The American Society of Hematology will host their annual international meeting in San Francisco and scientists at the Cancer Institute at Florida Hospital have had an unprecedented four (4) abstracts (presentations) accepted for inclusion at the conference. The American Society of Hematology is the only national forum for physicians and scientists to gather and discuss the latest developments in hematology-oncology.

The abstracts showcase the research at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute. The first presentation will focus on the development of an allergy to the blood thinning drug heparin used in open-heart surgery and a previously unrecognized condition that Florida Hospital scientists are calling "Late Onset Heparin - Induced Thrombocytopenia." The second will be on the effect of a naturally occurring blood thinner called Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor on experimental cancer spread. The third will provide new insights into how blood clotting is increased in cancer patients. The final presentation provides more evidence that blood clotting and angiogenesis in cancer are linked.

Back to top

October 12, 2000—Orlando, FL The sound of waves crashing, children playing, the smell of coconut oil, no ties or tight-fitting clothing, just Bermuda shorts, flip-flops, and a soft, comfortable robe. You might think this is at some beach in the Caribbean, but it's actually the new Seaside Imaging—The Healing Environment at Florida Hospital Celebration Health. It just opened on October 3 and it features an MRI and CT scanner in a relaxing beach atmosphere.

The seaside experience starts by having the patient enter their own cabana to change their clothes. They will then be given a colorful and thick beach robe along with sandals to wear. After changing, the patients will be taken down a boardwalk leading to the CT/MRI area where they will find a sand castle façade covering the CT and MRI equipment. All the while they are surrounded by sounds of waves and birds and the familiar, comforting aroma of the beach.

"I've had other MRI scans done and nothing compares to this," said patient Jennie Halfhill. "From the start, where they give you your robe and flip-flops, right up to the actual scan itself, with the goggles through which you can watch your favorite movie while undergoing the scan, it's a totally different experience."

Typically, MRI or CT exams can be frightening. Many patients are forced to go through the exam only while sedated or may even cancel the entire scan. At Florida Hospital Celebration Health, at least one person per day cancels a CT or MRI exam due to claustrophobia. Across the entire Florida Hospital system, which performs over 20,000 MRI exams per year, three percent of all CT or MRI patients cancel because of claustrophobia. At the Seaside Imaging Center, we have created a relaxing atmosphere that is safe, fun and lets the patients be in control of their overall healthcare experience.

"Part of Celebration Health's mission is to provide a complete healing environment," said Sally Grady, Director of Imaging for Celebration Health. "That includes the mental and spiritual, as well as the physical. This new setting is just an extension of that mission."

Back to top

This year, we were recognized in two categories: Heart & Gynecology.

We ranked 41 for Heart, which is all cardiology. Looking at the list, we actually performed more cases than any other hospital on the list and were one of two (the other being ORHS) hospitals in the State of Florida. This is the first time we have been cited for Cardiology.

We ranked 42 for Gynecology, which includes reproductive cancers, infertility and other women's services. FH had the second highest number of discharges on the list of hospitals mentioned and is the only hospital in Florida listed in this category.

Florida Hospital ranks in top three, nationally, for in-patient admissions.

Back to top

Florida Hospital recently ranked third in the country for inpatient admissions according to the 1999-2000 edition of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Guide.

The AHA guide evaluated hospitals all over the country with more than 40,000 inpatient admissions. Based on that data, they chose the top 25 hospitals. Florida Hospital was first in the state and ranked third among all hospitals in the nation with more than 63,000 admissions.*

Based in Central Florida, Florida Hospital has more than 1,400 beds on six campuses and 13 Centra Care Walk-in Medical Centers, making it one of the largest private, not-for-profit hospital in the state. Each year, hospital staff members care for nearly 900,000 patients in our community.

Florida Hospital offers nationally and internationally recognized programs in cardiology, oncology, neuroscience, women's medicine and rehabilitation and sports medicine.

