Baptist Health to open three new locations in Coral Gables

By Matt Bokor

Baptist Health South Florida is expanding in Coral Gables.

With no room for additions at its Doctors Hospital, 5000 University Dr., Baptist Health will open three new locations in Coral Gables in late 2010 or early 2011, Brian E. Keeley, president and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida, announced Thursday, Feb. 18.

“Health care is the only industry growing now,” Mr. Keeley said in his keynote address at the monthly Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce breakfast. He explained that as the nation’s population ages, those older folks need more care.

And while Doctors Hospital feels the increased demands at its 281-bed facility, parking is already scarce and city code doesn’t allow it to expand beyond its current footprint, Mr.Keeley said.

This fall, Baptist Health will move its Baptist Medical Plaza at Coral Gables from its current location at 320 Giralda to 55 Merrick Way, and add an urgent care center. The center will be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days a year, Mr. Keeley said.

Two centers – urgent care and sports medicine / rehabilitation -- will open in the University Centre, at U.S. 1 and Mariposa Court. Among the benefits will be parking relief at Doctors Hospital as patients are treated or tested elsewhere in the community, Mr. Keeley added.

"The chamber is excited to hear about Baptist’s expansion plans, as this translates into high-quality jobs at one of the best companies to work for in our community," said Mark Trowbridge, president and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. "Moreover, we are keenly aware of their tremendous corporate citizenship and community engagement and believe that the addition of these facilities recognizes the value of Coral Gables as an outstanding epicenter for business."

Baptist Health South Florida sponsored the February “Good Morning Coral Gables Breakfast,” attended by more than 150 chamber members and guests.

Earlier the audience heard about the importance to be counted in the 2010 Census, which determines how more than $400 billion in federal funds are distributed to state and local governments throughout the country.

Gables resident Sam Joseph, a member of the city’s Communications Committee, urged the audience to help promote the most accurate count possible so that the city receives its fair share of that $400 billion pie. “If we don’t have an accurate count, that pie doesn’t get sliced accurately,” he said.

New forms, to be mailed to households in late February and early March, include only 10 questions and can be completed in less than 10 minutes, Mr. Joseph said.

Next month’s chamber breakfast will be March 18, featuring Frank Nero, president and CEO of the Beacon Council. For more information, visit www.coralgableschamber.org.