Connecticut Children's Looks to Expand Into Farmington

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, located on the campus of Hartford Hospital, is planning to develop a new surgery center in Farmington – a response to physical space limitations in Hartford and increasing demand for pediatric services.  The project, listed as priority #1 in the Connecticut Children's 2013-2017 Strategic Plan, requires approval by the state’s Office of Health Care Access.  Connecticut Children's hopes to gain that approval, begin construction, and commence services at the satellite facility by the end of 2013.  The 127-page application was filed with the state on June 1 (with a $500 filing fee). Connecticut Children's is proposing a $10 million, 18,321 square foot surgical center, the Hartford Business Journal reports.   Spokesperson Kelly Coffey told HBJ that the number of surgeries performed  has grown 48% over the past six years, and the hospital’s market share of outpatient surgery patients up to age 17 grew from 24% in 2006 to 31% in 2011.  Connecticut Children's  performed 10,098 surgical procedures in 2011, and anticipates performing 13,000 in 2012.  There are 89 surgeons on the medical staff, 29 of whom are directly employed by the Connecticut Children’s Specialty Group.

Connecticut Children's Medical Center opened its doors in Hartford in 1996 in a newly constructed facility, coinciding with a move from suburban Newington, where the facility was known as Newington Children’s Hospital since 1967, with previous incarnations in Newington dating back to 1898.