By Johnny Duncan

After a few appeals, several attempts of submitting a Certificate of Need (CON), and much publicity, Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, finally received approval to build an integrated pediatric health care system that will be anchored by the Nemours Children’s Hospital Orlando. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) approved Nemours’ CON application in June 2007, which provided the opportunity for Nemours to purchase a 118-acre parcel of land in the Lake Nona area off of Boggy Creek Road. Nemours selected this particular site because it provides the appropriate size, space and location for the non-profit enterprise’s mission while allowing the organizational control necessary to fulfill obligations outlined in the state of Florida’s CON application.

The Nemours site, located close to Lake Nona Boulevard, future home of the Burnham Medical Research Institute, UCF Burnett College of Medicine and Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital, will help Nemours effectively partner with all entities of the proposed medical and bio medical research community. Major roadways such as State Road 528 and State Road 417, will provide optimal access for patients trying to reach the new facility. In a recent press release, Nemours stated that they look forward to working with all transportation agencies, planning organizations and government departments to ensure that patients of every economic background can reach the site in the most effective way possible.

Two years ago, Nemours announced plans to seek regulatory approval for a free-standing children’s hospital to be part of an integrated system with Nemours Children’s Clinic in Orlando. When the Nemours’ desire was first proposed, Orlando Regional and Florida Hospital expressed concerns about the duplication of services. The concerns were addressed immediately by the Nemours public relations department which seemed to satisfy all parties. While there was some resistance in the early stages of Nemours’ proposal, Orlando and Orange County leaders requested mediation intervention and used local media to convey the importance of the impact of the Nemours complex to the community.

Nemours, incorporated in 1936, is the result of a caring philanthropist. The successful industrialist, inventor, and musician, Alfred I. DuPont left behind an estate valued at $40 million and a last will and testament with instructions for the creation of a foundation primarily devoted to providing health care services to children. Nemours is that established foundation named for the beloved homeland of the DuPont family in France.

The Nemours organization owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (AIDHC) as well as the Nemours Children’s Clinic, a single group practice with multiple locations in Wilmington and the Delaware Valley as well as Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola. In 2006, Nemours cared for 239,000 individuals during more than 560,000 outpatient visits, 11,000 hospital admissions, and 47,000 surgical procedures. Nemours employs 4,200 professionals, including more than 400 specialty and subspecialty physicians and surgeons.

In general, Nemours will focus on providing services for children such as psychology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, immunology, and dermatology. Nemours also hopes to specialize in pediatric transplants. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child.

“The Lake Nona property offered the best value for our mission,” says Jeff Green, Chief Administrative Officer. “As responsible stewards of resources that have been allocated for the care of children, we have an obligation to invest wisely in order to fulfill the clinical, educational, research and advocacy plans for the benefit of the community’s children.”