NBC2 News - Children's hospital could come to Collier
"Children's hospital could come to Collier
COLLIER COUNTY: Officials with the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida say plans are in the works to build a children's specialty clinic in Collier County.
In a medical emergency, seconds count - especially when children are involved.
"The doctors told us this is what they want. The families told us this is what they want," said Dr. John Iacuone, Executive Director of the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.
What those doctors and parents say they want is actually more of a need Collier County - a hospital for the area's smallest patients.
Right now, the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers is the area's only medical center for kids. But Iacuone says plans are in the works to bring a children's medical facility to Collier.
"We made a decision. We need to be doing this because it's the right thing to do for the kids," he said. "We have been exploring how to go about doing that."
Hospital leaders have looked at possible sites. Right now, four very preliminary locations are on the drawing board:
* I-75 and Pine Ridge Road * Immokalee Road and Goodlette-Frank Road * Somewhere off of Collier Boulevard * Somewhere off of Vanderbilt Beach Road
"We're weighing all the possibilities, weighing all the costs. We're doing our do diligence," said Iacuone.
Right now though, the hospital board doesn't know if it will build a brand new facility or lease space.
"It will be scrutinized and modified. Then it will go to our board of directors who will weigh in on it," Iacuone said.
A decision to go forward with the proposal is expected by October 1.
"If we're going to make a commitment to Collier County, we want to be in a position where we can have people there on a continual basis," he said."
-- NBC2 News - Children's hospital could come to Collier
44COLLIER COUNTY: Officials with the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida say plans are in the works to build a children's specialty clinic in Collier County.
In a medical emergency, seconds count - especially when children are involved.
"The doctors told us this is what they want. The families told us this is what they want," said Dr. John Iacuone, Executive Director of the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.
What those doctors and parents say they want is actually more of a need Collier County - a hospital for the area's smallest patients.
Right now, the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers is the area's only medical center for kids. But Iacuone says plans are in the works to bring a children's medical facility to Collier.
"We made a decision. We need to be doing this because it's the right thing to do for the kids," he said. "We have been exploring how to go about doing that."
Hospital leaders have looked at possible sites. Right now, four very preliminary locations are on the drawing board:
* I-75 and Pine Ridge Road * Immokalee Road and Goodlette-Frank Road * Somewhere off of Collier Boulevard * Somewhere off of Vanderbilt Beach Road
"We're weighing all the possibilities, weighing all the costs. We're doing our do diligence," said Iacuone.
Right now though, the hospital board doesn't know if it will build a brand new facility or lease space.
"It will be scrutinized and modified. Then it will go to our board of directors who will weigh in on it," Iacuone said.
A decision to go forward with the proposal is expected by October 1.
"If we're going to make a commitment to Collier County, we want to be in a position where we can have people there on a continual basis," he said."
-- NBC2 News - Children's hospital could come to Collier
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