Fishermen’s Community Hospital Unveils Conceptual Design of Successor to Destroyed Facility
MARATHON, FL – April 25, 2018 – Fishermen’s Community Hospital announced today the conceptual vision for a $40 million building to replace its medical facility in Marathon that was devastated last year by Hurricane Irma.
The new one-story structure will be built to withstand hurricanes and designed to meet the medical needs of the community within a 35-mile radius, the distance to the nearest hospital in the Florida Keys.
“We are excited to announce our dream for reconstructing Fishermen’s Community Hospital into a sophisticated medical center that will provide all the customary services that residents and tourists expect,” said Rick Freeburg, CEO of Fishermen’s Community Hospital and Mariners Hospital.
“We sincerely hope the conceptual rendering will light the imagination of the public and help us reach our goal of raising $15 million in private philanthropy toward the total cost,” Freeburg added. “We’re committed to delivering high quality healthcare to the community, but as a not-for-profit organization, we can’t do it alone.”
The new hospital will be sized to fit the community and will provide round-the-clock emergency care in addition to inpatient care, surgery services, endoscopy, lab and pharmacy. A helipad will be constructed to enable emergency transport.
Fishermen’s, which was first built in 1962, received severe water damage from Hurricane Irma when it struck Sept. 10 in the Florida Keys. Medical personnel immediately began working out of a mobile field hospital, which will soon be an interim modular hospital.
Individuals interested in making a difference through the “Our Community, Your Hospital” campaign are encouraged to contact Wendy Reilly Gentes, [email protected], or Kim E. Gregory, [email protected], or call the Baptist Health Foundation offices at 786-467-5400.
About Fishermen’s Community Hospital
Fishermen’s Community Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 10 hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Bethesda Hospital East, Bethesda Hospital West, Doctors Hospital, Fishermen’s Community Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), more than 40 physician practices, 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence spanning across Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has more than 19,500 employees and more than 3,000 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/newsroom and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.
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