Cape hospital 30 years old
Part of the countywide Lee Memorial system
BY michelle L. Start Correspondent

COURTESY PHOTO Today the campus of Cape Coral Hospital includes a nearly 14-acre hospital building. Back in 1977, when the acute care facility opened it was less than one-tenth of the size it is today.

David Bateman was a 19-year-old high school student when he accepted a job working at the newly opened Cape Coral Hospital back in 1977. He had no idea it would become his career.

"I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life and this came along," said Bateman, now lead energy plant operator. "I didn't plan for it to become a lifetime, but I'm glad it did."

As the hospital celebrates its 30th anniversary Thursday, July 5, Bateman, Donna Giannuzzi and Katherine Williamson will be honored, as well. All three have been at the hospital since it opened with 94 beds and 254 employees. Hospital administrators had only planned to open 40 patient rooms initially, but by late August or early September of 1977, they were all open. Twenty-two patients visited the emergency room within the first 48 hours, with the first being treated for a catfish barb in the foot.

Bateman said the biggest change he has seen throughout the years has been with technology.

Deb Schuyler, director of volunteer resources and auxiliary development, said there are still six members of the original auxiliary, which formed in 1975, still alive. Additionally, three members who joined the auxiliary 31 years ago still volunteer today. They are Gillian Paterson, Eileen Schumann and Mary Robinson. Vera Szego has a combined 30 years service between Cape Coral Hospital and Lee Memorial Hospital. Since its inception, the auxiliary has donated more than $4 million to Cape Coral Hospital.

Dr. Edward Laird, who also began at Cape Coral Hospital in 1977, said it used to be more community oriented, but since Lee Memorial Health System acquired the facility in 1996 for $145 million that has changed.

"They even answer the phone "Lee Memorial Health System". It's no longer Cape Coral. You no longer know where you are," he said. "It has changed a lot."

The hospital opened on July 5, 1977 in a 54,000 square foot building. Today, the hospital boasts 291 beds and is 565,000 square feet.

"The first major expansion occurred in the early 80s and was completed in 1984," said Dave Kistel, vice president of facilities and support services. "The slogan was 80 more in '84. It brought us up to a 174-bed facility that was just supporting general acute care hospital beds. The emergency room, which was in the rear, was relocated and expanded in the front, where it is today."

In 1986, the emergency room had 12 beds. In the early 1990s, it expanded to 24 and today, officials are completing designs for an expansion to 42 beds that is expected to take place within the next 30 months.

In 1987 to 1988, Cape Coral Hospital added a 14 bed maternity unit. Prior to that, women had to travel to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers to give birth. The maternity unit was expanded to 23 beds in the 1990s. Nine pediatric beds were also added.

In 1994, the north tower project was completed and the hospital grew to 174 beds.

"With that project, we also expanded the operating rooms, radiology department, outpatient services and created a new front main entry and access point,"

said Kistel. "This past year,

we added a 10-bed neuroscience unit on the fourth

floor and now have 291

beds."

Lee Memorial Health System president

Jim Nathan said

Cape Coral Hospital

has a legacy of caring.

"It is demonstrated every day in so many different

ways," he said.

Cake will be served

throughout the day as a part of Thursday's 30th anniversary celebration. n