FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Emily Pantelides
Jacobson Strategic Communications
904.477.2306/emily@jacobsonstrategic.com
Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Lawrence J. and Florence
A. De George Charitable Trust Make Donation to Bring World-Class Pediatric
Services to Palm Beach County
JUPITER, FLA. (February 5, 2015) –
Jupiter Medical Center announced today it received a $15 million donation, the largest one-time
donation in the Medical Center’s history, to develop pediatric services
at Jupiter Medical Center in partnership with Miami Children’s Hospital,
soon to be renamed Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The first phase
of the project is a 12-bed inpatient pediatric unit at Jupiter Medical Center.
“As part of our strategy to continue to meet the growing healthcare
needs in Palm Beach County, we’re excited to expand the pediatric
services offered to our community,” said Jupiter Medical Center’s
President and Chief Executive Officer, John D. Couris. “This generous
donation from the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and
the Lawrence J. and Florence A. De George Charitable Trust make it possible
to offer unparalleled pediatric care in our own backyard.”
The inpatient pediatric unit at Jupiter Medical Center will include:
- 12 inpatient pediatric rooms
- a pediatric operating suite
- a children’s playroom
- a Bear’s Den room for rest and respite (named after Jack “The
Golden Bear” Nicklaus)
More than a year ago, Miami Children’s Hospital and Jupiter Medical
Center partnered to enhance pediatrics in North Palm Beach County. Since
then, Jupiter Medical Center has implemented telehealth technology, enabling
Miami Children’s Hospital physicians to interact with Jupiter Medical
Center’s physicians and patients remotely to consult on a patient’s
care in real time while the patient is in the Medical Center’s Emergency
Department. Additionally, Jupiter Medical Center has two pediatric ER
physicians in place during peak hours, and also offers pediatric MRI services
in collaboration with Miami Children’s Hospital.
“This expansion of our work with Jupiter Medical Center builds on
the vision we share with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation
to provide access to specialized care for children,” stated Dr.
Narendra Kini, President and Chief Executive Officer of Miami Children’s
Health System.
The inpatient pediatric unit will be located on the same floor as the newly
opened Florence A. De George Children’s & Women’s Services
obstetrics unit, and will be operational by the end of this year.
“Offering children the best opportunity for a healthy life has always
been a passion for my family,” said Larry
De George of the Lawrence J. and Florence A. De George Charitable Trust.
“It’s such a wonderful synergy to put the knowledge and passion
of these two hospitals together with our charitable trust and the Nicklaus
Children’s Health Care Foundation for the enhancement of children’s
lives, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of it.”
“We have long said that there is no greater calling than helping
children in need of medical care, and at the same time positively impacting
the lives of those families who so dearly love these children,”
golf icon Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara said in a shared statement.
“It is even more gratifying that this helping hand can be extended
to children in our own backyard, so we are thrilled to make this donation
to expand pediatric services in Palm Beach County.”
Jupiter Medical Center Receives $15 Million Donation – Page 2
About the Lawrence J. and Florence A. De George Charitable Trust
The mission of the Lawrence J. and Florence A. De George Charitable Trust
is to support seriously ill and at-risk children. The legacy of Larry
and Florence De George includes two Florence De George Boys and Girls
Clubs in Broward County and Palm Beach County; founders of Camp Boggy
Creek, along with General H. Norman Schwarzkopf and actor Paul Newman,
a camp for seriously ill children located in Eustis, Florida; a seven
year grant to the American Heart Association’s research on fetal
heart development; and the Kravis Center’s
De George Academy for Performing Arts heralded as a shining star for economically-disadvantaged students. In
June 2015 the
i-Ready program of mathematics and reading will be implemented at the Boys and
Girls Clubs of Broward County. This five year remedial program focuses
on raising mathematics and reading proficiencies for students in grades 1-6.
About the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation
Jack and Barbara Nicklaus founded the Nicklaus Children’s Health
Care Foundation in 2004, in an effort to provide families access to world-class
pediatric healthcare in their own communities. The Foundation has grown
from a vision to reality, supporting innovative programs focused on the
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood illnesses. For more information
about the Foundation, please visit
www.nchcf.org.
About Jupiter Medical Center
Founded in 1979, Jupiter Medical Center is a not-for-profit 327-bed regional
medical center consisting of 207 private acute-care hospital beds and
120 long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation and Hospice beds. Award-winning
physicians, world-class partnerships and innovative techniques and technology
enable Jupiter Medical Center to provide a broad range of services with
specialty concentrations in cardiology, oncology, imaging, orthopedics
& spine, digestive health, emergency services, lung & thoracic,
women’s health, weight management and men’s health. Jupiter
Medical Center has approximately 1,500 team members, 575 physicians and
640 volunteers. Jupiter Medical Center continues to perform in the top
10% of hospitals for patient quality and satisfaction. For more information
on Jupiter Medical Center, please call (561) 263-2234 or visit
www.jupitermed.com.
About Miami Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Miami Children's Hospital,
soon to be renamed Nicklaus Children's Hospital®, is South Florida’s
only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with more than
650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric sub-specialists. The 289-bed
hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine
with several specialty programs ranked among the best in the nation in
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014-15 by U.S. News & World
Report. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program
in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American
Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s
most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, visit
www.mch.com.
About Miami Children’s Health System
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Miami Children's Hospital
operates South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively
for children, with more than 650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric
sub-specialists. The 289-bed nonprofit hospital is renowned for excellence
in all aspects of pediatric medicine and routinely has many programs ranked
among the nation’s best by
U.S. News & World
Report. The organization has grown and evolved into the Miami Children's
Health System (MCHS) which includes Miami Children's Health Foundation,
the organization's 501c3 fundraising arm; a network of eight nonprofit
outpatient centers situated in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties;
Pediatric Specialty Group, Inc., a nonprofit physician practice subsidiary;
a management services organization, and an ambulatory surgery center (opening
soon), as well as an e-commerce line of children's wellness and safety
products that support the hospital's mission of serving the region’s
pediatric population. MCHS is the region’s only healthcare system
exclusively for children.