Lyndsay Fogarty
In late 2018, HCA Healthcare’s North Florida Division and University of Central Florida Academic Health celebrated a momentous milestone – the groundbreaking of UCF Lake Nona Medical Center. This month, the 204,709-square-foot hospital opened its doors to the public, providing full-service healthcare to Lake Nona and surrounding communities in southeast Orlando and Osceola County.
UCF Lake Nona Medical Center By the Numbers
Located adjacent to the UCF College of Medicine in Orlando’s Medical City, the full-service hospital features 64 inpatient beds, a 20-bed emergency department, four operating rooms, a cardiac catheterization lab, comprehensive imaging and laboratory services and six private birthing suites. Designed to meet the needs of the growing community, UCF Lake Nona Medical Center has room to expand to 80 beds and is designed for future growth up to 500 beds. The facility has also invested in the latest technology to support superior quality care and patient safety, including systems to provide enhanced security, communication and patient experience, as well as innovative patient care and treatment options.
The UCF Lake Nona Medical Center medical staff includes more than 250 physicians, including specialists in cardiology, colorectal surgery, gastroenterology, gynecologic oncology, infectious disease, nephrology, neurohealth sciences, OB/GYN, orthopedic surgery, pulmonology spine and urology. In its first year, UCF Lake Nona Medical Center stands to create more than 350 additional jobs and is expected to serve more than 17,000 patients.
A Positive Community Impact
“The grand opening of UCF Lake Nona Medical Center is the realization of a vision that will impact the community for years to come,” said Wendy H. Brandon, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer. “Whether you need treatment for an acute injury or illness, or if you are seeking resources for advanced specialty care, our community can count on UCF Lake Nona Medical Center to provide high-quality, patient-centered care.”
UCF Lake Nona Medical Center provides convenient access to acute inpatient care for adults in Lake Nona and surrounding communities. Previously, that level of care was only available in the area for children and veterans. Beyond expanded access, the new hospital opening is significant to Lake Nona due to the tremendous financial impact it’s poised to have on the community. To put it in numbers, the hospital will pay a projected $1.4 million in local and state taxes, in addition to providing an estimated $13.8 million for charity and uncompensated care in its first year. The opening of UCF Lake Nona Medical Center also creates access to new and innovative treatments not previously available in the area, like incisionless brain surgery to treat patients with essential tremors.
Educating Tomorrow’s Healthcare Leaders
“In addition to providing convenient access to outstanding healthcare services in Lake Nona, this hospital will provide important educational opportunities for tomorrow’s physicians and support the work of our UCF researchers seeking innovative treatments and cures,” said Dr. Deborah C. German, Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine at University of Central Florida.
”Today, we celebrate the next step in creating a healthcare hub in Lake Nona that will increase economic development and improve health for all.”
Designed with education spaces and technology throughout, UCF Lake Nona Medical Center represents the future of medicine in Central Florida and will deliver outstanding training for tomorrow’s healthcare heroes. And because the hospital is part of UCF’s new Academic Health Sciences Center, it will eventually provide learning opportunities for UCF nursing, social work and physical therapy students as well. These students will be learning from community physician partners, as well as UCF College of Medicine physicians and researchers, who share the hospital’s commitment to developing excellent caregivers and finding cures.
“With the rapid growth in Lake Nona, this community needed a hospital close to home,” Brandon said. “Our team looks forward to becoming more engaged in the region’s wellness and supporting Lake Nona’s commitment to health and well-being.”
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