Baptist Health Care

Patient Frequently Asked Questions

I am due to deliver my third child the first week of January. How will the merger effect me? Where will I deliver?  –  November 11, 2008
As of January 2009, both the current Baptist Hospital downtown and the future campus on Davis Highway will have labor and delivery units. The downtown obstetrics unit will not relocate for about nine months following the acquisition. If you have any questions or would like additional information to help you prepare for your delivery, please contact Baptist Hospital’s Baby Care Center at (850) 434-4567. The team will be happy to assist you.
I have not heard much from Baptist Health Care about the acquisition of West Florida Hospital lately; what is the status of this?  –  October 8, 2008
Since receiving clearance from the Federal Trade Commission in late August, Baptist Health Care has secured bond ratings for financing and is continuing plans for the transition.

Because of current instability in the credit markets, Baptist Health Care’s financial advisors have suggested a brief delay in proceeding with the financing until things stabilize in the financial marketplace. Meanwhile, Baptist Health Care continues the process of getting everything ready for the final financing and making all the needed preparations for a smooth transition in this major milestone in Baptist’s history.
What reassurance can Baptist Health Care offer community members that fear a lack of health care services in their neighborhood?   –  October 8, 2008
Although Baptist Health Care’s main downtown facility will no longer be an inpatient facility, it will continue to operate as a thriving, outpatient facility. The vast majority of services patients currently seek will remain.

We want to assure our downtown family, friends and neighbors that many important and substantial services such as diagnostic and imaging services and lab, new walk-in urgent care services, the three Baptist Medical Towers and the Lakeview Center will remain at this location. In addition, the corporate offices of Baptist Health Care will remain here, as well as numerous other medical services.

Baptist Health Care will continue to be a good neighbor serving the needs of this community providing superior quality health care. Throughout this transition, we remain steadfast in our not–for–profit mission of caring for members of our community who are poor and uninsured.
Why should the community embrace the merging of the hospitals?  –  October 8, 2008
Baptist Health Care is combining the best of two facilities. Once the acquisition is complete, Baptist Health Care will redefine health care excellence by expanding our comprehensive care for each and every resident of the communities we serve. We are committed to investing in and being a good community partner. As a result, more than 60 health care locations will be open to the residents of northwest Florida and southern Alabama, bringing superior care closer to home. By West Florida Hospital becoming a not–for–profit hospital, dollars will stay local and be reinvested in the community, not sent out of the market.
What will happen to the current Baptist Hospital building?  –  October 8, 2008
The current Baptist Hospital will remain open until the consolidation is complete, approximately 12 to 18 months after the purchase.

