Final inspection shows several ‘major issues’ at MUSC children’s hospital

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A report by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion still presented several “major issues of concern” at its final inspection on Dec. 3.

The inspection findings from the Division of Health Facilities Construction prompted the second announced delay for the hospital’s opening, which was initially set for October.

Concerns listed in the report include corrections to the exhaust system for the building’s generators, structural issues with the building’s louvers and 400 to 600 incomplete punch list items.

In a statement emailed to the Business Journal, a representative from Birmingham, Ala.-based Robins and Morton, the contractor for the children’s hospital, said the firm is addressing final issues.

“We regret the delays in the opening of the new children’s hospital and are working hard with our trade partners and the project team to address any final issues, including punch-list items, most of which are aesthetic and minor in nature,” the statement said.

Details about the punch list items were not provided; but the firm said there is less than one minor item to be addressed for every 1,000 square feet of the building. The new hospital includes more than 1,200 rooms and 600,000 square feet of floor space.   

The issues with the emergency generator’s exhaust system were being addressed by the firm prior to the DHEC inspection, the statement said. Temporary generators were brought in and the DHEC report said they were OK.

“We know that, after previous weather-related delays, the hospital staff and community are looking forward to the opening of this valuable community asset very soon,” the statement said. “We are working very hard to achieve that goal.”

Robins and Morton did not give an anticipated date for the building’s completion.

Medical University of South Carolina spokeswoman Heather M. Woolwine said earlier that the children’s and women’s teams are ready but must wait for the contractor to release the building before they can move in. She said the hospital expects the opening to occur next year.