All Children's Hospital Recognized at Rotary Club of Clearwater Meeting
Lois Miller, at the Rotary Club of Clearwater, demonstrating the ultra small size of diapers for preemie babies at All Children's Hospital. 340,000 were used last year. Lois Miller, Gift Officer of All Children's Hospital Foundation, stated recently at a Wednesday noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Clearwater, that 8000 children were treated last year at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. Miller said that the children at All Children's Hospital are the "sickest of the sick." All Children's provides specialized pediatric services, many not available at most other hospitals. A broad range of physician specialists is available to treat conditions that many other hospitals or physicians have said could not be treated. All children are accepted, regardless of ability to pay. The hospital depends on support from the public, as well as other sources. All Children's Hospital is recognized for its ability to provide heart transplants. Children range in age from the womb to age 21, but cardiac patients are followed into adulthood. Cancer is another treatment specialty. Miller also emphasized the importance of early treatment for many serious, life threatening medical problems, especially with preemies and other birth complications. Delay in treatment can result in permanent injuries, such as brain damage. Rotarian Carol Warren introduced Miller, at the Rotary meeting at the Belleair Country Club, as a Certified Fundraising Executive with past experience at Ruth Eckerd Hall, UPARC, Clearwater Library Foundation, and the Sun Coast Hospital Foundation. Miller described the new All Children's Hospital that is expected to open in December 2009. It will have the latest in technology, in treatment, communication, in-house movement of patients and families. It will have a helipad capable of landing large military helicopters, designed to carry several people. Last year All Children's used 340,000 diapers. Miller displayed the extreme small size of diapers for a preemie baby. It requires fifteen million dollars a year to operate All Children's. There are ten outreach centers on our West Coast. Research in Cancer and Immunology is conducted in cooperation with USF, and the hospital is the only pediatric affiliate of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute. Rotary members expressed appreciation on having such an outstanding pediatric hospital on the West Coast of Florida and in Pinellas County.
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