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 children’s healthcare worldwide. Careful attention has been paid to creating a cheerful, comforting environment to minimize stress and generate smiles. Arnold Palmer Hospital is a 158-bed 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 Martin’s Champions for Children Emergency Department & Trauma Center is part of the area’s only Level 1 Trauma Center. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is the only children’s hospitalin Central Florida to rank as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” in U.S. News & World Report. Arnold Palmer Hospital ranked 30th nationally in pediatric heart care/heart surgery and 28th nationally in orthopedics in the 2010 edition of the report, and was ranked 30th nationally for pediatric heart care/heart surgery in the 2008 edition of the report – accomplishments we proudly share with our patients and the community.
Cardiac Care at the Congenital Heart Institute Our Congenital Heart Institute (CHI) is nationally ranked for its pediatric cardiovascular services.The Congenital Heart Institute combines a select group of cardiologists,cardiac anesthesiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, physicians, nurses,intensivists and technicians to diagnosis and offer treatment to infants and children with heart disease or congenital heart disorders. The CHI is the only pediatric cardiology center to offer real time web-based surgical outcome data. No matter what type of cardiac care your child needs, the Congenital Heart Institute at Arnold Palmer Hospital provides the most sophisticated technology and procedures available anywhere. This means quicker recovery times, shorter hospital stays, fewer hospital visits, a better outcome, and ultimately - better health. Congenital heart disorders occur in approximately eight out of every 1,000 newborns. These disorders can range from mild to severe with two to three babies in 1,000 displaying signs of a heart defect requiring medical intervention. Since October of 2004, we have performed over 3,000 procedures, completed six clinical trials, helped develop three innovative devices and approaches and accomplished nationally recognized research and we continue to maintain one of the lowest mortality rates in the United States. As one of only a few centers in the United States that has an active Home Surveillance program for our complex Congenital Heart patients who requirenumerous “staged” surgeries, our outcomes are further improved.
Orthopedic Care
With more than 80 years of experience, the orthopedic specialists at Arnold Palmer Hospital are active in national pediatric orthopedic societies and spend considerable time teaching and researching. All of our orthopedic surgeons are board certified and are fellowship trained in pediatric orthopedics. Our orthopedic specialists focus on a range of specialties including: musculoskeletal injuries and fractures, scoliosis and spine surgery, hip disorders, limb deformities, hand surgery and congenital deformities, benign lesions of the bone and soft tissues and clubfoot, specializing in the "Ponseti Method." Our current orthopedic research projects, which have garnered national attention, include new techniques for managing trauma cases, hip disorders and scoliosis. Arnold Palmer Hospital is home to one of the largest, most comprehensive scoliosis surgery centers in the southeastern United States.Our facility features the most advanced implant techniques and spinal cord monitoring.
Arnold Palmer Medical Center
The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is connected to the 285-bed Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies through an elevated two-level bridge. Together, with the Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, they comprise the Arnold Palmer Medical Center – the largest facility dedicated to children and women in the United States.
Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families
The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, a part of Arnold Palmer Hospital, provides services and treatment for children, families and individuals who face overwhelming challenges, including access to healthcare, child abuse, HIV/AIDS mental counseling, sexual trauma, and developmental disabilities.
Affiliations
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children has affiliations with Camp Boggy Creek, Children’s Miracle Network, the Florida Association of Children’s Hospitals, Give Kids the World, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions and the Ronald McDonald House.
History
Before Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children was founded, children requiring specialized medical care had to travel to Gainesville, Tampa, Jacksonville or Miami. In thelate 1970’s, a group of local pediatricians decided that a healthcare facility dedicated solely to the care of children and women was needed for Central Florida. As a first step, the Children's Medical Foundation of Greater Orlando was founded by the group in February 1980. The group shortly changed the nameto the Children's Hospital Foundation. Ross Laboratories, which specializes in pediatric and obstetric healthcare products, conducted a study on the feasibility of creating a hospital for women and children. The study concluded that special services for women, as well as children, should be included to make the hospital more successful. Orlando Health (at the time named Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC)) decided to join the effort and create the hospital.
