History

Florida Hospital - Historical Timeline

The Early 1900s

• The average wage at Florida Hospital was 22 cents per hour.
• A local group of Seventh-day Adventists had only $4.83 to start a hospital.
• The Florida Sanitarium opened with 20 beds; a lab; and X-ray, surgery and maternity units.

The 1910s

• The Florida Sanitarium added 80 beds bringing the capacity to 100 beds.
• The lobby was set up much like a hotel, with patients getting room keys, messages and mail.

The 1920s

• Academy students cared for the hospital's herd of cows; milk was provided to patients, students and employees.
• Hydrotherapy and electrotherapy were used to treat lung congestion, pneumonia and other pulmonary problems.

The 1930s

• Patients paid their hospital bills with eggs, chickens, and cows. (It cost only $25 to have a baby!)
• With no air conditioning, circulation came from wall-mounted fans and open windows, even during surgery.

The 1940s

• Two new wings were constructed at Florida Sanitarium, bringing the bed count to 160.
• During World War II, the Cadet Corps met at the hospital for medical training prior to being enrolled in the service.

The 1950s

• Air conditioning was installed in the Sanitarium.
• The hospital's volunteers raised funds for the purchase of the first incubator for the nursery.

The 1960s

• The Florida Sanitarium performed its first open heart surgery and cardiac catheterization.
• The region's first Intensive Care Unit opened at the Sanitarium.
• A helipad was built along Lake Estelle.

The 1970s

• The Florida Sanitarium became Florida Hospital.
• Florida Hospital Altamonte and Florida Hospital Apopka opened.
• Florida Hospital's Organ Transplant Program began.

The 1980s

• The first Golden Gala was held, leading to the creation of the Florida Hospital Foundation.
• Florida Hospital opened a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Cancer Center.
• Florida Hospital installed the first MRI in Central Florida; it was only the third CT scanner in the U.S at the time.

The 1990s

• Florida Hospital East Orlando and Florida Hospital Kissimmee were purchased.
• Florida Hospital Celebration Health, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute and Florida Hospital Centra Care opened.
• Florida Hospital began Central Florida's first bone marrow transplant program.

The 21^st Century

• Winter Park Memorial Hospital was purchased.
• Alan H. Ginsburg and the Ginsburg Family Foundation gave a $20 million gift to Florida Hospital.
• The Global Robotics Institute opened.
• For the 10^th year, Florida Hospital was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as "One of America's Best Hospitals."
• Anthony and Sonja Nicholson donated $5 million to start the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement.
• The Florida Hospital - Burnham Clinical Research Institute was announced.
• Ginsburg Tower opens with new Emergency Department and Cardiovascular Institute.