Since opening day, Arnold Palmer Hospital has experienced an explosive growth in demand for its services. One of only si

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Since opening day, Arnold Palmer Hospital has experienced an
explosive growth in demand for its services. One of only six
hospitals in the US to specialize in health care for women and
children, Arnold Palmer Hospital has cared for over 1.5 million
patients who came to the Orlando facilities from all 50 states and
more than 100 countries. With patient satisfaction scores in the
top 10% of US hospitals surveyed (over 95% of patients would
recommend the hospital to others), one of Arnold Palmer Hospital’s
main focus is the delivery of babies. Originally built with 281
beds and a capacity of 6,500 births per year, the hospital steadily
approached then passed the 10,000 births. Looking at the Table,
Executive Director Kathy Swanson knew an expansion was
necessary.
With continuing population growth in its market area serving 18
central Florida counties, Arnold Palmer was delivering the
equivalent of a kindergarten class of babies every day and still
not meeting the demand. Supported with substantial additional
demographic analysis, the hospital was ready to move ahead with a
capacity expansion plan and a new 11-story hospital building across
the street from the existing facility.
Thirty-five planning teams were established to study such issues
as specific forecasts, services that would transfer to the new
facility, services that would remain in the existing facility,
staffing needs, capital equipment, accounting data, and regulatory
requirements. Ultimately, Arnold Palmer Hospital was ready to move
ahead with a budget of $100 million and a commitment to an
additional 150 beds. But given the growth of the central Florida
region, Swanson decided to expand the hospital in stages: the top
two floors would be empty interiors to be completed at a later
date, and the fourth floor operating room will be doubled in size
when needed. “With the new facility in place, we are now able to
handle up to 16,000 births per year,” says Swanson.
Year
Births
Year
Births
1995
6,144
2005
12,316
1996
6,230
2006
13,070
1997
6,432
2007
14,028
1998
6,950
2008
14,241
1999
7,377
2009
13,050
2000
8,655
2010
12,571
2001
9,536
2011
12,978
2002
9,825
2012
13,529
2003
10,253
2013
13,576
2004
10,555
2014
13,994