“Clicking” in a baby’s hips can be alarming. That’s how Riley’s story with hip dysplasia began. But it’s not the Riley Child Center I’m about to tell you about.
Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis stands as a beacon of hope. It is Indiana’s only comprehensive pediatric medical center. Envision a place where cutting-edge research meets compassionate care. Riley Child Center is that place.
Named after poet James Whitcomb Riley, Riley Hospital began its mission in 1924. Riley’s love for children resonated through his poems. It inspired the creation of this haven for young patients. The Riley Children’s Foundation was founded in 1921. Its goal was simple. Build a children’s hospital in Riley’s memory.
In 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the hospital’s hydrotherapeutic pool. Cardiovascular care became a specialty. In 1951, Indiana’s first pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratory opened. Riley was the first in the nation to perform percutaneous cardiac catheterization in children.
Imagine the relief families felt in 1966. Riley was the first in Indiana to use echocardiography. This technology uses sound waves to create detailed heart images without radiation. Detecting congenital heart defects became safer and more accurate.
The year 1971 marked significant milestones. Riley launched Indiana’s first pediatric burn center. It also opened Indiana’s first neonatal intensive care unit. Riley pioneered family-centered care with the Parent Care Unit. Parents could now stay in the room with their child. Open visitation became the norm.
In 1975, the Fontan procedure was first performed in Indiana at Riley. This surgery separates oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. Riley also became the first in Indiana to offer outpatient surgical care to children.
1983 brought another breakthrough. Riley implanted Indiana’s first cochlear implant into a deaf child. The hospital achieved successful heart-lung bypass surgery. This ECMO procedure saved critically ill infants and children. In 1988, Riley performed Indiana’s first liver transplant. A year later, they executed the first infant and newborn heart transplants.
The 1990s saw the opening of the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research. It also became home to Indiana’s only pediatric cancer center with a stem cell transplant unit. In 1994, physicians performed Indiana’s first pediatric cord blood transplant.
Riley Hospital for Children joined Indiana University Hospital and Methodist Hospital in 1997. Together, they formed Clarian Health Partners now known as Indiana University Health.
The Riley Outpatient Center opened in 2000. It stands as the biggest ambulatory care center for children. The Riley Sleep Disorders Center began in 2001. It is the largest pediatric sleep lab in the world. In 2002, the Riley Heart Center for children with heart defects opened. The Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center started in 2002 as well. It is one of the most extensive autism centers in the United States.
In 2003, Riley performed Indiana’s first intestinal and multi-organ transplants. Riley also received authorization to use the Berlin Heart. This ventricular assist device treats difficult cardiac problems. Riley surgeons began using Repiphysis, a prosthetic for limbs.
In 2004, Clarian Health Partners received Magnet designation. Riley received high ranking on Child magazine’s America’s best children’s hospitals list.
In 2020, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson collaborated with Microsoft and Bill Gates. They donated Xbox Series X consoles to Riley Hospital for Children.
Riley’s neonatal intensive care unit established in 1970, boasts a dedicated team. The pediatric pulmonary program created in 1976, treats over 14000 patients annually.
Riley Children’s Foundation continues to support the hospital’s mission. It funds Camp Riley, a camp for disabled children. Riley Child Center remains committed to innovation. It strives to provide the best possible care for children.
The story of Riley Hospital is one of compassion, innovation, and unwavering dedication. It ensures a brighter future for countless children.