Broward Health
Encyclopedia
Broward Health, formerly the North Broward Hospital District, is one of the 10 largest health systems in the U.S. Located in Broward County, Florida
, Broward Health has the county’s first certified stroke
center and only liver transplant
program. Broward Health currently operates more than 30 healthcare facilities, including Broward General Medical Center, North Broward Medical Center, Imperial Point Medical Center, Coral Springs Medical Center, Chris Evert
Children’s Hospital, and Broward Health Weston.
hurricane, one of the worst in county history. Due to lack of patients able to pay for care, the hospital was forced to close in 1929. It was reopened by Juanita Clay in 1932, and remained successful until it was purchased in 1937 by Medical Services, Inc., an insurance company owned by Dr. F.A. Brunson and M.L. Menger. Medical Services issued hospital and family insurance policies that required the use of their own hospital and doctors. The Broward County medical community rebelled, refusing to use the Medical Services hospital.
In May 1937, the Broward County Medical Association (BCMA) met to discuss plans to build a public hospital, feeling that private hospitals could not be relied upon for continuity of service and only a community-owned hospital would offer security. The consensus of the meeting was to build a hospital supported by the city, county, or a hospital district. The result of the meeting was a unanimous motion to form the Broward Hospital Association (BHA). From that point on, the BHA began its mission to raise the funds needed to build a hospital. The Chairman, James D. Camp, as well as the other members, explored every possibility of finding funds; however, government-assisted funding simply wasn’t available. During this time, the county was experiencing such rapid growth, the need for facilities became critical.
Members of the community also joined in. Many donated their work at cost, contributing their fees to the "hospital fund." A "drive" was also implemented and equipment donated. The 45-bed hospital opened its doors as the new Broward General Hospital (now Broward General Medical Center) and admitted its first patient on January 2, 1938.
Between 1935 and 1940, the population of Broward County grew from 20,000 to approximately 30,000. To keep up with the growth, the addition of a new wing was crucial, but without funding the expansion was difficult. Camp approached the city commission in 1940 about the need for expansion and received favorable response for a new wing. In 1942, a South Wing was added; in 1948, the East Wing was built, raising the bed total at Broward General to 142.
In 1949, the Hospital Board returned to the City Commission to ask for funds for another wing. This time the City Commission denied the request. As a result, Camp and all members of the Board resigned.
Soon thereafter plans for a building on the west side were underway. The West Wing plans included two floors for patients, a new surgical unit, new kitchen and dining space to be connected to the North Wing of the hospital by a hallway. In 1955, a new lab was opened and on September 3, 1957, the City of Fort Lauderdale gave a deed of conveyance to the North Broward Hospital District. Its area of responsibility stretched the width of the county, from the Dania Canal north to the Palm Beach County line.
In 1961, an additional specialty wing brought the bed total to 468, plus 50 bassinets. The North Tower and ten-story elevator building opened in 1967; the South Tower in 1970.
. The first patient was admitted to the new North Broward Hospital in March 1961. Over the years, six more floors and a conference center were added. Today, the 409-bed facility is an adult Level II trauma center providing care for more than 50,000 medical emergencies and 14,000 hospitalized patients.
, hosts Camp KoralKids, created in 1995, a summer day camp for children with Type-I diabetes—the only day camp of its kind in South Florida. It has since developed into a two-week camp that annually serves over 60 children.
, is one of less than 200 facilities recognized in the United States by the National Association of Children's Hospitals. In 2006, the children’s hospital opened a newly renovated, expanded pediatric sedation unit, the only one in Broward County. The pediatric sedation unit specializes in the safest techniques for pediatric sedation
. In November 2007, the Chris Evert Children’s Hospital at Broward General received the Ernest Amory Codman Award for their advances in pediatric sedation.
Broward Health services all segments of the community through its four hospitals, a children’s hospital, seven primary care centers, four Family Health Places, eight school-based clinics, specialty care programs, home-health services, health education programs, free and low-cost screenings, and business partnerships.