The cardiovascular care program is among the top five in the country performing more than 17,000 complex cardiac procedures each year.

In addition, the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute is the largest, most comprehensive cancer program in the state of Florida and treats more cancer patients than any other program in Florida.

*The data is based on 1998 figures which are the most recent available.

Back to top

A physical expansion of Endoscopy at Florida Hospital Altamonte was recently completed and is now open for patient care. The expansion increases the number of beds to 17 (from 6)and also allows for a fifth procedure room to be added in the future. The department began occupying the space mid-March.

The reason for the expansion is simple—Endoscopy had outgrown its previous space due to an increase in patient volume. From 1997 to 1998, Endoscopy procedures at Florida Hospital Altamonte had grown nearly 25 percent. In 1999, Altamonte Endscopy on average saw 782 patients a month, often setting monthly records.

“The space the department was working in was not designed to treat the amount of patients we were seeing up until the expansion, “ said Florida Hospital V.P. Verbelee Nielsen-Swanson. “In order for the hospital to keep pace with the anticipated growth in endoscopic procedures in Seminole County, a physical expansion was necessary for us to meet future needs.”

The expansion area replaced shell space that was located  on the east wing of the second floor of the hospital. Endoscopy will continue to utilize the previous Endoscopy area which is across the hall from the new area.

Back to top

Florida Children's Hospital now features a new nature theme that will foster a home-away-from-home environment for children. As children walk into Florida Children's Hospital, the first thing they'll see is a giant oak tree with a wooden bench and some game tables along side it-a scene reminiscent of a playground.

Kid-friendly care is the objective of Florida Children's Hospital. "Our philosophy, which we adopted about three years ago, is to treat children as though they are our own-in the most kid-friendly, pain-free way possible," says Shelly Siebenlist, Clinical Director for Children's Services.

Bare, white walls will not exist in Florida Children's Hospital. Instead, a nature trail will guide young patients through the hallways of the hospital and into wood cabin-like rooms. Squirrels, chipmunks, butterflies, and birds scurry throughout-creating a special healing environment designed just for children. Children even receive visits from some real furry friends through our Pet Therapy program.

Florida Children's Hospital is dedicated to providing comprehensive pediatric care to all children. Some of the specialty programs include:

• Children's Emergency Center
• Pediatric/Adolescent Rehabilitation
• Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases
• Level I Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  
  Back to top

Florida Children's Hospital announced today they are the most recent hospital to join STARBRIGHT World's private and secure interactive network that is linking hospitalized children across the nation. Florida Children's Hospital can now offer their seriously ill children the opportunity to engage in STARBRIGHT World during their hospitalization.

"The therapeutic value of the STARBRIGHT World program for these children is immeasurable," said Denise Downing, Childlife Specialist at Florida Children's Hospital. "It gives kids with serious illnesses something to look forward to everyday."

STARBRIGHT World, a program of the STARBRIGHT Foundation, is a private, interactive computer network specially designed for hospitalized children and teenagers. STARBRIGHT World is a place like no other-where children with serious and chronic health conditions from across the nation can interact within a community of peers, helping each other cope with the day to day realities of life with illness. STARBRIGHT World is made possible through the generous support of STARBRIGHT Foundation corporate sponsors: Sprint, STARBRIGHT World Exclusive Telecommunications Provider, and Intel, STARBRIGHT World Exclusive Technology Provider.

"Maybe it's just for an hour during the day, but for that hour, kids can escape from their pain and their reality to a place where they can make anything happen," said Steven Spielberg, Chairman of the STARBRIGHT Foundation. "They are in total control, and we can give them a place where their imaginations can run free."

Florida Hospital Center for Behavioral Health
Offers Valuable New Service to Public through
Newly Added Assessment center

A new service has been added to Florida Hospital Center for Behavioral Health…an Assessment Center which provides healthcare professionals, employees and the community a convenient resource for mental health assessments. "24 hours a day, 7 days a week"

Who could benefit form this new service?

