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Health Care
Seminole County residents have a n abundance of opportunities to exercise their choices in healthcare. Options abound in ever-updating facilities, an increasing number of medical professionals, surgeons, specialists and general practitioners. Along with significant numeric growth in this county the medical field has continually accommodated the expansion. Three hospitals call Seminole County home as well as numerous out-patient surgical centers for procedures requiring less than a 24 hour stay. Complete dedication to a healthy society and prompt diagnosis and treatment are the goal of the many medical professionals and facilities. Seminole County doctors utilize the three professional hospitals with little travel from their nearby offices. Florida Hospital Altamonte
The Florida Hospital Healthcare system is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation. Florida Hospital Altamonte, in Altamonte Springs, is part of this healthcare system which is the largest not-for-profit Protestant hospital in the country. As the largest satellite campus within the Florida Hospital system, Florida Hospital Altamonte has been providing state-of-the-art healthcare to the community since 1973. The recently expanded 341-bed hospital cares for more than 175,000 patients a year, including 50,000 emergency patients and 17,000 inpatients, with 1,500 baby deliveries and performs approximately 8,000 surgical cases, making it the largest and most comprehensive hospital in Seminole County. Florida Hospital Altamonte is also part of a nationally-recognized cardiac center offering an array of cardiac diagnostic services, as well as comprehensive cancer care, surgical services, maternity and state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging. Florida Hospital Altamonte’s new multi-million dollar expansion is more than just bricks and mortar. It encompasses an entire atmosphere and unique philosophy of holistic healthcare, focused on healing the body, mind and spirit. In December 2007, Florida Hospital Altamonte opened the community’s largest gift, with the state of the art six-story tower which has transformed the face of healthcare in Seminole County. “This $70 million dollar community investment provides Florida Hospital Altamonte an extraordinary opportunity to establish destination healthcare services in Seminole County and further enhance our mission of caring for the whole person and enhancing their individual experience,” said Rob Fulbright, Administrator, Florida Hospital Altamonte. Each room in the hospital is designed with added space to encourage family-centered care to enhance the healing process. The rooms are also equipped with an interactive patient network that empowers patients and their families to be engaged in the care experience. As a first of its kind in Central Florida, this patient friendly technology, turns each room’s two-inch LCD TV into an interactive resource, which provides personalized health education, internet and entertainment options as well as an opportunity to communicate and receive immediate feedback at the touch of a button. In addition, Florida Hospital Altamonte’s maternity unit, “The Baby Place”, has been completely renovated to create a peaceful atmosphere with added amenities for new families to bond and make those first lifelong memories. The hospital’s new Emergency Department is the only ER in Seminole County to offer all private rooms for a quiet, calm environment with space for family support, along with private bathrooms and flat screen televisions for added comfort.This expanded facility with a new efficiency process, allows physicians to see patients within 60 minutes of their arrival at the Emergency Department. Patients are assessed as quickly as possible by a clinical team of nurses, within minutes of their arrival at the Emergency Department and treated based o the severity of their condition. Since making this 60-minute promise last spring, the average wait time per patient has dropped to 54 minutes to see a physician. This is 32 minutes faster than wait times just one year before at Florida Hospital Altamonte and up to 50 minutes faster than many other Central Florida Emergency Departments. This commitment to care for patients within minutes of their arrival, along with the most clinically advanced protocols, is just one more way that Florida Hospital Altamonte is setting new healthcare standards in Seminole County. Florida Hospital Altamonte’s Cancer Institute is but another of their community outreach options, including state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures, equipment and advanced treatment and care for those healing from cancer. By early 2009, Florida Hospital Altamonte will complete its four-year expansion project with the opening of its new state of the art surgical suites. These new OR’s, equipped with the most sophisticated technology, will help attract and retain the most skilled surgeons form across the country to Seminole County. Please visit www.floridahospitalaltamonte.com for more information and a list of specialized services and physicians. Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital
Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital, a part of Orlando Regional Healthcare, is a community hospital located in Longwood just 10 miles north of Orlando. The 206-bed facility provides medical, surgical, critical care (ICU/ PCU/COU), labor & delivery, behavioral health and emergency services. It rates in the top 10% of National Customer Satisfaction. Established over 100 years ago this not-for-profit organization has been identified by U.S. News and World Report as one of the country’s best hospitals. Services for Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital include 24-hour emergency services, medical and surgical services, a full range of outpatient care, including same-day surgery, endoscopy, progressive and critical care, specialized women’s services including labor and delivery, a full range of state-of-the-art diagnostics, physical therapy, speech and occupational therapies, spiritual care services, a wound healing center, pain management, home health, a cardiovascular imaging center (Diagnostic and Interventional vascular radiology), behavioral health (Individualized psychotherapy, chemical dependency, therapy, marital and family therapy, group psychotherapy, recreational therapy, stress management, medication management, inpatient and outpatient for children and adolescent and adult services. More than 540,000 local patients and 4,500 international patients are cared for each year through the 1,788 bed hospital system of Orlando Regional Healthcare. The experienced surgical staff and managers create a dynamic team with the state-of-the-art equipment and technology. In addition the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is a very well known oncology facility specializing in advanced treatments in cancer care. The 30-bed Emergency Room provides prompt EMS protocol as well as assessments done in a quick and thorough fashion. Over 27,000 patients per year are seen in this department yet with its previous expansion they are now able to diagnose and treat the public in a more efficient and prompt way. Orlando Regional Healthcare’s Trauma Helicopter crews are at the beck and call of anyone in need of transport to treat a life-threatening issue. Another specialty of the hospital is a reputable Behavioral Health Center for adult and youth counseling. Bilingual patient care is offered through the center in its 80-bed area. The unique needs of patients are addressed by the caring physicians and staff who are highly trained to address specific mental health care. In addition to the outpatient services, highly specialized care for women is provided. The hospital has plans for a new Women's Resource Center with a mammogram imaging machine, labor and delivery to same day surgery, endoscopy, progressive and critical care, physical therapy, rehabilitation, state-of-the-art diagnostics, pulmonary wellness, speech and occupational therapies, wound healing, pain management and a Cardiovascular Imaging Center. With this hospital hosting some 206 beds, 80 of which are in the Behavioral Health Center, the staff provides an extra dose of attention to detail and care. Throughout the Orlando Regional Healthcare System, the medical professionals have treated some 96,000 in patients in 2007 and nearly 465,000 outpatients and delivered 15,659 babies. Hospital administrators, doctors, nurses and staff are proud to care for both the physical and mental needs of the area. Central Florida Regional Hospital
Central Florida Regional Hospital, located in Sanford on Lake Monroe, has now added several new healthcare services to their long list of credits to better care for the public in their 226-bed facility. In addition to the fact that the hospital has won numerous awards for their comprehensive health care, they provide a complete continuum of care and utilize the most modern cardiac catheterization equipment available to accomplish this goal through their Chest Pain Center. To the credit of this award winning hospital they stayed very busy in 2007 with a total of 9,821 admissions as well as 25,048 outpatient visits. Babies also love Central Florida Regional with 644 born there. There were 41,021 patients seen in their emergency room. Yet, with the outstanding cardiac services offered through their many heart specialty services they have performed 214 open heart surgeries and have helped others with 3,570 cardiac catherization procedures. Their 12-unit cardiac intensive care beds are conveniently located near the outpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center and open-heart surgical suites. HealthGrades, an information and advisory services company, has recognized Central Florida Regional’s stroke and cardiac services and honored the hospital with an award of a five-star rating. Central Florida Regional is among the top 5% nationally for both services of stroke and cardiac care. The newest service offered now is the CyberKnife , the first of its kind in Central Florida. The CyberKnife is a non-surgical technology that treats solid tumors of the brain and body without the side effects of traditional treatments. The new $5 million dollar CyberKnife Center is the first robotics to target and treat tumors with highly focused beams of radiation. Unilke previous technologies, CyberKnife can destroy most tumors anywhere in the body and doesn’t require the placement of uncomfortable or invasive head or body frames.Although the hospital acquired the 64-Slice VCT over a year ago, this state-of-the-art imaging system from GE Healthcare is at lightspeed the world’s first Volume Computed Tomography (VCT) system. It now enables physicians to capture images of a beating heart in just five heatbeats, something no other CT system can offer. It’s unparalleled image quality and remarkable speed is a machine gathering high-resolution, credit-card-thin images of the heart, brain and lungs in approximately five seconds. The computer then resembles these images into a three-dimensional image of the organ(s), helping physicians make a more confident diagnosis providing the first clear, noninvasive means of viewing structures and major vessels inside the heart. In August of 2006, Central Florida Regional Hospital opened the electrophysiology lab and has already brought lifesaving pacemakers and internal cardiac defibrillators to patients. The lab also provides cardiac ablation, which uses radiofrequency energy to stop heart arrhythmias. Lab workers tell patients when your heart is keeping proper time, it beats in a rhythm as constant as your trusty watch. A heart that beats out of rhythm (arrhythmia) may signal a cardiovascular condition, which can be detected through electrophysiology – the study of the electricity of the heart. The Primary Stroke Center is another of the many services available to Seminole County. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations awarded Central Florida Regional Hospital Primary Stroke Center its certification. The hospital has also earned the Gold Seal of Approval for stroke care. Seminole Community College Nursing Program