Broward County, Florida
-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
, Broward Health has the county’s first certified stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
center and only liver transplant
Liver transplantation
Liver transplantation or hepatic transplantation is the replacement of a diseased liver with a healthy liver allograft. The most commonly used technique is orthotopic transplantation, in which the native liver is removed and replaced by the donor organ in the same anatomic location as the original...
program. Broward Health currently operates more than 30 healthcare facilities, including Broward General Medical Center, North Broward Medical Center, Imperial Point Medical Center, Coral Springs Medical Center, Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
Children’s Hospital, and Broward Health Weston.
The Beginnings of Consolidated Healthcare in Broward County
In the land boom of the 1920s, the Wallace Apartments were converted into the Edwards-Maxwell Hospital, the first hospital in Broward County. Soon, the land boom busted, followed by the September 19261926 Miami Hurricane
The 1926 Miami hurricane was a Category 4 hurricane that devastated Miami in September 1926. The storm also caused significant damage in the Florida Panhandle, the U.S. state of Alabama, and the Bahamas...
hurricane, one of the worst in county history. Due to lack of patients able to pay for care, the hospital was forced to close in 1929. It was reopened by Juanita Clay in 1932, and remained successful until it was purchased in 1937 by Medical Services, Inc., an insurance company owned by Dr. F.A. Brunson and M.L. Menger. Medical Services issued hospital and family insurance policies that required the use of their own hospital and doctors. The Broward County medical community rebelled, refusing to use the Medical Services hospital.
In May 1937, the Broward County Medical Association (BCMA) met to discuss plans to build a public hospital, feeling that private hospitals could not be relied upon for continuity of service and only a community-owned hospital would offer security. The consensus of the meeting was to build a hospital supported by the city, county, or a hospital district. The result of the meeting was a unanimous motion to form the Broward Hospital Association (BHA). From that point on, the BHA began its mission to raise the funds needed to build a hospital. The Chairman, James D. Camp, as well as the other members, explored every possibility of finding funds; however, government-assisted funding simply wasn’t available. During this time, the county was experiencing such rapid growth, the need for facilities became critical.
Broward General Opens
After a long search, it was agreed that the Granada apartments could be remodeled into a hospital that would accommodate 45 patients, with room for acceptable operating rooms, delivery rooms, laboratories, and x-ray space.Members of the community also joined in. Many donated their work at cost, contributing their fees to the "hospital fund." A "drive" was also implemented and equipment donated. The 45-bed hospital opened its doors as the new Broward General Hospital (now Broward General Medical Center) and admitted its first patient on January 2, 1938.
Between 1935 and 1940, the population of Broward County grew from 20,000 to approximately 30,000. To keep up with the growth, the addition of a new wing was crucial, but without funding the expansion was difficult. Camp approached the city commission in 1940 about the need for expansion and received favorable response for a new wing. In 1942, a South Wing was added; in 1948, the East Wing was built, raising the bed total at Broward General to 142.
In 1949, the Hospital Board returned to the City Commission to ask for funds for another wing. This time the City Commission denied the request. As a result, Camp and all members of the Board resigned.
The Birth of the District
In August 1950, the Broward General Hospital Board succeeded in obtaining approval of an expansion program. A legislative act for a North Broward Hospital District was approved in 1952 by referendum and a District Board was appointed by the governor with William J. Kelly as chairman.Soon thereafter plans for a building on the west side were underway. The West Wing plans included two floors for patients, a new surgical unit, new kitchen and dining space to be connected to the North Wing of the hospital by a hallway. In 1955, a new lab was opened and on September 3, 1957, the City of Fort Lauderdale gave a deed of conveyance to the North Broward Hospital District. Its area of responsibility stretched the width of the county, from the Dania Canal north to the Palm Beach County line.
In 1961, an additional specialty wing brought the bed total to 468, plus 50 bassinets. The North Tower and ten-story elevator building opened in 1967; the South Tower in 1970.
North Broward Medical Center
By 1960, population in Broward County grew to 350,000. Responding to the growth of the county, the District built a three-story hospital on Sample Road in Pompano Beach, FloridaPompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
. The first patient was admitted to the new North Broward Hospital in March 1961. Over the years, six more floors and a conference center were added. Today, the 409-bed facility is an adult Level II trauma center providing care for more than 50,000 medical emergencies and 14,000 hospitalized patients.
