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Orlando Business Journal
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:47am EDT
Related: Health Care
Florida Hospital signed a clinical research partnership agreement March 21 with The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer in Israel. The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission helped broker the deal. The goal of the partnership is to “answer important clinical and patient care questions, advance robotic and minimally invasive surgery global training and education initiatives, recognize and develop clinical best practices that can be shared with both hospital systems, and become an incubator and demonstration site for new ideas and approaches to improve patient management and care using new technologies and procedures,” according to a news release
Full text here below:
As part of a Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) trade and trade and business development mission to Israel, led by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, two world-class medical systems have announced plans to collaborate on research and education initiatives designed to improve patient care and health delivery systems. On Monday, March 21, The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, the most comprehensive hospital in Israel and the Middle East, and Orlando-based Florida Hospital, which is the flagship of the Adventist Health System, signed a memorandum of understanding for international collaboration and strategic relations. This partnership is designed to leverage each institution’s individual strengths, experience and perspectives in delivering and improving patient care on both a local and international level.
“I am thrilled that Florida Hospital, one of our nation’s best hospitals, has joined forces with one of the Middle East’s most comprehensive medical centers with a common goal of improving health care options and enhancing the quality of life for patients in Orlando and throughout the world,” said Dyer. “This partnership is a direct result of this business and trade mission to Israel that provided the opportunity to cultivate this global relationship. Previous trade missions have resulted in direct non-stop international flight service and new project developments for the City of Orlando, infusing resources into our local economy and increasing Orlando’s global recognition as a prime location for international business and investment.”
In announcing the partnership, representatives from Florida Hospital and The Sheba Medical Center indicated that they will work cohesively to implement new ventures that answer important clinical and patient care questions, advance robotic and minimally invasive surgery global training and education initiatives, recognize and develop clinical best practices that can be shared with both hospital systems and become an incubator and demonstration site for new ideas and approaches to improve patient management and care using new technologies and procedures.
“An important part of Florida Hospital’s vision is to be a global pacesetter,” said Lars Houmann, president and CEO of Florida Hospital, who traveled with Dyer and the EDC to Israel. “This collaboration in Israel with such an outstanding teaching hospital will advance our understanding of the research and provision of health care in their part of the world, and will provide them with the reciprocal benefit in the United States.”
According to the Metro Orlando EDC, collaborations such as this highlight the benefits of global market outreach and will continue to position Orlando as a hub for international trade and business.
“Expanded international connections such as that between Florida Hospital and Sheba Medical not only bode well for the patients who will benefit from shared research and knowledge, but also contribute to the overall strength, growth and stability of our regional economy,” noted Carmenza Gonzalez, EDC vice president of international business development, who led the mission.
A total of 11 business and community leaders accompanied Orlando Mayor Dyer on the trip. In addition to health care and life science, the trade mission to Israel focused on building connections for our region’s simulation and defense industries.
