Peek inside Oishei Children's Hospital

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Big plans are in store for a new hospital in Buffalo. We got a sneak peek at what Oishei Children's Hospital will look like from the inside.

When the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital opens in less than three years, families will notice some major upgrades from the rooms at the current Women and Children's Hospital.

"The first thing you'll feel is how much larger they are," said Women and Children's Hospital C.O.O. Allegra Jaros.

Jaros explained the current hospital was designed to be a medical office building and it's difficult to add new technology to the old infrastructure.

The new hospital, which will be located in the Buffalo Niagara Medical Corridor, will include private NICU rooms. And there will be more space for families to be in the room with young patients.

And a major change for doctors - the rooms will utilize booms containing plugs for things like oxygen and monitors.

"In replacement of a headwall," Jaros explained.

By using booms instead of a headwall, it will allow the bed to be moved, give 360-degree access for doctors and nurses, and offer more comfort to the patients.

Doctors, nurses, and families are viewing these mock rooms and giving their input, which will be used in deciding the final design and equipment purchased.

"The physician and staff involvement has had a significant impact. They're the users. They know what they want to see in it. And they know the families much better than the architects," Jaros said.

Construction on the new hospital is scheduled to be completed December 2015. But in the meantime, these mock rooms will become training rooms with new equipment, so the staff can come in and start getting used to it.

"Educate our staff. Here's the new equipment. Here's how you use the new equipment. So we're not walking in and having folks feel like they're in a different space," Jaros said.

The space where the new hospital will be located is currently just a parking lot. But things are changing fast.

It's still undetermined what will become of the current Women and Children's Hospital building. A team has met three times with neighbors and businesses and will meet again in April or May to talk about ideas.