Introducing the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center

Spring 2021 | By Nicole Dudenhoefer ’17

HCA Healthcare and UCF officially have a new hospital. From birthing suites to rooms created for geriatric patients, the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center is an acute-care teaching hospital designed with client comfort, efficiency and expansion in mind. Built in partnership with HCA Healthcare’s North Florida Division, the facility opened on March 1 and features plenty of natural light, state-of-the art-technology, and a layout that best supports quality care and patient safety. UCF medical students will also benefit from the residency-training program and clerkship-training opportunities conveniently available at the new 204,709-square-foot hospital

[blockquote source=”Wendy H. Brandon, chief executive officer for the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center” cite=”” color=”” css_class=””]“The grand opening of UCF Lake Nona Medical Center is the realization of a vision that will impact the community for years to come.”[/blockquote]

$175 million
Cost to build the hospital

$1.4 millionEstimated annual economic impact in local and state taxes — in addition to $13.8 million in charity care, uninsured discounts and other uncompensated care

17,000+Patients expected to be served in the first year

350New jobs created by the hospital, including more than 250 physicians

64Inpatient beds with the ability to expand to 80 beds in the current space. Future expansion will allow up to 500 beds.

6
Classrooms — two on each of the three floors — to facilitate learning opportunities for students

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[photo id=”21326″ title=”Inset-Hospital-1-1200×800″ alt=”One of the six classrooms that will provide a learning environment for UCF College of Medicine students.” width=”100%”]One of the six classrooms that will provide a learning environment for UCF College of Medicine students.[/photo]

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[photo id=”21327″ title=”Inset-Hospital-2-1200×800″ alt=”A security guard sits at the reception desk of the ER.” width=”100%”]The front desk at the Emergency Room entrance. [/photo]

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[photo id=”21328″ title=”Inset-Hospital-3-1200×800″ alt=”A moveable computer installed into a wall” width=”100%”]Emergency room exam spaces include moveable computers built into the walls to allow caregivers to quickly access patient information.[/photo]

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[photo id=”21329″ title=”Inset-Hospital-4-1200×800″ alt=”A patient room with bed” width=”100%”]Patient rooms include beds that feature an alarm function to provide audio reminders, such as stay in bed, in six different languages and visual signals that can be seen from the hallways.[/photo]

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[photo id=”21330″ title=”Inset-Hospital-5-1200×800″ alt=”An operation room filled with equipment and technology” width=”100%”]An operation room filled with equipment and technology, including the Da Vinci robotic assistant system (right), which facilitates minimally invasive surgeries.[/photo]

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[photo id=”21331″ title=”Inset-Hospital-6-1200×800″ alt=”A nurses’ station” width=”100%”]A nurses’ station can be found on each side of the second and third floors in the hospital.[/photo]

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[photo id=”21332″ title=”Inset-Hospital-7-1200×800″ alt=”A physical therapy room with a stationary bike, weights and mock car” width=”100%”]A physical therapy room includes weights, exercise equipment, stairs and a mock car to help patients recovering from injuries.[/photo]

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[photo id=”21333″ title=”Inset-Hospital-8-1200×800″ alt=”An empty lobby space” width=”100%”]The bright lobby spaces and waitings rooms are oversized so that no patient feels crowded and to allow for physical distancing.[/photo]

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[photo id=”21334″ title=”Inset-Hospital-9-1200×800″ alt=”Two twin newborns wearing knitted Knight helmets and shields” position=”center” width=”100%”]Twins Teddy and Liam — weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 5 pounds, 9 ounces, respectively — were the first babies born at the hospital as they arrived at 9:26 a.m. on  March 1. [/photo]