Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center is the region’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit pediatric hospital. Each year about 130,000 children from all 50 states are treated at Le Bonheur Children’s. The 225-bed hospital provides 45 medical subspecialties.

Correct Pronunciation of "Le Bonheur"
La-BONN-er
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2007 Facts and Figures
Total number of patients – 127,864
Number of patients hospitalized each day – 190
Emergency Department visits – 68,489
Surgical cases – 8,776
Lab tests ordered – 548,875

History
More than 80 years ago, a group of women shared a vision that would save the lives of literally tens of thousands of children. These women began a sewing circle in 1923 called the Le Bonheur Club to make clothing for Memphis’ orphans at the Leath Orphanage. As the Le Bonheur Club membership grew, so did its commitment to children. Soon the Club moved beyond clothing orphaned children to addressing their health care needs. The ladies raised $2 million to build the first children’s hospital in the region. On June 15, 1952, the community gathered to open the doors of the hospital and tie the key to the front door to a balloon and let it float away—symbolizing that Le Bonheur’s doors would always be open to all children needing medical care.

The New Le Bonheur
Le Bonheur is building a new state-of-the art hospital. The 610,000 square foot, 12-story hospital is the largest investment by a non-profit organization in a free-standing facility in Shelby County. The $327-million hospital has been designed around needs of children and their families. When it opens in 2010, the new Le Bonheur will double its current space for patient care, research and teaching. The new Le Bonheur Children’s is truly a community project. From the efforts of major community organizations to local school children, almost $100 million has been raised to support the new building. More about the new Le Bonheur.

Impact in the region
Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center’s efforts to care for the region’s children extend beyond the walls of the hospital. Le Bonheur Community Outreach addresses the social, economic and environmental factors that threaten children’s health and well-being across West Tennessee. Each year more than 500,000 children are touched by programs like Coordinated School Health, the Center for Children & Parents, Community HIV Network, Safe Kids Mid-South, Le Bonheur Early Intervention and Development and Therapy Outreach.

Economic Impact on the Community
Le Bonheur Children’s contributed more than $1.26 billion in 2007 to the Memphis area economy. Of this total, $726 million represents the total impact of the construction of the new facility and the remaining $544 million are recurring annual contributions which will grow slightly larger each year.

Part of the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Family
Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center is part of the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare family – a system which includes five adult hospitals.

Limited pediatric services are available at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital. Le Bonheur Children’s is the only children’s hospital in the system.

More facts about Le Bonheur