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Dr. P. Phillips Hospital Celebrates 30 Years

The hospital, which opened in 1985 as Sand Lake Hospital, shares a unique bond with the Dr. Phillips community. Built on property that was Dr. Philip Phillips’ first orange grove in Orange County, the opening of the hospital brought critical healthcare services to the southwest community, including a 24-hour emergency department. Now, 30 years later, that 150-bed hospital has grown to 237-beds, and its emergency department treats more than 80,000 patients each year. “For the past three decades we have grown and adapted to meet the ever changing healthcare needs of our pa-tients and families who live in southwest Orange County and those who are visiting from afar.” said Karen Frenier, President, Dr. P. Phillips Hospital. “With support from our physicians, team members, and the community, Dr. P. Phillips Hospital is a true community asset.” The hospital’s name was changed to its current moniker in 2007 to acknowledge and honor  Dr. Phillips Charities, which pledged $5 million in support of Orlando Health’s program needs. 



Today, Dr. P. Phillips Hospital serves resident and visitors to Central Florida through an array of specialized programs including:

  • cardiology services
  • cardiovascular surgery
  • a fully accredited Chest Pain Center
  • community education
  • emergency medicine
  • home health
  • international health
  • medical/surgical services
  • minimally invasive surgery, including the DaVinci® robotic system
  • oncology care in partnership with UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health physicians
  • psychosocial services
  • rehabilitation
  • sports medicine

This year, the hospital expanded its emergency department to utilize a new approach to meet the needs of patients and reduce wait times. Patients with less serious conditions, that are not life threatening, are treated in the new rapid assessment area of the emergency department. Recognizing the hospital’s unique ability to serve visitors from around the world, in 2004, generous donations by Cynthia and William Perry, local hoteliers and lodging associations, funded the Perry Pavilion. Since it opened, this “home-away-from-home” for families of patients from outside the Orlando area has served close to 7,000 families, some from as far away as Australia, China and Ukraine. “We pride ourselves on not only being a part of the vivid history of this community but on continually engaging with our many partners in this area,” added Mrs. Frenier. “We look forward to continuing our role as a fixture in this community and a hospital that our citizens and visitors can rely on.” Dr. P. Phillips Hospital maintains a number of key partnerships in the area with the YMCA, Visit Orlando, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, I-Drive Chamber of Commerce, West Orange Chamber of Commerce, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Valencia College, the Garden Theater and Edgewood Children’s Ranch.



Dr. P. Phillips Hospital Timeline:



1983 – Ground breaking of Sand Lake Hospital



1985 – Grand Opening of Sand Lake Hospital



1990 – $1-million renovation and expansion project doubles the size of the emergency department



2004 – The Cynthia C. and William E Perry Pavilion opens at Sand Lake Hospital



2007 – Sand Lake Hospital changes its name to Dr. P. Phillips Hospital on January 27 – the birthdate of Dr. Philip Phillips. At one time the largest citrus grower in the world, Dr. Phillips’ companies eventually became the Dr. Phillips Charities. The hospital, which stands on the location of the original Dr. Phillips orange groves, was renamed in honor of the founder and his foundation, which has been a committed supporter of Orlando Health.



2007 – Receives VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence



2008 – New 5-story tower opens, adding 315,000 square feet of space and increasing the total hospital bed  count to 237.



2010 – Receives Cycle III accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers, becomes the first hospital in Central Florida to receive this prestigious distinction



2010 – Wound Car and Hyperbaric Medicine Center receives Center of Distinction Award from Diversified Clinical Services for its exceptional service to patients



2010 – Opens oncology clinic, offering cancer services with full time oncologists



2010 – Awarded a three-year term of accreditation in MRI, ultrasound and mammography from the American College of Radiology



2010 – Orange County street, leading to hospital from Turkey Lake Road, renamed Hillenmeyer Way to recognize retiring Orlando Health President John Hillenmeyer. Hillenmeyer served as Executive Director of Sand Lake Hospital when it opened in 1985.



2011 – Selected to participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings to help improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and protect the environment  



2011 – Nuclear Medicine awarded a three-year term of accreditation by the American College of Radiology, making it the only facility in Orlando to hold accreditation in all three Nuclear Medicine modules: Planar, SPECT and Nuclear Cardiology



2012 – Opens first multidisciplinary urologic cancer center in Central Florida, providing treatment for bladder, kidney, prostate and testicular cancers



2012 – Recognized in the Kilowatt Crackdown Challenge by the Central Florida Energy Efficiency Alliance



2012 – Heart Failure Program is awarded full Heart Failure Accreditation status from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC)



2015 – Emergency department expanded to meet needs of non-life threatening conditions and reduce wait times



2015 – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses confers a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Intensive Care Unit