Florida Hospital Celebration health breaks ground on new patient tower

Florida Hospital Celebration Health recently broke ground on a new patient tower, which will allow the hospital to keep pace with increasing demand for health care in fast-growing Osceola County.

The expansion coincides with the hospital celebrating 20 years of service to the community.

The five-story, Mediterranean-themed tower will hold 76 all-private patient rooms when it opens, and 160 at build-out. It will also allow for the expansion and addition of important health-care services.

'Embarking on this expansion of our capacity and services is a fitting way to celebrate our 20th anniversary,' said Doug Harcombe, administrator of Florida Hospital Celebration Health. 'We are looking forward to serving the health needs of our community for the next 20 years.'

The new tower will also include additional mother-baby space and a larger progressive care unit, which is for patients who need close monitoring but not the acute level of services provided by an intensive care unit.

The new patient tower will allow for the expansion of multiple programs and services, including a new open-heart program that will begin in January 2019.

With the new tower, Florida Hospital Celebration Health will eventually have about 400 patient beds.

'This new tower means more patients will be able to get treatment close to home, rather than traveling out of the area,' said Dr. Omayra Mansfield, chief of staff of Florida Hospital Celebration Health. 'Treating patients close to home, where it's easier for loved ones to visit or stay with them if needed, is important to the healing process.'

The new patient tower is expected to open by January 2020.