Seminole Community College's Nursing Programs is strengthening its partnership with long-term care facilities. Nursing Director Cheryl Cicotti said, “With the aging of the baby boomers, more long-term nurses are needed. Long-term care facilities are a vital partner for our nursing programs.” SCC has16 multi-purpose health labs designed to duplicate real hospitals. Of particular interest to the facilities is the one-of-a-kind home-health apartment, which has a living area, kitchen, bedroom and a small bathroom. Certified Nursing Assistant Program Manager Joanne Moats said instructors are able to teach students in a setting a home-health nurse would experience in treating patients in a home or in a LTC facility. They often place oxygen tanks, walkers and wheelchairs in the apartment to show students how to function in tight quarters. Moats said the exposure to the apartment is making a big difference among her students. One of the exercises she uses is to have a faculty member set up the apartment in an unsafe way, with fur rugs, extensions cords and clutter, and ask students to identify what is wrong with the present arrangement. “It's a real-life simulation,” Moats said. The labs, including the apartment, have closed-circuit television cameras so students can observe through televisions in the classrooms. The apartment is also used by SCC's physical therapy assistant and respiratory care students. Assisted Living
Senior Citizens across the nation remember a time when they were anticipating retirement and the freedom it would bring them. Yet, as the population continues to age some find that the independent life they had expected to live has faded due to health issues or limitations in their mobility. Many have now turned to Assisted Living Facilities for their care. Seminole County offers many options in facilities providing varying care depending on the medical attention that is necessary for that individual. Seniors have many interests and needs so these facilities cater to meeting that lifestyle and personal concern. Merrill Gardens
Altamonte Springs offers Merrill Gardens, a highly regarded retirement community with a beauty salon, barbershop, heated outdoor swimming pool, cable television, a library with computers and internet access. They offer apartments-style living located close to shopping, restaurants and medical facilities with transportation provided for non-driving guests. An “Anytime Dining Program” is also part of the personal touch as well as an activities director to be sure that daytime hours are filled with plenty to do. Spring Hills-Lake Mary
Residents of Spring Hills Senior Communities Lake Mary can enjoy affordable Assisted Living in Central Florida with spacious private apartment suites, fine dining, personalized services and a wide selection of activities that reflects their interests. Their distinctive approach to Assisted Living and holistic care, together with outstanding senior housing, allows Residents to live as independently and as vibrantly as possible. Features include three chef-inspired meals each day, served restaurant style, snacks and beverages available 24 hours a day, individual laundry and flat linen service, weekly housekeeping services, scheduled transportation for shopping, excursions and appointments, personal concierge services, a variety of recreational, cultural and entertainment choices, “Enhance Fitness” classes, staff on hand 24 hours a day and regular wellness checks and holistic health care. Spring Hills also has a beauty and barber shop, library, wellness Center, piano lounge and PAW (Pets are Welcome) Program. Renaissance Retirement Center
Delicious creatively prepared meals, housekeeping, linen and towel laundering, groundskeeping, and maintenance services are just the beginning of the amenities offered to those who choose the Renaissance Retirement Center in Sanford. Assisted or independent living arrangements may be made. Activities program are also available for the active senior. The Heritage at Lake Forest
Seminole County has yet another selection in the search for Assisted Living facilities, The Heritage at Lake Forest in Sanford. Beautifully landscaped and equipped with a scenic fountain this two-story facility is proudof its elegant staircase upon entering the front doors. Amenities include independent or assisted living, a secured dementia unit, choice of private apartment suites of studies, one-bedroom or two-bedroom floor plans, all utilities paid except telephone, free basic cable, three nutritious restaurant style meals daily, a 24-hour emergency response system and weekly maid/linen, bed and bath services. Chambrel
Chambrel at Island Lake in Longwood is nestled on 15 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with gorgeous courtyards and gardens. It is convenient to restaurants and shopping. From a heated outdoor swimming pool to a craft studio or a library with internet access the facility also offers full-service dining. Assistance 24 hours a day is always available.
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