Nemours Joins the EDCs bioOrlando to promote Regional Health Care Improvement for Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 12:17 PM EDT
by: Jarrod Cady
Ph: (407) 427-0827
email: jcady@nemours.org

Orlando, FL - Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems, today announced that it has joined bioOrlando, a program managed by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC). This alliance of corporate and community supporters was founded to promote regional health care improvement, as well as life science and biotechnology growth that will help make Metro Orlando an international destination for medical care.

“The development of the Nemours Children’s Hospital and pediatric campus will, over time, create a health care, education, and research destination for the state and beyond,” said Jeffrey E. Green, Nemours vice president and chief administrative officer. “It makes sense for Nemours to join bioOrlando, in the effort to attract the best life science and biotechnology organizations to the region that will assist Central Florida in achieving the vision of being an incubator for medical breakthroughs.”

Many of bioOrlando’s objectives, such as creating environments for knowledge bridging, shaping public policy and identifying areas of partner collaboration, are in line with Nemours’ core mission to deliver pediatric research, advocacy and educational health and prevention programs to the community.

John Fremstad, vice president of technology industry development with the Metro Orlando EDC, said, “Nemours provides a substantial contribution to the intellectual and economic engine that will drive the future of the life science industry in Central Florida. Their decision to join bioOrlando is very exciting, and will help fuel the interest of many potential life science and biotechnology companies looking to locate in Orlando.”

AHCA approved Nemours’ Certificate of Need (CON) application in June 2007 that set forth a comprehensive plan for conducting clinical research, graduate medical education, allied health training, and specialty clinical services delivered through a pediatric hospital and comprehensive children’s clinic. Nemours recently reached a state approved agreement with the two community hospitals to drop their appeals of the agency’s June decision, allowing the organization to move forward with the establishment of a top-tier pediatric health care system in Lake Nona.

modified: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 12:44 PM EDT
created: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 12:14 PM EDT

About Nemours

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.

Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.

Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. 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. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.