I read this story in the Sentinel today. I have no kids, but I’ve been following this a little bit anyway.

Does anyone else find this debate sorta…I don’t know, naïve? I’m not saying that Nemours isn’t cold and bottom-line conscious. I’m also not saying that the big providers in Orlando, ORMC and Florida Hospital, ought to put aside their money-grabbing for the sake of the children–as a woman who is often buried with medical bills from these fine institutions, I’m here to say they don’t put aside their money-grabbing for anybody. So I find the country-club atmosphere almost amusing, as local doctors point at Nemours and say, “They’re greedy! Don’t let them in!” Do we get to pick anymore? Seriously, name me a major medical institution that ISN’T greedy. When you’re sick, you do stop caring. It only takes one night in the ER…or two, because they couldn’t find you a room…to make you see a whole ‘nother side to the issue. Beds are good. Nemours has beds. Anybody got a better idea?

And it ever occured to these geniuses that it is not a matter of SIZE with the new Nemours clinic, but maybe LOCATION? Don’t build it downtown if competition is allegedly so stiff! In Winter Garden alone, there are plans for tens of thousands of new houses. And Kissimmee? Please. It’s kid paradise. A childrens’ facility would be a huge strain off of local facilities like Sand Lake and Celebration, who are perpetually swimming in tourists’ kids. It’s impossible for an adult to go to the emergency rooms there without nearly stepping on a toddler every two paces. Adult hospitals are scary (and sometimes inadequate) places for small children. Having a facility for them would free up a ton of beds. In the same way the Cleveland Clinic built, not in downtown Ft. Laurderdale, but in Weston, the south/west side of town could make a cozy home for Nemours.

I’m mystified and amused by this whole debate. What else is Orlando supposed to do? Take the nice, new, empty hospital beds and make the best of it! Right now it’s Nemours offering…down the road, when we’re really stuck, it could be somebody worse.

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