It was a busy second quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 at Piedmont Columbus Regional in receiving generous holiday donations, giving back to the community, completing equipment upgrades and continuing construction projects to better serve patients.

The Children’s Hospital and Piedmont Columbus Regional Foundation received numerous donations this holiday season from generous civic groups, organizations and community members. Among the many donations: The Columbus Convention and Trade Center’s Breakfast with Santa event raised $40,785.96 for The Children's Hospital, philanthropist Wanda Amos delivered gifts to pediatric patients for the 23^rd straight year and local law enforcement hosted Blue Lights and Smiles— a convoy of care featuring first responders and Santa Claus, who visited The Children’s Hospital and donated toys and wish list items. The Piedmont Columbus Regional Auxiliary hosted its 40^th annual NICU Celebration and Tree Lighting.

Piedmont Columbus Regional employees gave back to the community in big ways. Staff raised $75,731 for the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley in its annual employee giving campaign; they also collected toiletry items and clothing that were donated to Damascus Way— a community homeless shelter for battered women and children— and Safe Kids Columbus provided 107 helmets and personally fitted kids just in time for those receiving bikes, scooters or skateboards for Christmas.

In November, the telemetry system at Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown underwent a successful upgrade, now offering wireless coverage throughout the entire hospital.

"This upgrade to the telemetry system improves our capacity to deliver healthcare seamlessly.” said Chief Operating Officer Laura Drew, who oversaw the project.  “Telemetry monitoring ensures continuous heartbeat tracking to identify abnormal patterns signaling potential serious problems."

Phase I construction on the future Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital is in full force. Exterior work related to the connection corridor, main entrance and patient discharge exit is now visible.

“The enclosed connection corridor will link the children’s hospital to the flagship Midtown hospital,” said Chief Nursing Officer Cary Burcham. “It will provide a convenient, efficient way for employees to transport patients, move equipment and provide increased interoperability between the two hospital buildings.”

The 30-bed freestanding children’s hospital is projected to open in fall 2024. For more information on this project, visit Piedmont.org/BillandOliviaAmosCH.

For more information on Piedmont Columbus Regional, visit piedmont.org/columbus.