ORMC approached golf legend Arnold Palmer, who coincidently was looking for acharity to support. Arnold and his late wife Winnie Palmer were first introduced to Orlando Health when they toured the newly opened neonatal intensive care unit and pediatrics wing of Orlando Regional Medical Center inthe mid-1980s. The Children's Hospital Foundation, along with some encouragement from personal friends, convinced the Palmers to lend the “Arnold Palmer” name to the facility. The Palmers also agreed to help with the fundraising for the new hospital. ORMC decided to refurbish the old Holiday Hospital building, built in the 1960’s, and construct an adjoining building of 160,000 square feet. The hospital opened its doors on September 10, 1989, the date ofArnold Palmer’s 60th birthday. The hospital was expected to lose money for the first few years and opened with only 50% of the beds available. The demand was much greater than expected and every bed was in use by the end of the first year of operation. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women became one of the few hospitals in the United States where obstetrics and children's services are combined, increasing the chances for survival of high-risk newborns as well as enhancing the quality of care for both mother and child.
From its opening in 1989 to 2006, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children was known as Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women and offered services for both women and children, including delivery services. After the opening of Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in 2006, all women’s services, including delivery services were moved to Winnie Palmer Hospital. Arnold Palmer Hospital became a children’s hospital focused solely on specialty and sub-specialty healthcare for children. The hospital completed an expansion and renovation process, which resulted in a 64 percent increase in licensed pediatric beds. Today, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is very proud of the physicians and the multidisciplinary team of healthcare specialists that have been helping heal kids and save lives for over 20 years. Providing our patients and their families with the highest quality ofcare in all specialties continues to be our top priority.
Arnold Palmer Hospital Milestones
2010
- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is recognized again by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. Nationally, Arnold Palmer Hospital ranked 28 th in Orthopedic care and 30th in pediatric heart/heart surgery.
2008
- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. Nationally, Arnold Palmer Hospital ranked 26th in pediatric heart/heart surgery.
2007
- Arnold Palmer Hospital unveils a new Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund Starlight Site, a state-of-the-art playroom created in partnership with the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation.
- Arnold Palmer Hospital announces the Pediatric Sports Medicine Program specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, education and prevention of sports injuries in young athletes.
- Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, part of Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, receives the 10th Annual Ernest Amory Codman Award for its documented success in the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to baby.
2006
- The 158-bed Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is connected to Winnie Palmer Hospital and the Women’s Center is moved to Winnie Palmer Hospital.
- The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, a part of Arnold Palmer Medical Center, was awarded the 2006 Ernest Amory Codman Award. The award, presented by The Joint Commission, recognized the HUG-Me program, which helps prevent HIV transmission to children.
- The Congenital Heart Institute (CHI) at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Miami Children’s Hospital became the only implant center in Florida for a national migraine study.
- The CHI performed a rare heart surgery on a 16-yearold whose heart was nearly split in half in a car crash. Only a handful of successful cases have been reported in world medical journals.
- The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families introduced a new Teen Xpress mobile unit.
- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children announced expansion plans to include a total of 158 licensed beds, Bert Martin’s Champions for Children’s Emergency Department & Trauma Center, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, pharmacy, on-site blood center, and redesigned atrium and PlayWorks areas.
2005
- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit celebrated 30 years of helping the tiniest babies.
2004
- Arnold Palmer Hospital broke ground on the new Bert Martin's Champions for Children Emergency Department & Trauma Center.
- The Congenital Heart Institute at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Miami Children’s Hospital installed Internet-based wireless technology, providing the heart team with instant access to critical patient data.
2000
- The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families opened, streamlining children’s advocacy and healthcare services.
- Arnold Palmer Hospital unveiled its Vision for the Future, a five-phase facility enhancement - a sanctuary for hope and healing.
1989
- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children opens in Orlando, FL.