Broward Health Coral Springs Celebrates 35th Anniversary

In 2018, the hospital opened a new $65 million, four-story patient tower offering women’s and pediatric services, a surgery center, 56 new, state-of-the-art private patient rooms, and an expansion of the Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to 10 private rooms.

By Sharon Aron Baron

During the 1980s, Coral Springs, the self-described “City in the Country,” experienced unprecedented growth, including the opening of the Sawgrass Expressway, the Coral Square Mall, and Broward Health Coral Springs — then known as Coral Springs Medical Center.

This year, Broward Health Coral Springs, a 250-bed hospital serving residents in west Broward County, celebrates 35 years of serving the community. With 1,100 employees, 600 physicians, and 126,000 annual patients, Broward Health Coral Springs makes an economic impact on the community of approximately $180 million annually.

Over the years, the award-winning hospital has evolved to meet the growing community’s needs with investments in staffing, technology, and capital improvements.

Broward Health Coral Springs offers a full continuum of care, including a women’s hospital, a surgical institute, the Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital, orthopedic care, and a specialized ER for Kids. Other offerings include a special summer camp for children with Type 1 diabetes and a community education center with a full array of classes.

“We are so proud of our 35-year legacy here in Coral Springs and look forward to many more years as we serve patients close to home,” said Broward Health Coral Springs CEO Jared Smith. “Everything we do – including our investments in people, technology, and facilities – is to ensure that we deliver the highest quality patient-centered care.”

Most recently, Broward Health Coral Springs expanded its cardiac program by opening a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab, which includes four pre-and-post-procedure patient care bays equipped with the latest patient monitoring technology. It’s part of the hospital’s initiative to provide patients with advanced and critical life-saving cardiac procedures close to home.

Coral Spring Medical Center, now Broward Health Coral Springs.

“When it comes to heart care, time is of the essence,” Smith said. “Having a cardiac catheterization lab at your community hospital allows physicians to quickly determine the next steps in treatment. Combined with our physicians’ clinical expertise, this lab is a great example of our commitment to enhancing our services.”

From screening and diagnoses to treating cardiovascular disease, the center’s goal is to help improve the overall health of the community, particularly as patients will be treated closer to home. Broward Health Coral Springs has also met STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) criteria so that the most acute heart attack patients can receive critical interventional care.

In 2018, the hospital opened a new $65 million, four-story patient tower. The 110-square-foot expansion was the largest addition to the hospital since its opening in 1987, offering women’s and pediatric services and a surgery center. The new South Tower added 56 new, state-of-the-art private patient rooms, as well as an expansion of the Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to 10 private rooms.

The outpatient Women’s Center renovation at Broward Health Coral Springs, which provides quality, compassionate care to women, has been transformed into a beautiful spa-like facility. The center provides advanced technology specifically tailored for women, including 3D SmartCurve mammography, bone density, ultrasound, and stereotactic breast biopsy.

In 2020, Broward Health Coral Springs launched a new Heartburn Center offering the latest in surgical treatments and endoscopic therapies. This specialized, multidisciplinary center provides treatment for various conditions that cause heartburn, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

A $6 million investment in the latest surgical technology has enhanced surgical care for the community as the hospital introduced robotic-assisted surgery through its two new da Vinci Xi surgical devices. This new technology is used across a spectrum of minimally invasive procedures.

In 2021, Broward Health expanded its Graduate Medical Education (GME) program across all four of its hospitals, including its Coral Springs hospital, as the system serves the community as an academic center of excellence. This allows the hospital system to help fill the physician shortage and the critical need for doctors locally and across the state.

For more than 25 years, BHCS has been the home of Camp Coral Kids, a day camp for children with Type 1 diabetes. Traditional camp activities and diabetes education are intertwined throughout the day. Campers check their blood sugar, give themselves insulin and learn to incorporate the management of their disease into their daily life.

“One of the most endearing community initiatives in South Florida was created in 1995 when we established Camp Coral Kids for children with Type 1 diabetes,” Smith said. “It’s one of the best programs in the country for these children.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Broward Health caregivers stood at the forefront of the global health crisis to care for their neighbors. Donning personal protection equipment, they worked tirelessly to save lives and serve as a surrogate family for their patients. Throughout the pandemic, Broward Health Coral Springs’ team of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, clinicians, and other support staff successfully discharged more than 1,100 COVID-19 patients.

The nature of healthcare creates strong bonds with local police, EMS and fire departments, and the city. From pediatric drowning prevention and water safety to drug education to free vaccinations for children, Broward Health Coral Springs has been a reliable community partner.

Each year, the hospital offers free mammograms to underserved women in the community, thanks to generous support from the Lisa Boccard Breast Cancer Fund. More than 2,200 women have been screened to date.

“We’ve been with our community for 35 years, saving lives in the hospital, making a difference in our community. Can’t wait to see what the future holds,” Smith said.

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