Florida Hospital Breaks Ground on Emergency Department, Plans Further Expansion

By Georgiana Mihaila, Associate Editor

Florida Hospital East Orlando recently celebrated its upcoming expansion, that will double the size of its current emergency department, during a special groundbreaking ceremony. Both hospital and community leaders attended the event and planted 260 flowers—a number that stands for the average number of patients seen on a daily basis in the emergency department.

In 2012, the Florida Hospital East Orlando emergency department treated more than 83,000 patients. As a result of the high demand for emergency care, the hospital has decided to double the size of its emergency department from 36 to 65 beds. The expansion will also include several child-friendly rooms with nature themes and LED lighting along with kid-friendly waiting areas to provide a more calming environment for children. Construction for the emergency department is expected to be completed in summer 2014. When the expansion is complete, Florida Hospital East Orlando will be able to treat 100,000 patients a year.

Florida Hospital East Orlando will also be building out the fifth floor of its main patient tower. This expansion—set for completion in July 2013—will add up to 40 private patient beds. In order to expand surgical services offered by the hospital; the addition of 40 new beds will bring the total number to 265.

“As the East Orlando community has grown over the years, Florida Hospital East Orlando has made enhancements to grow and expand in order to provide the best care possible in a convenient setting,” said Mike Thompson, administrator of Florida Hospital East Orlando. “Our goal is to provide patients with more efficient service and access to high quality medical care in their own backyard.”

It is estimated that the overall expansion process will generate about 75 new construction jobs, as well as new clinical jobs within the hospital.

Images via Florida Hospital