Almost Home Kids at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois helps children with complex medical conditions transition safely from the hospital to their home, while also educating families on how to care for their children in a supportive environment. Stantec and Almost Home Kids developed a prototype building model for partner organizations to adopt, based on a currently operational model affiliated with the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois partnered with Almost Home Kids to implement this turn-key model.
The design ensures the feeling of coming home is embodied throughout every aspect of the 22,000 square foot. Access to nature, sophisticated finishes, and the overall scale ensure a residential feel. The design includes a central lighthouse reflection space, two wings with 12 bedrooms, care team office space, physical therapy room, medication room for educating the family, kitchen and great room for communal activities, screened porch, accessible playground, and healing gardens.
In a comforting home-like setting, children at Almost Home Kids receive 24-hour medical and nursing support from skilled pediatric nurses. Families are educated on how to provide the best care for their children. They learn to operate and maintain their child’s home medical equipment, prepare medications and treatments, and maximize government support systems such as home modification and/or obtaining home nursing hours.
By changing traditional clinical perceptions and aligning care teams, Almost Home Kids provides the best care in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting for children.
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