A Very Special Baby
Conversations in the late 1970's 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.
"We started out by forming the Children's Medical Foundation of Greater Orlando in February 1980," explains Dr. Townes. "Judge Joseph DuRocher drafted the first articles of incorporation." After only two meetings, the group changed its name to the Children's 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 $1,000 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 $40,000 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. "About that time ORMC heard what we had in mind and decided they would do it," 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. "Arnold was insistent that it be top quality in every respect," says Rex McPherson. "It 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 , Miami, wherever, because there was no children's hospital here."
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.
When the Foundation took over the campaign to finance Arnold Palmer Hospital, all the pediatricians were solicited for funds," Dr. Townes says. "Most gave $5,000 to $10,000. The pediatricians really pushed the hospital."
Rather than build an entirely new structure, ORMC elected to remodel a portion of Holiday Hospital and construct an adjoining building of 160,000 square feet. Eighty percent of the patient rooms at the new hospital were private rooms. The hospital's 255 beds stayed full since its opening on September 10, 1989.
"Actually," says John Bozard, President of Arnold Palmer Hospital, "we outgrew the facility. We were 66,000 square feet short of what we needed to operate at current levels of activity."
The hospital operates as a partnership between the medical staff and management, John explained. "The doctors are very much involved in all of our planning processes. Because the doctors are so supportive," continues John.