Jupiter Medical Center and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital announced today that a $1 million donation that the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation received from Honda Classic Cares will serve as the lead gift in development of a dedicated pediatric wing in the center’s emergency room.
The funds generated by Honda Classic Cares on behalf of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation are donated annually to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to advance pediatric care in the Palm Beach community. This year, Nicklaus Children’s has designated that the funds go to the Jupiter Medical Center pediatric emergency room project.
“We continue to reimagine the way we deliver health and wellness to our community each and every day, and it is partners like Honda Classic Cares, Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital that make this possible,” said Jupiter Medical Center’s President and Chief Executive Officer, John D. Couris. “We have provided emergency care to the children of our community since we opened our emergency room. Through our partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital we added pediatric specialist consults in the ER using telehealth technology and dedicated pediatric emergency room doctors at peak hours. This new endeavor to build a dedicated pediatric unit in the emergency department will give families their own waiting area as well as eight pediatric treatment rooms with a child-friendly environment to reduce anxiety for our smallest patients.”
“The pediatric wing of the emergency room is the logical next step in the evolution of our commitment to the Palm Beach community and our partnership with Jupiter Medical Center to advance top-quality pediatric care in the region,” said Dr. Narendra Kini, CEO of Miami Children’s Health System, parent organization of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “We are most grateful to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Honda Classic Cares for their continued support of our Nicklaus Children’s pediatric programs.”
The entire project will cost an estimated $5 million to construct. This generous $1 million commitment kicks off a campaign to raise funds to complete the project.
“The work that Jupiter Medical Center and Nicklaus Children’s have done and continue to do dovetails with our true mission of giving back to children,” said Kenneth R. Kennerly, executive director, The Honda Classic. “The Honda Classic PGA TOUR event provides Palm Beach County with a premier and globally televised professional sporting event that raises millions of dollars each year that is donated to hundreds of community organizations and directly impacts the lives of local children. We’re thrilled to help families in Palm Beach County by supporting the expansion of Jupiter Medical Center’s pediatric services in their emergency room.”
Nearly three years ago, Jupiter Medical Center named Nicklaus Children’s Hospital its pediatric partner, and in February of this year, the De George Pediatric Unit opened. The unit features 12 inpatient rooms, two state-of-the-art pediatric surgery suites, pediatric therapeutic services, a children’s playroom, and a room for resting called the “Bear’s Den,” a name inspired by Jack Nicklaus, who is widely known as the “Golden Bear.” Patients benefit from the collaboration of local pediatricians, Jupiter Medical Center and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which work together to implement patient-centered care and proven pediatric clinical protocols.
“We were so proud to be a part of establishing the pediatric inpatient unit at Jupiter Medical Center earlier this year, and now we’re helping to ensure that families in our area who need pediatric emergency medical assistance can get the very best care, tailored to their needs,” golf icon Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara said in a shared statement. “The Honda Classic has been a source of pride and, in many ways, a gift to the communities in and around Palm Beach County. Now, through their continued generosity, they are giving the gift of improved pediatric care to the families in these communities.”
Since partnering with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Jupiter Medical Center has also implemented telehealth technology, enabling Nicklaus Children’s Hospital physicians to interact with Jupiter Medical Center’s physicians and patients remotely in order to review images, lab results and more as a means of enhancing treatment options. Additionally, Jupiter Medical Center has dedicated pediatric ER physicians during peak hours and also offers pediatric imaging services, pediatric inpatient and outpatient surgery services and pediatric therapy services.
