Tenet Florida, Scripps Research Institute Announce Plans to Build Academic Medical Center

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Tenet Florida Inc. and The Scripps Research Institute announce a collaboration to develop an academic medical center. The proposed state-of-the-art facilities, for which Tenet has submitted a Letter of Intent to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), would be located on up to 30 acres of land on the Scripps Florida campus.

“It is our vision that this new center would expand the opportunities for clinical research, graduate medical education and medical and surgical services while providing even better access to state-of-the-art medical care,” said Marsha Powers, Senior Vice President, Tenet Florida Region.

Plans for the center include an 80-bed acute care hospital, as well as specialized medical/surgical services in orthopedics, oncology, senior care and digestive diseases. Through a consortium of area medical facilities, the hospital would also afford residency and internship opportunities for medical students enrolled in the newly accredited Florida Atlantic University Medical School, which offers a joint MD-PhD program with Scripps Florida.

“The location of a cutting-edge medical center next to our current research facilities in Florida would help us continue to build bridges between science and medicine,” said Scripps Research President Richard A. Lerner, MD. “This collaboration offers opportunities to further key aspects of our mission—to create knowledge in the biosciences to improve human health, as well as to train the next generation of scientific leaders. In addition, we are delighted by the prospect of furthering economic growth and biotech development in Palm Beach County and the State of Florida.”

“One of my goals for this state has been to grow other sectors of our economy that have potential,” said Governor Rick Scott. “Research and development is one of those areas, and this Tenet-Scripps announcement is a great example of the business world and the academic world, working together to make that happen.”
Palm Beach County estimates that the total local economic impact will be $402 million over a five-year period. This includes the creation of 150 to 200 full-time construction jobs and 250 to 300 full-time health care-related jobs.

“The construction of this facility is a key component to the success of our bioscience cluster,” said Board of Palm Beach County Commissioners Chair, Karen Marcus. “It enhances Scripps Florida’s drug discovery program and solidifies our commitment to translational research and educational collaboration.”

About Tenet Florida
Tenet Florida, a region of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, comprises 9 acute care hospitals with 10 sites of service and 3,483 beds and numerous related health care services. Tenet’s hospitals aim to provide the best possible care to every patient who comes through their doors, with a clear focus on quality and service. Hospitals in the South Florida region include Coral Gables Hospital, Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Hialeah Hospital, North Shore Medical Center, North Shore Medical Center FMC Campus, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Palmetto General Hospital, St. Mary’s Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center.

Tenet distinguishes itself as a leader in redefining health care delivery and has been recognized for the passion of its people and partners in providing quality, innovative care to the patients it serves in each community. What’s more, Tenet Florida region hospitals have been recognized consistently by organizations such as CIGNA, HealthGrades and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for their commitment to providing quality care.

About The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world’s largest independent, non-profit biomedical research organizations. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its discoveries in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and vaccine development, as well as for its insights into autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious disease. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, the institute also includes a campus in Jupiter, Florida, where scientists focus on drug discovery and technology development in addition to basic biomedical science. Scripps Research currently employs about 3,000 scientists, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students on its two campuses. The institute’s graduate program, which awards Ph.D. degrees in biology and chemistry, is ranked among the top ten such programs in the nation. For more information, see www.scripps.edu.