Forty years ago Cape Coral Hospital opened its doors as a 94-bed hospital that employed 253 men and women. Through the years, as Cape Coral grew, so did the hospital. Today, there are 291 private rooms, 1,200 employees, a medical staff of more than 600 physicians and a team of more than 1,000 volunteers.
“Health care in Cape Coral has come a long way since the 1950s and 1960s when a lone doctor would travel by boat on Thursdays to visit patients,” explains Wendy Piascik, Vice President of Patient Care Services at Cape Coral Hospital. “We are so proud to look back on all we’ve accomplished in the past 40 years.”
Some highlights include:
1979 – The first emergency department expansion.
1980 – The first CT scan was installed at a cost of $145,000.
1981 – To meet capacity, the hospital started offering weekend testing and surgeries. The hospital honored 250 nurses as part of the nurse’s week celebration. The first baby was born in the emergency department –Maggie Miller, daughter of Bill and Sue Miller.
1982 – Groundbreaking held for 80-bed expansion project.
1983 – Installation of the first mammography equipment in Lee County. 10 acres adjacent to the hospital were purchased for future expansion.
1985 – $11 million wing opened with new emergency department at Del Prado entrance.
1986 – The new Lifetime Involvement in Fitness and Education (L.I.F.E.) Center opened.
1987 – Groundbreaking for two-story day surgery addition; campaign begins to raise money for the Family Birth Suites.
1988 – Family Birth Suites opened with 14 beds.
1989 – Cardiac catheterization lab opens with an auxiliary pledge of $100,000.
1990 – Implementation of area’s first cancer program accredited by the American College of Surgeons.
1993 – The five-story addition opened, which included new main entrance, family birthplace and the Women’s Breast Health Center.
1995 – KidsPlace pediatric unit opened.
1996 – Merged with Lee Memorial Health System
2009 – The emergency department expansion began to increase the number of beds from 24 to 42.
2016 – The Gunterberg Charitable Foundation Culliton Family Cardiac Rehabilitation center opened.
