New OU Health Pediatric Heart Care Center headed to the state
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - It's one of the largest healthcare infrastructure investments in Oklahoma's history, and it's providing a center for life-saving care to the state.
In addition to a $200 million investment from the Oklahoma legislature, a $20 million donation from the Presbyterian Health Foundation will support the construction of the Oklahoma Children's OU Health Presbyterian Health Foundation Heart Center.
“We are proud to advance heart care and serve generations of families with world-class care,” said OU Health President and CEO Richard Lofgren, M.D., MPH. “No child should have to leave Oklahoma to receive the highest level of cardiac care. The investment from PHF and our Legislature helps us propel Oklahoma Children’s as a true destination for pediatric heart care where expertise, compassion, and innovation converge to give every child the best chance at life, right here at home."
"We're happy to show him off and show them what this place can do and what a new facility can do for so many Oklahoma families," said David Helmerich.
David and Faith Helmerich are the parents of Parker Helmerich. Parker was 11 months old when he was able to walk out of OU Children's Hospital last November.
Just days after his birth, he was airlifted to the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health Heart Center, and that’s where his long journey began.
Shortly after, doctors determined Parker needed a heart transplant to survive and was put on the waiting list.
Eventually, his transplant marked a groundbreaking milestone as it was the first pediatric heart transplant in decades at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, OU Health Heart Center.
Now, more children in Oklahoma will have a center that families can take them to for life-saving care.
"We're happy to show him off and show them what this place can do and what a new facility can do for so many Oklahoma families," said David Helmerich.
An event was held on Friday where the announcement was made for the new center and the donation from PHF.
The center is said to be 250,000 square feet with 90 new beds, dozens of exam rooms, new technology, and more.
"We do about 500 surgeries a year on kids, babies, and children that need heart surgery. So there's a big need and we're the only place that does it for the state," said Dr. Harold Burkhart. Dr. Burkhart is the Chief Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon at OU Children's Hospital.
According to OU Health, the new Heart Center will bring together cardiac services that were previously spread across multiple areas of the hospital, creating a centralized, purpose-built space that improves coordination and efficiency for both care teams and families.
- Expanded inpatient capacity with approximately 90 beds dedicated to cardiac care, including intensive care, step-down, and adult congenital units
- New surgical and procedural spaces, including:
- Two state-of-the-art heart operating rooms
- Multiple cardiac catheterizations and hybrid labs
- Advanced imaging and diagnostics, including cardiac MRI, CT, echo, stress testing, and more
- Enhanced outpatient access with 30 exam rooms supporting high-volume heart clinics
- Advanced ECMO capabilities for critical cardiac support
- Expanded transplant facilities to support complex cardiac cases
- Dedicated family support and education spaces to improve the care experience
"This is a shining example of what's possible when state leadership and private philanthropy unite for a common cause," said Randy Dowell, CEO of University Hospitals Authority & Trust. "We're grateful to Capitol leaders for their $200 million investment, which provided the foundation for this transformational project."
According to OU Health, formal construction documents and schematic work will begin in 2026, with multiple phases of building starting in early 2027. The building is expected to open to patients in early 2030.