Celebrating the greatest accomplishments since joining the Children’s Hospital Association in 2015
GREEN BAY, Wis. – 2025 marks a milestone year for Green Bay’s only dedicated children’s hospital: HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital is celebrating 10 years since it was first established within the walls of HSHS St. Vincent Hospital at 835 S. Van Buren St. HSHS St. Vincent Hospital has been serving infants, children and young adults from across Northeast Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s Lakeshore, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan since it was founded in 1888. Throughout its history, the hospital has become a trusted source for pediatric inpatient care, pediatric intensive care (PICU), newborn intensive (NICU) care, pediatric hematology-oncology care (pediatric cancers and blood disorders) and more. Its longtime partnership with Prevea Health provides patients access to 70+ pediatric experts representing more than 30 types of medical specialties for kids.
A pivotal moment in HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s commitment to pediatric care came in 2015, when it officially established HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital within its walls and became a member of the Children’s Hospital Association. Today, HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital remains the first and only dedicated children’s hospital in Green Bay.
Reflecting on the major changes that have occurred since 2015 and the official opening of HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital, Amy Bardon, Director of HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital, shared her thoughts on some of the hospital’s greatest accomplishments during the past decade.
“Back in 2015, HSHS leaders recognized that our physical spaces needed to match our team’s advanced level of expertise. They wanted our hospital to showcase our dedication to kids and our community. That’s when a major transformation began within our walls at St. Vincent, and it truly continues to this day,” said Amy Bardon, Director of HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.
In 2022, HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital was transferred into a state-of-the-art space designed just for kids through the Join the Fight campaign, which raised $10 million in support – 100% funded by donors. This support made possible major upgrades including expanded critical care rooms, advanced medical technology, and thoughtfully designed spaces that promote healing, comfort and play. This transformation and others over the past decade reflect a shared vision to provide world-class care close to home.
Support for HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital is crucial in continuing to help provide the exceptional care and services that children across the region need. For more information or to make a gift, visit: https://www.hshs.org/st-vincent-childrens/community/giving
HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital’s most significant accomplishments
and technological advancements since 2015
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and pediatric care unit expansion: HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital is home to the only PICU in the Green Bay region and one of just five in the entire state of Wisconsin. In 2022, the entire pediatric wing – including the PICU and pediatric unit – was renovated and redesigned with children in mind, creating a state-of-the-art environment that supports the highest level of care for infants, children and young adults. In this renovated setting, board-certified pediatric intensivists, critical care specialists, pediatric nurses and other health care professionals provide expert-level care to kids in a child-friendly atmosphere.
Modernized teen and family lounge in the Pediatric Units: A newly updated teen lounge now provides a welcoming space for adolescents to relax, play video games, read, and spend time with friends and family. This space offers a sense of normalcy and comfort for older kids navigating a hospital stay. Additionally, parents or caregivers can now enjoy an expanded family lounge on the same floor as their child’s room, stocked with food and beverages to help them remain close to their loved one. This larger, more accommodating family lounge features amenities including a kitchenette, snack area, and stunning aerial views of Green Bay – creating a peaceful and supportive environment for families throughout their child’s stay.
Creation of the K.C. and Georgia Stock Pediatric Emergency Center: In the fall of 2019, the K.C. and Georgia Stock Pediatric Emergency Center was created, featuring a new family waiting room, a dedicated play space for children, and six private pediatric treatment rooms equipped with advanced technologies – all designed specifically for kids. The Pediatric Emergency Center features updated spaces with new décor, lighting and soothing imagery inspired by Wisconsin’s natural landscapes. Staffed by board-certified emergency physicians, trauma surgeons and emergency and trauma nurses, the center provides 24/7 pediatric emergency care for infants, children and adolescents in a welcoming, child-focused environment.
Largest team of Child Life Specialists in the region: HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital is proud to have the most robust team of certified Child Life Specialists in the Green Bay region. In 2024, this team served an average of 30-40 patients and families a day across both hospital and clinical settings. These specialists are trained to make kids feel at ease and comfortable, even in the most difficult circumstances. By guiding children, siblings, and even parents through challenging hospital and health care experiences, they help kids focus on what matters most: being kids. Whether a child is visiting for a short appointment or an extended stay, the largest team of Child Life Specialists in the region uses age-appropriate techniques to ensure all children feel safe, loved and cared for.
Telehealth services: Emergency department teams across Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula now have real-time access to HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital’s board-certified pediatric intensivists and neonatal intensivists – experts who specialize in critical care medicine for children and newborns. Through newly established telehealth services, multiple hospitals and their care teams can now connect with specialists at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital using two-way audio and video technology. This capability enables pediatric intensivists and neonatologists to see, hear and consult with emergency staff located at great distances from HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital. The telehealth care option permits the experts at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital to help guide care for critically ill and premature infants and children experiencing emergencies such as trauma, car accidents, severe heart or lung conditions and other acute medical concerns. Telehealth provides life-saving access to advanced pediatric expertise – no matter the distance.
Whole-body cooling treatments: HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital is home to the first and most experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the Green Bay region. Within the NICU, this specialized team is also the only in the region to offer whole-body cooling treatments to infants when needed. This specialized and advanced therapy gently lowers a newborn’s core body temperature using a water-filled cooling blanket. For newborns who experience a traumatic birth or reduced oxygen levels, this treatment can help protect the brain from damage caused by oxygen deprivation.
“For more than a decade, HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital has accomplished so much for our community,” said Amy Bardon. “We’re proud to offer expert, specialized care for children – right here in Green Bay – so families don’t have to travel far to find the high-quality care their kids deserve. Our dedicated team is deeply rooted in this region, and we’re committed to delivering compassionate, cutting-edge care close to home – now and for generations to come.”
