“We are proud and privileged to be a part of such a wonderful project, which will ultimately benefit all who live in the area,” Adams said.

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The auxiliary’s gift is the first contribution to the anticipated 50,000-square-foot project that will tentatively wrap a two-story glass facade around the front of the eight-story Swann building and offer more convenient ambulatory diagnostic services to patients.

“It is a great start to an important community initiative,” said Richard Straughn, Mid-Florida Medical Services Foundation Chairman.

The hospital currently derives one-third of its annual revenue from out-patient services, said Lance Anastasio, Winter Haven Hospital president and CEO. That percentage will rise as research offers less invasive methods of treating conditions that now require a hospital stay, he said.

In addition, the hospital anticipates opening its open-heart surgery program over the next 18-months creating a need for associated growth, Anastasio said. Both the open-heart program and the new construction represent “commitments by our board to meet community needs,” he said.

Winter Haven Hospital is developing a facilities growth plan with Kurt Salmon Associates, Atlanta, said David Libby, Vice President for facilities planning. The hospital also intends to obtain input from the community in addition to its medical and support staff, he said.

Increasing administrative, diagnostic and treatment efficiency, improving access to services and upgrading the six operating rooms to six state-of-the-art "operating theaters" are hallmarks of the new growth plan, Libby said.

The hospital is also evaluating plans to place some outpatient diagnostic services on the first floor closer to the main lobby and provide a front lobby elevator directly to radiology and radiation oncology located in the basement. Hospital officials are also considering enlarging all of the facilities operating rooms and raising ceilings to permit more equipment.

“The most costly aspect of the project will be devising a uniform look for the hospital’s four major buildings constructed separately over nearly a half-century,” Anastasio said. Consultants are also studying an upper-floor bridge between patient rooms in the Swann Building and the 6-story Street Building.

The hospital foundation is studying whether to launch a capital campaign for the project. Capital reserves and tax-exempt revenue bonds will also be likely elements of the funding package, Anastasio noted.