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Palmetto General Hospital CEO Ana Mederos with founding physicians of the hospital. |
Palmetto General Hospital recently celebrated 40 years of providing high quality healthcare to the community. The day of celebration was marked by crowds of Miami-Dade County city leaders, hospital employees and members of the local community that gathered to remember Palmetto General Hospital’s humble beginnings and recognize the advanced medical center that stands today.
Founded in 1971 by a small group of doctors, the hospital opened its doors with 50 beds, 70 physicians and 100 staff members. In its early beginnings, only a few floors were in use. The first departments included the emergency room, general surgery, medicine, radiology, pathology, respiratory and rehabilitation.
By the end of its first decade, Palmetto General Hospital had significantly expanded with the construction of its first professional medical buildings. The hospital’s growth at this time was guided by the influx of political exiles from Cuba and immigrants from Latin America, as this community brought changing health needs.
For Palmetto General Hospital, the 80s and 90s were marked by the integration of technologies and a growing list of hospital programs, including an Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit; Oncology Center, and a Diabetes Education Center. The Maternity Center was added in 1990, including a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). By the late 90s, the hospital also built a separate Pediatric Emergency area, with its own kid-friendly waiting room, triage and patient rooms.
The new millennium began with the opening of the “Just For Women®” Diagnostic Center, followed by the Weight Loss Surgery Program. Even more significant was the creation of its cardiac surgery program. The hospital received approval for an Open-Heart Surgery Program in 2004 and opened The Heart Institute at Palmetto General Hospital in 2006.
The latest addition to the hospital is the vascular program, which offers comprehensive vascular and endovascular procedures. The Institute also brings together multiple specialists, including surgeons; cardiologists; interventional cardiologists; interventional radiologists; wound care and diabetes experts; and hyperbaric physicians to address every aspect of vein health.
Since its early beginnings 40 years ago, Palmetto General Hospital has evolved into a major medical center in South Florida, with 360 beds, over 600 physicians and 1,400 employees.
