The Clark Gillies Pediatric Unit was designed to respond to shifting trends in the provision of pediatric hospital care. Six of the unit’s 12 beds are designated for children recovering from ambulatory surgical procedures such as tonsillectomies and other elective surgeries. These children typically spend several post-operative hours on the unit before being discharged to spend the remainder of their recovery in the comfort of their own homes. Six beds are reserved for use by children who require overnight hospitalization for medical or surgical care.

Portholes and larger-than-life undersea murals decorate the unit. The central corridor’s plank flooring resembles a boardwalk. Rooms on the left hand side of the corridor have blue flooring and walls to indicate the “ocean” side of the boardwalk; rooms on the right hand side have a beige color scheme to simulate the “beach” side. The nurse’s station was created to resemble a boat, with a functional pillar disguised as a lighthouse to complete the nautical theme.

With nearly 800 pediatric patients receiving treatment there each year, the Clark Gillies Pediatric Unit is a vital resource for families throughout the community. Children’s medical needs are met by the hospital’s 40 attending pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists, including Board-certified pediatric anesthesiologists, as well as a staff of registered nurses who are experienced in pediatric care. To help ease the stress of hospitalization and meet children’s and families’ non-medical needs, there is a fully stocked pediatric playroom, donated by Ronald McDonald Charities. The Clark Gillies Pediatric Unit was named in honor of former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies, whose foundation made a $1 million dollar gift to help fund construction of the unit.