Ribbon-cutting for new U of M children's hospital today

Amplatz Children's Hospital
The new University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. The hospital is slated to open in April 2011.
MPR Photo/Lorna Benson

The new University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital is about to begin accepting patients.

A ribbon-cutting celebrating the new hospital is scheduled Tuesday in Minneapolis. The hospital opens on Saturday.

The new, 275,000-square-foot building has 96 private, acute-care rooms as well as medical/surgical units, a pediatric intensive care unit and a 24-hour children's emergency department.

On Saturday, ambulances will transport dozens of pediatric patients to the new hospital. The goal is to move one patient every five minutes - that could take up to six hours.

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Online: http://www.uofmchildrenshospital.org

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