Shands at UF will embark on a five-year, $100 million endeavor to construct a new division for women and children, including a pediatric ER and inpatient and outpatient units.
The new four-story building will have 175 patient beds and will be built on already existing Shands facilities.
The plan was initiated partially due to a study done by a health care information services firm, Sg2, which showed an increasing demand for children’s services in the region.
It is also a project of the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, which has been striving to build a children’s hospital in Gainesville.
The foundation was established by Horst and Luisa Ferrero after their 3-year-old son, Sebastian, died from a series of medical errors at Shands.
“[Sg2’s study] confirms our mission and the validity of our vigilant advocacy for transformative change, as it reveals the opportunity and necessity for major changes and investment in growth,” Horst Ferrero said in a press release.
The Ferrero Foundation, Shands and UF will sponsor the new facility.
