Nicklaus Children's Health System and Baptist Health South Florida – two of South Florida's leading healthcare providers – have activated a previously announced agreement to expand collaboration related to pediatric care. Effective this week, the 24-hour pediatric emergency departments at Baptist Hospital and Homestead Hospital are staffed by Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists (NCPS) physicians.
The pediatric emergency physicians covering the Baptist Hospital and Homestead Hospital emergency departments have now transitioned to employment by NCPS, the medical group practice of Nicklaus Children's Health System. While this is not a merger and both organizations will remain separate entities, as part of the agreement Nicklaus Children's and Baptist Health will work together for the betterment of the children and families of South Florida.
“We welcome the Baptist-based pediatric emergency physicians to our Nicklaus Children's family,” said Dr. Marcos Mestre, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Nicklaus Children's Hospital. “We are pleased that they will continue to offer services to families who have come to know them at Baptist Hospital and Homestead Hospital emergency departments, while also engaging with the extensive array of pediatric subspecialists available on our medical staff to support children and families with continuing specialized care needs.”
“We're pleased to advance our collaboration with Nicklaus Children's Health System,” said Bo Boulenger, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Working together, we're ensuring that children throughout our community continue to receive the highest quality emergency care.”
Additionally, Baptist Hospital continues to extend an arrangement in place since April 2020 to transfer children who require inpatient admission to Nicklaus Children's Hospital for care. Baptist Hospital continues to provide other pediatric services including neonatal intensive care (NICU), pediatric oncology services (including inpatient care for pediatric oncology) as well as outpatient pediatric general surgical and orthopedic surgical care, among other services.
“We are honored to continue our collaboration with Baptist Health South Florida, which is renowned for its commitment to offering families world-class care and customer service, “said Perry Ann Reed, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, NCHS; and President, Nicklaus Children's Hospital. “Nicklaus Children's Hospital is proud to be the region's only freestanding hospital exclusively for children and the largest provider of pediatric emergency services in the state. The enhanced partnership is a great fit for both organizations as we work together to offer the best care possible to the children and families of the region.”
About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, more than 23,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health 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, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.