Orlando Health and the YMCA of Central Florida expand affiliation

MEDIA CONTACT

Kena Lewis, APR
[email protected]

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 8, 2014) – Standing before a packed house at Winter Garden’s Garden Theatre, last night executives with Orlando Health and the Central Florida YMCA announced the expansion of their 13-year strategic affiliation. Effective May 1, Orlando Health expanded its affiliation and involvement with the Y to become the exclusive provider of health and wellness programs at five of the 27 area YMCAs including the Dr. Phillips, Roper, Wayne Densch, South Lake and a future YMCA Family Center in Clermont.

“We are extremely pleased to expand our long-time relationship with the YMCA of Central Florida,” said Jamal Hakim, MD, Interim President and CEO, Orlando Health. “In addition to working with an organization for which we have tremendous respect, this affiliation will help us address some of the requirements brought about by the rapidly changing healthcare environment.”

“The Y/Orlando Health affiliation is taking on a hyper focus on healthy living,” said Jim Ferber, President and CEO of the YMCA of Central Florida. “Together, we can do so much more to help residents improve their day-to-day quality of life by staying healthy.”

In support of the expanded affiliation, Orlando Health is investing $1 million, to be paid to the YMCA of Central Florida over three-years. The funds will be used to address a variety of capital, operational, and programmatic needs.

Joint health and wellness programs provided in each center will vary depending on the needs of the respective community. Programs could include Orlando Health hosting health education workshops or providing sports medicine experts or athletic trainers for YMCA youth sports programs. The hospital system could also deliver direct medical services to YMCA members, similar to an existing program at the Dr. Phillips YMCA Family Center which provides rehabilitative services. Last year, Orlando Health’s rehabilitative program at the Dr. Phillips Y recorded nearly 4,000 patient visits.

“Little did we know when we launched the program in 2001 that shifting healthcare services from hospital settings to alternative sites with lower cost structures would be as important as it has become,” said Dr. Hakim. “This affiliation with the YMCA not only reduces costs, but it also makes it more convenient for patients who live in the Dr. Phillips community.”

“Joining forces for a stronger, healthier resident base is now an imperative for the community,” said John Cardone, Vice President of Health Strategies for the YMCA of Central Florida.

The first new program under the expanded affiliation will occur at the Roper YMCA Family Center in Winter Garden. The “Summer Family Fitness” program is part of the “Healthy Living Education” series; a joint project of the Roper center and Orlando Health’s Health Central Hospital. Expected to launch in mid-June, the program will cover all-things-summer such as sun safety, family cooking, summer sports, or car seat safety while travelling on vacation. Additional topics, including disease-specific sessions, will also be part of the series.

“The ‘Healthy Living Education’ series is designed to help local residents learn to lead healthier lives,” added Dr. Hakim. “By increasing preventative health education and services, this affiliation can positively affect the health of an entire population.”

Under the expanded strategic affiliation, Orlando Health my also offer health and wellness activities on a non-exclusive basis at YMCA centers in downtown Orlando, Lake Nona, South Orlando, Winter Park and a future center planned for a third CNL tower in downtown Orlando.

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About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $3.4 billion not-for-profit healthcare organization with more than 2,400 beds serving Central Florida and beyond. Consisting of eight wholly-owned or affiliated hospitals and rehabilitation centers, Orlando Health has the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, and is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC); Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies; Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center; Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital; Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital; Orlando Health South Lake Hospital; affiliate, St. Cloud Regional Medical Center.

The organization includes Orlando Health Medical Group and Orlando Health Physician Associates, two of the region’s largest multi-specialty practices; a renowned cancer center – Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center (with free-standing sites in downtown Orlando, the Dr. Phillips community in southwest Orlando, Lake Mary, Ocoee and Clermont); four outpatient surgery centers; 10 wholly-owned, affiliated or partnership urgent care centers; and a majority interest inan entity operating five outpatient imaging centers.

More than 2,900 physicians have privileges across the Orlando Health system, which is also one of the area’s largest employers with more than 20,000 employees who support our philosophy of providing high-quality care and service that revolves around patients’ needs. Orlando Health proves this everyday with more than 112,000 inpatient admissions, more than 2.4 million outpatient visits and more than 10,000 international patients each year. Additionally, Orlando Health provides more than $450 million in total value to the community in the form of charity care, community benefit programs and services, community building activities and more.

About the YMCA of Central Florida

The YMCA of Central Florida is committed to strengthening the foundation of the local communities it serves in Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Seminole, Lake and Marion counties. This Y is a diverse organization of 6,300 volunteers and more than 1,800 staff joined by a shared commitment to Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Each day more than 35,000 Central Florida residents are impacted by the Y through 53 after school programs, chronic disease prevention programs and bringing communities together for common good. In 2013, this YMCA Association impacted more than 235,000 residents and raised $11,115,000 to deliver its cause to area children, individuals and families.