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NEWS & FEATURES

Florida Hospital Launches Orthopaedic Program at Winter Park Memorial Hospital

July 5, 2001 - Florida Hospital announced the addition of a comprehensive Orthopaedic Center of Excellence to be located at Winter Park Memorial Hospital, a Division of Florida Hospital.

"It is our intention that the Center become a national model for orthopaedic services," said Senior Vice President and Administrator Kenneth W. Bradley. "We believe this will be an important addition to what we now offer at Winter Park Memorial."

The initial nine million-dollar investment, now in the building process, will include five state-of-the-art orthopedic surgery suites; 73 dedicated inpatient beds including a new 19-bed Transitional Care Facility for those patients needing extended post-surgical care; increased inpatient rehabilitation services; telemedicine capabilities for physician education; and future orthopaedic research. In addition, with the support of a physician task force led by John W. McCutchen, M.D., the majority of orthopaedic surgical cases now being performed at Florida Hospital Orlando will be moved to Winter Park Memorial to take advantage of the hospital's expanded capabilities and convenient access.

Most components of the orthopaedic program will be operational by this December. The addition of an Orthopaedic Center of Excellence at Winter Park Memorial will not affect or change any of the existing services provided to the community by the hospital.

"Florida Hospital anticipates a tremendous growth in patients over the next few years and the creation of this orthopaedic Center will allow us to better serve the needs of patients in Central Florida's 10-county area and beyond," Bradley added. "Orthopaedic patients will continue to be seen at our other hospitals throughout the area, but Winter Park Memorial will become a regional center of orthopaedic activity for the Florida Hospital system."

Lee Johnson, Administrative Director of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, said, "Winter Park Memorial has a rich and long history of caring for orthopaedic patients and Florida Hospital is excited to begin building on that tradition and elevate what already exists into a cutting-edge program." Johnson added, "Our Orthopaedic Center will benefit patients by providing a full continuum of care in a focused setting matched with the expertise of specialized orthopaedic surgeons."

Florida Hospital currently performs over 5,500 orthopedic surgical cases annually making it one of the country's top hospitals for orthopedic patients.

Winter Park Memorial Hospital is a 334-bed, full-service facility that opened to the public in 1955. Florida Hospital fully acquired Winter Park Memorial in July 2000 and today operates it as a not-for-profit, community-based hospital.