Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

Description

About Us
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is a sanctuary of hope and healing The most advanced technology coupled with compassion and dedication have made Arnold Palmer Hospital one of the most trusted names in childrens healthcare worldwide Careful attention has been paid to creating a cheerful comforting environment to minimize stress and generate smiles

Arnold Palmer Hospital is a 158bed pediatric hospital facility located in Orlando Florida United States The hospital is part of Orlando Health and is supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation Arnold Palmer Hospital is the first facility in Central Florida to provide emergency care exclusively for pediatrics The Bert Martins Champions for Children Emergency Department amp Trauma Center is part of the areas only Level 1 Trauma Center Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is the only childrens hospital in Central Florida to rank as one of Americas Best Childrens Hospitals in US News amp World Report Arnold Palmer Hospital ranked 30th nationally in pediatric heart careheart surgery and 28th nationally in orthopedics in the 2010 edition of the report and was ranked 30th nationally for pediatric heart careheart surgery in the 2008 edition of the report accomplishments we proudly share with our patients and the community

Our Mission
To improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve

Our Values
People
We are committed to excellence in serving and supporting our patients our physicians our guests and fellow team members

We not only care for people we care about them

We will do everything in our power to ensure that all people are treated with respect dignity kindness and compassion

We will listen intently to our customers and each other with open minds and with open hearts

We will make a positive difference in the lives of the people we serve

Quality

We will never compromise on quality

Our team will provide the highest quality of care and service in everything we do

We will take responsibility for conserving time money and resources

We will be creative and versatile as a team in our solutions

Community

We are proud to serve the people of this community

We will never lose sight of the fact that we are a communityowned organization

We will demonstrate in our words and actions the highest level of commitment to each community we serve

Our Vision
A trusted leader inspiring hope through the advancement of health

History

Our History
A Very Special Baby
Conversations in the late 1970s between pediatricians Andrew Townes Jr MD Ben Guedes MD and Colin Condron MD led to the decision several years later to build what has become the only healthcare facility dedicated solely to the care of children and women in the Southeast

quotWe started out by forming the Childrens Medical Foundation of Greater Orlando in February 1980quot explains Dr Townes quotJudge Joseph DuRocher drafted the first articles of incorporationquot After only two meetings the group changed its name to the Childrens Hospital Foundation and added physicians Charles Price MD Richard Signer MD Stanley Hand MD Arthur Raptoulis MD Joseph Chiaro MD Jack Facundus MD Ronald David MD and Michael Pollack MD James Page Jr donated his services as corporate attorney

All pledged 1000 each to pay for a feasibility study Unfortunately not enough money was raised The group persuaded Ross Laboratories which specializes in pediatric and obstetric healthcare products to conduct the study and absorb the 40000 cost One of the things they said is that special services for women as well as children should be included to make the hospital more successful quotAbout that time ORMC heard what we had in mind and decided they would do itquot says Dr Townes

Renowned golfer Arnold Palmer firmly tied to the Orlando area by the 1980s was looking for a charity to support when he was approached by ORMC quotArnold was insistent that it be top quality in every respectquot says Rex McPherson quotIt is a real pleasure to see what has been accomplished This hospital represents a labor of love on the part of a lot of people Before we opened the new hospital we had to send kids to Gainesville Miami wherever because there was no childrens hospital herequot

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children amp Women became one of the few hospitals in the United States where obstetrics and childrens services are combined increasing the chances for survival of highrisk newborns as well as enhancing the quality of care for both mother and child

When the Foundation took over the campaign to finance Arnold Palmer Hospital all the pediatricians were solicited for fundsquot Dr Townes says quotMost gave 5000 to 10000 The pediatricians really pushed the hospitalquot

Rather than build an entirely new structure ORMC elected to remodel a portion of Holiday Hospital and construct an adjoining building of 160000 square feet Eighty percent of the patient rooms at the new hospital were private rooms The hospitals 255 beds stayed full since its opening on September 10 1989

quotActuallyquot says John Bozard President of Arnold Palmer Hospital quotwe outgrew the facility We were 66000 square feet short of what we needed to operate at current levels of activityquot

The hospital operates as a partnership between the medical staff and management John explained quotThe doctors are very much involved in all of our planning processes Because the doctors are so supportivequot continues John