and the old space on Adams street closed at 5 a.m. Associates and physicians had a lot of mixed feelings – excitement, apprehension and anticipation.

Associate Brenda Gale swept the floor for the last time. After 13 years at Le Bonheur, she’s excited to “cross the street tomorrow night.” She added that she’s going to need some help because the space is so much bigger – 64 beds, four trauma rooms, and more than 50,000 square feet.

Nursing director Carolyn Jackson gathered up items to send over to the new space, while Information Systems Associates unplugged and packed up computers.

The longest serving ED Associate, Vanessa Tolliver, RN, BSN, had the honor of walking the last patient and her mother to their exam room. She later presented 8-month-old Mekhele Hunt and mother Donnie L. Ellis with balloons. Mekhele had a high fever and was treated by Drs. Martin Herman and Janice Kezirian for a head cold and ear infection.

Hospital Wing flight nurse Melannie Stallings flew on the helicopter that brought a fire victim to Le Bonheur. She’s part of a crew that arrives at accident scenes and delivers the critically injured patients to the hospital.

“I have a hard time putting children on a stretcher. I try to love on them a bit. I couldn’t imagine being a parent and handing my child over to ride on a helicopter,” she said.

Melannie thought the crew would be landing at the new hospital heliport, but her crew was the last to land at the Adams ED. She was almost done with her 24-hour shift.

At 4:58 a.m., Memphis Fire Department called to say they were bringing a child by ambulance. Charge Nurse Randy Hanks told them to head over to the new ED off Poplar Avenue. Randy called over to the new space to tell them there’s a kid coming. The two EDs ran simultaneously until all patients were discharged or admitted to the hospital.

Across the street, at 4:50 a.m., the ED staff took a group photo and had a pep talk from Charge Nurse Stefanie Plunk. “We’re not going to have all the answers… but we’ll get through this, OK?” she told her team.

And then the first ambulance arrived. Memphis Fire EMT Mark Sykes and Paramedic Derrick Delancy brought four-month-old Juston Fisk who had RSV. Juston and mother Kimerie Tate were greeted with balloons and cheers.

The first people to walk through the lobby of the ED were Tiffany Casey and her five-year-old son Shane Casey who was ill. Casey serves on the Family Partners Council that helped design the new hospital for patients and families.

Dave Rosenbaum, vice president of Building Facilities, was waiting in the new Emergency Department to see the first patients. Dave has led the project through the five years of planning and 2 ½ years of construction.

“It’s been exciting and fun every day. Every day for the past five years, it was exciting to come to work and know we were creating this facility for the children of the Mid-South,” Rosenbaum said.

At 5:45 a.m. Rev. Oliver Williams prayed over the team. “We thank you for this team. Bless our hands that we may work together in times of crisis and celebration,” he said.

As of 6:30 a.m., four patients had arrived. Back across the street at the Adams Street ED, the team was finishing up treating their patients. At 10 a.m., the team anticipated closing the space for good.

“This is a blessed day. There are very few times that a staff gets to move into a brand new hospital,” said Carolyn Jack.

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