• Anyone at any age that feels they need a mental health assessment
• Parents who have an adolescent that's depressed
• Husbands and wives who feel their partner is in desperate need of counseling
• Healthcare professionals who have patients in need of an evaluation
• Any individual who has an urgent need to talk to someone about their state of being

Other key points to know about the Assessment Center!

• The mental health assessments are done by skilled, qualified cinicians
• Our trained staff will determine the appropriate level of care that is needed, i.e. inpatient or outpatient treatment and if the situation is a crisis or not
• Our staff will verify mental health benefits and arrange a referral to a program that will meet your needs
• If Florida Hospital is not a participating provider for your insurance, we'll then research the appropriate providers for you
• Calls to the Assessment Center can be made at anytime, by calling our HELPLINE at (407) 303-8533 or (800) 869-1616.
  
  Back to top

New Centra Care Walk-in Medical
Center Now Open
(Across from Seminole Towne Center
308 N Entrance Road, Sanford, FL 32771)
Phone: 407/330-3412
Fax: 407/330-6849

Florida Hospital Centra Care announces their newest medical center across from Seminole Towne Center. Hours of operation will be Monday - Friday, 9 am - 9 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 9 am - 6 pm. There are currently 3 Centra Care locations in Seminole County, including Altamonte Springs, Longwood, and Sanford.

Centra Care provides friendly, professional help for all kinds of medical needs, including colds, flu, sore throats, ear aches, stomach aches, broken bones and stitches. Visit is more cost effective than an emergency room visit. With extended weekday and weekend hours, Centra Care is perfect for newcomers to the area who do not have a primary care physician, or local residents who need medical care, and cannot wait or are unable to get an appointment to see their primary care physician. Lab & X-ray services are on-site, most major insurance plans are accepted, and there is never an appointment or referral needed!

Centra Care also offers comprehensive occupational medical services for employers including employment physicals, drug and alcohol testing, and is a provider for most worker's comp managed care plans.

Back to top

Florida Hospital's Corporate & International
Health Announces New Travel Medicine Program

As a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Center, Florida Hospital's Corporate & International Health is prepared to meet all of your travel immunization needs. Services are available for corporate and church groups, as well as individuals.

Recommended and mandatory immunizations are based on your destination, and whether you will be traveling to rural or metro areas. Suggested time to get your immunization is 3-4 weeks prior to your trip, as many immunizations may take at least 2 weeks to be effective. Visit includes consultation with recommendations by physician and Center for Disease Control.

Florida Hospital's Corporate & International Health is located at the state-of-the-art RDV Sportsplex, home of the Orlando Magic, Solar Bears and Miracles at 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd, Orlando.

For more information, call Florida Hospital's Corporate & International Health at 407/916-4540.

Back to top

News Clips

• Physicians at Florida Hospital have just performed its first minimally invasive treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA). This is the newest breakthrough for AAA treatment in 40 years, and could help more than 1.5 million people in the United States avoid grueling open abdominal surgery.
• A new technique is providing relief for people who suffer from severe chest pain also known as angina. Florida Hospital offers a rare new type of treatment... that's surgery free. See how it works and hear how patients are benefiting from the treatment.
• Did you know that you can watch a movie or view a video while getting an MRI done at the same time? Florida Hospital Celebration Health is using a new prototype called Silent Vision that is helping patients relax during their test. Come slide on a pair or glasses and see how this state of the art system works.
• While the nasty flu bug runs it's course across Central Florida, let Florida Hospital be your flu expert. We can provide you with live shot locations as well as doctors and nurses to answer any of your flu questions. We also have Florida Hospital Ask-A-Nurse which is a 24-hour hot line that your viewers can call for information regarding influenza. Give us a call for more details.

For more information or interviews on these stories, please contact Samantha Olenick or Lisa Ehrsam at Florida Hospital's Public Relations Department at 407-303-1917.

Back to top
Back to News Homepage