BOCA RATON — Boca Raton Community Hospital has announced it will change its name to Boca Raton Regional Hospital effective August 20.
According to officials, the move will allow the hospital to succinctly convey its growing capabilities and footprint as an advanced, tertiary medical center.
“Some forty-plus years ago, Boca Raton Community Hospital was born out of compelling local need and established a reputation as a well-respected institution providing services consistent with those of a community hospital,” said Jerry Fedele, president and CEO of the hospital.
“In recent years, however, we have evolved our capabilities and now present an array of sophisticated and cutting-edge programs and technologies. One needs to look no further than such specialties as oncology, cardiovascular and stroke care and imaging to see that our resources and skills are of the highest caliber.”
Fedele cited a number of recent accolades and achievements indicative of the hospital’s growing preeminence. Included were: HealthGrades rankings in 2010 as number one in Florida for cardiac surgery and gastrointestinal medical care, number two in the state for treatment of stroke and number three for overall cardiac care, top 5 percent in the nation for emergency medicine and women’s health programs; Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the “Top 25 Hospitals in the Nation with Great Cardiovascular Programs;”one of the largest cancer programs in Florida with a $73 million state-of-the-art cancer center and a National Cardiac Data Base ranking in the top 9 percent of open heart programs in the country.
“By these and many other measures, it is clear to see the level and quality of care we provide. With that in mind, it was our decision to evolve our name to better reflect the evolution of the hospital,” Fedele said.
The hospital chose to begin its name change on the 80th birthday of Gloria Drummond, the “First Lady” of Boca Raton Community Hospital. Drummond spearheaded a local, grass-roots initiative to build a hospital in Boca Raton after two of her children had been poisoned and died after being transported to what was then the nearest hospital in Boynton Beach.
“We feel there is no better way to launch the next iteration of the institution than on the birthday of the woman who turned great personal tragedy into such a magnificent community triumph.” said Fedele. “It gives us great satisfaction to know that Gloria will be honored in this fashion and she will see the reality of her dream become even more significant and meaningful.”
“We are ever mindful and respectful of our heritage and of our commitment to our immediate community,” Fedele said. “The words ‘community hospital’, however, are limiting in today’s medical parlance. Our new name succinctly conveys what we are today and better suits us as we look to expand our reputation on a local, regional and national basis. That said, with this change comes one important constant; our commitment to providing patients with the most effective and compassionate care possible. It was the hallmark of Boca Raton Community Hospital in 1967. And it will be the hallmark of Boca Raton Regional Hospital in the years to come.”