The Campus Redevelopment Council conducted a community survey in early September and is currently reviewing the results and feedback. We want to assure our downtown family, friends and neighbors that many important and substantial services will continue.
I am interested in purchasing some of the Treasury Bonds that will be sold to pay for the planned purchase of West Florida. Is that possible?  –  October 7, 2008
We have posed this question to the investment bank that is handling the sale of the bonds to see if this would be possible in some form. We will advise once we have more information. To clarify, these bonds are not backed by the U.S. treasury, but will be issued based solely on the creditworthiness of Baptist Health Care.
Following the acquisition, what health insurance plans will be honored?  –  September 15, 2008
Baptist Health Care continues to accept the same insurances it accepted prior to the expansion. Participation in insurance plan networks is continually reviewed and plan participation can change based on community and business needs. If you have a question about an insurance that is currently accepted at West Florida and you want to find out if Baptist accepts this same insurance, please call 434-4080 to verify.
What's going to happen to Sunshine Garden Cafe?  –  September 5, 2008
"Plans are for Sunshine Garden Cafe to continue serving our many downtown Pensacola customers that include the BHC employees and visitors as well as many other area businesses and individuals." David Bookman, Sunshine Garden Cafe.
Will Baptist Medical Park 9 Mile close following the acquisition?  –  September 5, 2008
No. Since it's opening in 2000, Baptist Medical Park has served the growing communities in north Pensacola, Pace and Milton. Conveniently located at Nine Mile Road and University Parkway, the medical park offers convenient access to more than 50 dedicated physicians. Services include Imaging (MRI, CT, X–ray, Dexascans and Mammography), Physical Therapy, Cardiology, Outpatient Surgery and Walk–In Urgent Care clinic; along with a variety of outpatient medical services. Following the acquisition of West Florida Hospital, the medical park will continue to offer all of these services with plans to grow to better serve the needs of the community.
Will the Ambulatory clinic remaining at the Baptist downtown campus take non–insured patients?  –  August 26, 2008
Caring for the poor and uninsured in our community regardless of ability to pay is a hallmark of the Baptist Health Care mission. That will not change with our urgent care center at the Baptist downtown campus. Our team will continue to care for patients regardless of their ability to pay. Rendering care in an emergency department is more costly than any other entry point in the health care system, and as often pointed out, it frequently is used for non-emergency situations, specifically conditions that would be better served in a primary care setting. Having urgent care services in the downtown community will allow us to provide for primary care needs more effectively, in regards to wait times, personnel and cost, than is possible in the emergency department setting.
Will there be an on–site pharmacy remaining at Baptist Medical Park Downtown?  –  August 25, 2008
We plan to maintain a pharmacy on this location to serve over 1,000 employees on this campus, patients being treated at the future urgent care center and for the patients of those physicians who will continue to practice in our Towers and surrounding offices.
Is Baptist Health Care acquiring the Medical Center Clinic as part of the West Florida Hospital purchase?  –  August 11, 2008
The Medical Center Clinic is a separate facility from West Florida Hospital and will remain independent of the Baptist Health Care acquisition of West Florida Hospital. Many of the physicians who have practices at the Medical Center Clinic already have medical staff privileges with Baptist, and we look forward to building those relationships and providing more convenient access to patients.
Since West Florida Hospital is closing, will Sacred Heart be the only obstetrics hospital to provide deliveries?  –  August 11, 2008
Baptist Hospital’s obstetrics unit currently delivers about 1,200 babies annually. Once the Mother Baby inpatient unit moves to the West Florida Hospital location, we will continue to provide obstetrics services and expect more than 1,500 deliveries annually.
Will the doctors’ offices still be located in the Baptist Towers?  –  July 11, 2008
Several patients and community members have asked where their physician’s office will be. As we’ve talked with physicians they’ve told us they are exploring the possibilities of having a presence at both our main downtown location and at the new Baptist Hospital campus. Decisions will happen over the next couple of years.
Where will the outpatient procedures be done?  –  July 11, 2008
The main downtown campus will continue to be a vital, full service outpatient facility offering the following:
  • Walk–in urgent care center to provide services for patients who require non-emergent medical care
  • Physician offices in the three Baptist Towers
  • Diagnostic imaging services
  • Laboratory services
  • Outpatient physical rehabilitation
  • Wound care and hyperbaric medicine
  • Baptist Health Care corporate offices
  • Lakeview Center
  • Combined inpatient psychiatric services at the current Baptist Behavioral Medicine Hospital
  • In addition, the full service outpatient campus will provide food services, environmental services, security and plant operations.
Will dialysis services continue at Baptist Hospital?  –  July 11, 2008
The group who manages dialysis services plans to remain in the downtown Baptist Towers.
I am just curious if anything will be added to Baptist Medical Park in Navarre? It seems that the community has persistently grown and because it is near Gulf Breeze/Midway area and Holley, it would be an opportune location for an urgent care center.  –  July 11, 2008
An urgent care center is a good solution to providing more convenient care for non life-threatening emergencies. A walk-in urgent care center can provide the same medical care, supported by any needed diagnostic services such as x–ray and lab, faster and more efficiently. Baptist currently has an urgent care center at Baptist Medical Park on Nine Mile Road, and we plan to add one at the downtown location as well as Baptist Medical Park Navarre. We are currently recruiting a lead physician for the Navarre walk–in urgent care center which will also offer occupational medicine.
Will the Friary relocate to the downtown campus?  –  July 11, 2008
There are no plans to relocate the Friary, currently located in Gulf Breeze, to the main campus. Following the acquisition, Baptist Health Care will offer more than 60 locations to offer residents throughout northwest Florida and south Alabama convenient access to care.
Will reducing the area to two Emergency Departments increase the problem for patients to access care?  –  July 3, 2008
After the acquisition, there will be six emergency departments in the community: the Baptist Hospital/currently West Florida campus, Sacred Heart Hospital, Gulf Breeze Hospital, Atmore Community Hospital, Jay Hospital, Santa Rosa Medical Center, and for military, the Navy Hospital.

A significant number of patients who come to the emergency room are not in need of emergency care. Because many patients tend to go the ER for a variety of medical concerns, long waits often occur when more emergent patients arrive who truly require immediate medical attention. Currently, about 3% of all patients who receive care in the emergency department actually require continuing inpatient care. The other 97% are treated and return home. An urgent care center is a good solution to providing more convenient care for non life-threatening emergencies. A walk-in urgent care center can provide the same medical care, supported by any needed diagnostic services such as x-ray and lab, faster and more efficiently. Baptist currently has an urgent care center at Baptist Medical Park on Nine Mile Road, and we plan to add one at the downtown location as well as Baptist Medical Park Navarre.

What if a patient goes to the urgent care, but requires emergency care?  –  July 3, 2008
If a patient is deemed to require emergency care due to a life threatening medical condition, that patient will be transported, by ambulance or LifeFlight, to an emergency room.
Why is Baptist Health Care acquiring West Florida Hospital?  –  June 27, 2008
This acquisition is the smart choice to maximize efficiency in the delivery of health care services to help control costs and enhance the quality of life in our community. This opportunity ensures we can continue to meet the growing health care needs of the poor and uninsured—a hallmark of Baptist Health Care’s Mission.  Baptist Health Care will continue our award-winning quality of health care service to meet the growing demand of our community by expanding to more modern facilities.
Many area residents are active and retired military. Will Baptist accept TRICARE?  –  June 27, 2008
Yes, we accept TRICARE and have since February 1, 2007.
What will be the primary services at the Davis Highway location?  –  June 27, 2008
The new Baptist Hospital on Davis Highway will be a full-service hospital providing all of the major areas of care:
  • New Baptist Cancer Center in affiliation with Moffitt Cancer Institute
  • Expanded Emergency Department and LifeFlight helipad
  • Enhanced Baptist Heart & Vascular Center of Excellence
  • Expanded Baptist Neurosciences Center
  • New Parking Garage
  • New Medical Office Buildings
  • Comprehensive Baptist Rehab Hospital for neurological and orthopaedic conditions
  • Bariatric Center of Excellence
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Orthopaedic Care
What will be the Urgent Care hours at the downtown campus?  –  June 27, 2008
We will be measuring demand for these services and will be getting community input before reaching this decision.
What about West Florida Rehab?  –  June 27, 2008
They are part of the acquisition, and will become a Baptist entity.