Imperial Point Medical Center
Imperial Point Medical Center opened in November 1972. Its 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) of land at the 204-bed community hospital were granted to the city of Fort Lauderdale for a community park, and today hosts a fitness area and playground. (Located adjacent to the Plaza Shopping Center)Coral Springs Medical Center
Coral Springs Medical Center opened its doors in March 1987. This 200-bed facility, located in Coral Springs, FloridaCoral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs, officially chartered July 10, 1963, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States, approximately northwest of Fort Lauderdale. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 121,096...
, hosts Camp KoralKids, created in 1995, a summer day camp for children with Type-I diabetes—the only day camp of its kind in South Florida. It has since developed into a two-week camp that annually serves over 60 children.
Broward Health Weston
Responding to a "decade of complaints from [Weston] residents unhappy about having to drive 20 minutes to reach a hospital", Broward Health opened Broward Health Weston (formerly Weston Regional HealthPark) on June 11, 2000. The entire project, including the 78000 square feet (7,246.4 m²) building and the 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) land acquisition, cost $27 million.Chris Evert Children’s Hospital
The Chris Evert Children’s Hospital at Broward General, named after Broward native Chris EvertChris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
, is one of less than 200 facilities recognized in the United States by the National Association of Children's Hospitals. In 2006, the children’s hospital opened a newly renovated, expanded pediatric sedation unit, the only one in Broward County. The pediatric sedation unit specializes in the safest techniques for pediatric sedation
Sedation
Sedation is the reduction of irritability or agitation by administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure or diagnostic procedure...
. In November 2007, the Chris Evert Children’s Hospital at Broward General received the Ernest Amory Codman Award for their advances in pediatric sedation.
Broward Health Today
Broward Health is one of the ten largest public hospital systems in the U.S.. It has over 7,000 employees, making it one of the largest companies in South Florida.Broward Health services all segments of the community through its four hospitals, a children’s hospital, seven primary care centers, four Family Health Places, eight school-based clinics, specialty care programs, home-health services, health education programs, free and low-cost screenings, and business partnerships.
Advances in Healthcare
Recently, Broward General Medical Center received the Joint Commission's Ernest Amory Codman Award, which recognizes "excellence in the use of outcomes measurement to achieve improvements in the quality and safety of health care". Broward General received the award for producing better outcomes related to sedating children for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The process reduced the failed sedation rate by 98 percent by using a more effective sedative and initiating a standard protocol to reduce failed sedation, in addition to creating a soothing atmosphere for children.Hospital Statistics
| 1965 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2007 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | ||||||
| Broward General Medical Center | 16,907 | 23,570 | 24,826 | 19,882 | 21,848 | |
| North Broward Medical Center | 2,800 | 3,903 | 4,596 | 5,580 | 3,571 | |
| Imperial Point Medical Center | 0 | 0 | 4,900 | 5,057 | 6,579 | |
| Coral Springs Medical Center | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7,505 | 11,056 | |
| Totals | 22,331 | 30,644 | 40,546 | 40,544 | 53,232 | 62,209 |
| Births | ||||||
| Broward General Medical Center | 2,800 | 3,903 | 4,596 | 5,580 | 3,571 | |
| North Broward Medical Center | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Imperial Point Medical Center | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Coral Springs Medical Center | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,095 | 2,107 | |
| Totals | 2,800 | 3,903 | 4,596 | 7,675 | 5,678 | 5,939 |
| Beds | ||||||
| Broward General Medical Center | 469 | 669 | 680 | 744 | 744 | 716 |
| North Broward Medical Center | 151 | 204 | 310 | 409 | 409 | 409 |
| Imperial Point Medical Center | 0 | 0 | 204 | 204 | 204 | 204 |
| Coral Springs Medical Center | 0 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Totals | 620 | 873 | 1,194 | 1,557 | 1,557 | 1,529 |