This partnership \u2013 at the Gateway Building at the entrance of Lake Nona — allows patients to have convenient access at a single location to UCF Health and Florida Hospital\u2019s physicians, imaging center, laboratory services, and rehabilitation program. At the same time, patients can also tap into the academic strength of the UCF College of Medicine\u2019s practice, where all doctors are faculty physicians at the medical school.<\/p>\n
UCF Health is already open and seeing patients. Florida Hospital opens April 20.<\/p>\n
In announcing the partnership at Wednesday\u2019s ribbon-cutting event, Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine, said the collaboration of two independent healthcare entities creates a \u201cunique opportunity to provide patient-centered and seamless care to patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example, as soon as patients walk in the building, they are greeted by a patient navigator who directs them to the proper location. Medical records and treatment plans are securely shared between UCF Health and Florida Hospital physicians through a collaborative Health IT system. With primary and specialty care and diagnostics under one roof, Dr. German called the new Gateway facility \u201cone-stop shopping for patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he introduced the event, Thad Seymour, president of the Lake Nona Institute and senior vice president of Tavistock Development Company, which is developing Lake Nona, said the new collaborative health center fits perfectly into the mission of the community. Lake Nona\u2019s vision, he said is to be \u201can ideal place that inspires human potential through innovative collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n
UCF\u2019s College of Medicine has helped lead that innovation at Lake Nona, with a 21st century medical school that features state-of-the-art labs and classrooms and a new curriculum that integrates basic and clinical sciences from a student\u2019s first year. Many UCF faculty physicians also are researching new and better treatments for disease, something the collaboration with Florida Hospital will encourage. The Lake Nona location is the second for UCF Health, which opened its first center in 2011 on University Boulevard just blocks from the main UCF campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs UCF physicians, scientists and teachers, we are building a medical school that is this century\u2019s best. We\u2019re discovering innovative solutions to today\u2019s medical challenges. And at UCF Health, we\u2019re committed to bringing these advancement to patients,\u201d said Dr. German. \u201cWe are expanding our multispecialty practice to serve more people across our community and are excited to bring needed out-patient care to our Lake Nona neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brian Paradis, chief operating officer for Florida Hospital, said a collaborative facility dedicated to seamless patient care is consistent with Florida Hospital\u2019s \u201cConnected Care\u201d mission \u2013 \u201cthe foundation for creating the optimum patient experience by providing convenient, coordinated, comprehensive care.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo us, healthcare is more than just a single episode of care,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s creating lifelong relationships with each patient.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new UCF Health-Florida Hospital center is located at Tavistock Lakes Boulevard and Narcoossee Road at the entrance to Medical City. The center is accepting new patients, and most major insurance plans are accepted.<\/p>\n
For more information on UCF Health, please visit ucfhealth.com.<\/p>\n