GainesvilleMoms.com

Financial strains have caused the Shands system to cut AGH loose. It's really too bad, I don't remember a Gainesville without AGH.
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I know!
I was born there
My Mom was also born there

I was in shock yesterday when I heard, and they have some wonderful doctors there. They have been taking care of my husband with his cancer and Chemo...and they took the time to really dig deep to why he was having problems, and that's how the cancer was found.

I was born there too! That is sad to hear the plan to close it down - how about converting it to a Children's Hospital??

How perfect would that be Michelle? Maybe The Ferrero Foundation will look into that. I would have to think it would cost down on the total cost of such a huge project!

When my son was in the hospital when he was two months old, we spent four days in AGH. It was such a scary time, but the nurses and doctors were great -- even when I was mad at them for not letting us go home!

It will be interesting to hear what comes of the situation.

Sometimes...God closes doors for one thing in order to open doors for someone or something else.

Maybe...God willing. Shands will be willing to work out with this Foundation to open as a Children't hospital. After all, the foundation is doing a wonderful job raising money for this need.

Perhaps we should do a petition for them?

I think it would be wonderful for an organization such as the Ferrero Foundation to take over a building like this. However, the article that I read stated that "Goldfarb noted that in the 12 years that Shands has owned the 80-year-old, 367-bed hospital, Shands has invested more than $86 million in the facility."

First of all, it's an 80 year old building. We all know the upkeep involved in an old house, imagine an old hospital. Second, $86 million dollars has gone in to the facility alone in the past 12 years.

Yeah I have heard AGH has battled with some building/structural problems. You might just see them knock the whole building down...It will be interesting to see.

It was not that long ago that they attempted to transition the children's services over to AGH. Needless to say, it did not work out as planned. They are proposing a biotech park there but I will not be surprised if the building cannot be salvaged.

I just started working at AGH in August and absolutely love it. I am so saddened that it is closing in a year. Luckily, most of us will be transferred to the new Cancer Center.

Wow that must be really hard for you Misty. I hope everything works out. One positive is the number of health facilities in Gainesville. I feel like I see a new medical center, clinic, etc. every day!

I was born there too.

I didn't know the children's services weren't there anymore. Where are they now (in case we ever have an emergency)? Or do we just go to the nearest ER?

Anything to get the new children's hospital together would be great but agree about the worry of the building's age. My larger concern would be the location though. I live on Tower road and my husband works near AGH, it sometimes takes him 45 minutes to get across town. I'd worry about the time it would take EMS to get to me and then get my son all the way to the AGH location even with their lights going.

Is NFRMC not set up to accept children? (My son is 2 months so I'm new to this.) I see Dr. Banks and Turmarkin in the Women's Center, I noticed on their paperwork they recommend children going to Shands.

-Amy

Hey guys! Just wanted to put in my two cents regarding AGH and a children's hospital.

First of all, Shands admin did try to shift children's services to AGH to the general outcry of Gainesville pediatricians. The plan was a disaster in the making and was ended because that disaster came full circle with the death of Sebastian Fererro. Children's needs and subsequently the staff and equipment they need in a facility is VERY different from an adult hospital. Trying to operate a children's hospital from somewhere as outdated as AGH that was designed for adult services is like treating humans in a vet clinic.

I'm sure you might be thinking that rennovations could be done and you're right--but the time and cost would be so extensive that a new building would be better spent money. And don't our kids deserve the best?

The diseases children face, the treatments, the procedures are unique to their little growing bodies and changing anatomy. A children's hospital is a must for our community. I am sure NFRMC does a good job but they do not have the trained specialists that SUF does.

If your car needs an oil change (i.e. a healthy kid going for well visits) you send your car to a general mechanic. If your car has a seriously flawed engine needing expertise on your make and model...you find a mechanic trained in exactly what your car needs. It's not competition between the two groups--these groups of physicians work together to treat children in our area.

Hope this made sense--thanks for hearing me out!

I work at AGH and while yes Administration missed the mark when it came to moving peds to AGH, that was more because of the logistics nightmare that occured because services became split between the hospitals. As for the tragic death of Sebastian Ferrero, even though the SUN stated his overdose occured at AGH, it in fact occurred at SHANDS @ UF. Yes our buidling is older, but sometimes people consider that character. Think about it when you're 80 and you have wrinkles and sags would you like everyone critizing that you HAVE TO see a plastic surgeon, or would you like them to suggestion subtle changes that would enhance your already present beauty.