A new pediatric intensive care unit is coming to Kissimmee, and it will be the first of its kind in Osceola County.
- Osceola Regional opening a pediatric intensive care unit in Kissimmee
- Facility will have 6 rooms
- Comes with feature called Nemours Care Connect
Chance Colston, 6, recently jammed his finger playing basketball. “We actually went to Nemours Orlando for that because we thought he broke it,” said his mother Emily Colston.
But with Osceola Regional opening a brand new intensive care unit for kids, there won’t be a need for the Colstons to make a drive that long.
“There were at least 500 children transferred to local children’s hospitals last year,” said Dr. Al Torres, the director of Osceola Regional’s pediatric intensive care unit. “So a large proportion of those kids would be able to stay here now.”
During the grand opening event, kids cheered as hospital officials cut an oversized Band-Aid.
The $7 million facility has six brand new rooms. With this new unit comes a feature called Nemours Care Connect. Specialists from Nemours can check out patients at Osceola Regional through an iPad.
“It gives the opportunity for parents to stay close to where they are, stay home,” said Tawni Price, the administrative director for Women & Children Services. “Be able to come back and forth and yet receive the very best care from all around.”
For the Colstons, this change means having urgent medical treatment closer to home.
“There’s nothing more important than your child’s health. As a mother that’s the number one thing,” Colston said.