Nemours Children's Hospital (NCH) is a freestanding, 130-bed, pediatric acute care
children's hospital
A children's hospital is a hospital that offers its services exclusively to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In certain special cases, they may also treat adults. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th ...
in Orlando, Florida. It is affiliated with the
University of Central Florida College of Medicine
The University of Central Florida College of Medicine is an academic college of the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, United States. The VP of Health Affairs and dean of the college is Deborah C. German, M.D.
The col ...
and is a member of the
Nemours Children's Health System, one of two hospitals in the system. The hospital provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to infants, children, teens, and young adults aged 0–21 throughout Orlando and features a
level II pediatric trauma center. Its regional
pediatric
Pediatrics ( also spelled ''paediatrics'' or ''pædiatrics'') is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until the ...
intensive-care unit
220px, Intensive care unit
An intensive care unit (ICU), also known as an intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU), is a special department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensiv ...
and
neonatal intensive care units serve the Orlando and greater Florida region. The hospital also has a helipad to transport critically ill patients to and from the hospital.
History
When Nemours announced their plans to open a new children's hospital in Orlando, the public did not support the plan. Adversaries of the project were concerned with the fact that two children's hospitals already existed in the Orlando region and another one would duplicate services and drive prices up. Nemours filed multiple attempts to get their hospital approved and even discussed buying Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children but state officials did not see the need for another children's hospital. Nemours then started an aggressive advertising campaign talking about wanting to bring a nationally recognized children's hospital to the Orlando region. After many attempts to get their project greenlighted by state officials, Nemours was approved.
Construction of the hospital began on February 25, 2009, and was managed by architectural firm
Skanska
Skanska AB () is a multinational construction and development company based in Sweden. Skanska is the fifth-largest construction company in the world according to ''Construction Global'' magazine. Notable Skanska projects include renovation of t ...
and designed by a collaboration of Stanley Beaman, Sears Atlanta Perkins, Will Boston.
The new children's hospital is a part of the Nemours Foundation and cost $397 million. The hospital is 630,000 square feet and has a maximum bed capacity of 137 beds, with only 95 operating.
In 2016 a new
Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is an independent American nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.
RMHC has a global network of c ...
with 15 bedrooms opened up adjacent to NCH with free transportation to and from the hospital.
In 2017 hospital administration announced that they would be expanding up into their 6th floor, adding 30 patient beds. In addition to 30 inpatient beds, the expansion also adds an operating room and cardiac catheterization lab. The expansion was completed in early 2020.
On May 12, 2021, the hospital announced that its name will be changed to "Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida", in the summer of 2021.
Services
The hospital offers inpatient, outpatient, and rehabilitation services as well as a children's clinic and emergency department on the 60 acre campus.
Notable features of the new hospital include all private rooms, expanded storage spaces, and technologies to secure patient rooms and entertain patients.
Awards
In 2013 the hospital attained a
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a
green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction ...
Gold certification due to the advanced environmental design. The hospital was the first in Florida to obtain the status, and the third children's hospital in the U.S. to be LEED Gold certified.
In 2013, the hospital was listed as one of the "Most Wired" hospitals in the U.S. by the Hospitals and Health Networks magazine.
In 2015 the hospital was ranked on the list of "The 50 Most Amazing Children’s Hospitals in the World" by Healthcare Administration DP.
In 2019 the hospital was one of three children's hospitals in Florida to earn "Top Children's Hospital" status from
The Leapfrog Group
A Patient Safety Organization (PSO) is a group, institution, or association that improves medical care by reducing medical errors. Common functions of patient safety organizations are data collection and analysis, reporting, education, funding, ...
, and has earned the recognition for multiple years.
See also
*
List of children's hospitals in the United States
A children's hospital is a medical facility that offers its services exclusively to children and adolescents. Most children's hospitals can serve children from birth up to the age of 21. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th ...
*
Nemours Foundation
The Nemours Foundation is a non-profit organization in Jacksonville, Florida, created by philanthropist Alfred I. du Pont in 1936, and dedicated to improving the health of children. The Foundation operates the Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware ...
*
Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware is a pediatric hospital located in Wilmington, Delaware. It is controlled by the Nemours Foundation, a non-profit organization created by philanthropist Alfred I. du Pont in 1936 and dedicated to improving t ...
*
Wolfson Children's Hospital
Wolfson Children's Hospital is a nationally ranked, non-profit, pediatric acute care hospital located in Jacksonville, Florida. It has 276 beds and is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacks ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
* https://www.nemours.org/locations/orlando-nemours-childrens-hospital.html
* https://www.nemours.org/welcome.html
Children's hospitals in the United States
Hospitals in Florida
Hospital buildings completed in 2012
Teaching hospitals in Florida
Hospitals established in 2012
Hospital buildings completed in 2020
Pediatric trauma centers