LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Crouse Hospital's Pediatric Unit for its
122 years of service to the Central New York community

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor those health
care institutions and individuals within our midst which have made
significant contributions to their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor
Crouse Hospital's pediatric staff members for their many years of dedi-
cated service; and
WHEREAS, The hospital has been providing pediatric services to the
Central New York community for 122 years; Crouse's highly regarded
pediatric staff have cared for tens of thousands of acute medical,
surgical and trauma pediatric patients, from neonates through 18 years
of age; and
WHEREAS, Crouse Hospital's roots in women's and children's health care
date back to 1887, when Syracuse Hospital for Women and Children
accepted its first patients, five babies from the Poormaster, on Thanks-
giving eve; and
WHEREAS, Crouse's pediatric focus has always been family centered, and
it has always been on providing holistic care, compassionately delivered
by an expert interdisciplinary health care team; in addition, throughout
the years Crouse Hospital's Pediatric Unit has worked to create a
welcoming environment for its young patients; and
WHEREAS, In 1902 Harmony Circle, today's hospital auxiliary, built an
open air pavilion for children and the following year supplied a kinder-
garten teacher; in 1908, a pavilion with enormous open windows was
constructed for children afflicted with hip and spinal troubles; and
WHEREAS, In 1917, Crouse-Irving Hospital opened the Lipe Pavilion
which housed a children's department on the first floor, where according
to the report of that year, "children can make as much noise and have as
good a time as they wish"; and
WHEREAS, In 1921, pediatric patients were given automobile rides,
which thrilled one little boy who had not laid his eyes on the city for
an entire year; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the 1920s, 30s and 40s, every child's birthday was
celebrated with a basket full of presents and a birthday cake; Christmas
parties were held regularly in the children's wards as well; and
WHEREAS, As early as 1941, a child life specialist or a "play-lady"
was hired for the children; and in 1996, the pediatric unit was rede-
signed with comfortable, colorful and well-equipped rooms that have
large glass windows for observation; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Crouse's pediatric staff members, which
include a wide range of medical, nursing and social service profes-
sionals, as well as professional tutors and teachers, have worked to
make each young patient as comfortable as possible; they have carried
out the mission, vision and values of the hospital in exemplary fashion;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Crouse Hospital's Pediatric Unit for its 122 years of service to
the Central New York community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Nancy Warner, Nurse Manager of the Crouse Hospital Pediatric
Unit.