Miami Children's Hospital Nicklaus Care Center Opens in Palm Beach County

MIAMI, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami Children's Hospital (MCH), South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, today announced that the first Miami Children's Hospital Nicklaus Care Center has opened in Palm Beach County.  The stand-alone clinic is located in Loxahatchee at 12989 Southern Boulevard, Suite 203.  

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100719/FL36901 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100719/FL36901 )

Appointments are now available for children who have special medical needs and require care from pediatric craniofacial, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology and orthopedic specialists. For more information or to request an appointment, parents and caregivers are invited to call (561) 383-7113 or visit www.mchnicklauscarecenters.com.  

"Thanks to the support of the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, Miami Children's Hospital now gives a new option to Palm Beach County area families with children who require pediatric specialty care," said M. Narendra Kini, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Miami Children's Hospital.  "Managing life during treatment far from home puts a strain on parents and children.  We are hopeful that the Loxahatchee clinic will enhance access to MCH services while alleviating the need of having to travel to multiple medical appointments throughout South Florida."

The following Miami Children's Hospital specialists will have appointments available at the Nicklaus Care Center:

Chad Perlyn, M.D., Ph.D. is a craniofacial specialist who provides comprehensive care and management for infants, children and young adults with congenital and acquired craniofacial disorders, including but are not limited to cleft lip/palate, skin lesions and vascular malformations.

Alejandro Diaz, M.D. is an endocrinologist who treats infants, children and adolescents with endocrine disorders, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia, obesity and thyroid disorders.

Alisa Muniz Crim, M.D. is a gastroenterologist who diagnoses and treats a wide variety of problems, including recurrent/persistent abdominal pain, Celiac disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Mark Epstein, M.D. is a neurologist who diagnoses, evaluates and treats cerebral palsy, epilepsy, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), pervasive development disorders/autistic spectrum disorders (PDD/ASD) and mental retardation.

Harry Shufflebarger, M.D. is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who diagnoses and treats scoliosis and spinal disorders. Dr. Shufflebarger also serves as the Director of the Division of Pediatric Spinal Surgery at the main MCH campus. 

"We are honored to welcome these wonderful physicians to Palm Beach County," said Barbara Nicklaus, chairman of the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation Board of Directors.  "The new Nicklaus Care Center provides a nice platform for our Foundation to further expand its impact and advance the health care needs of children."

The Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation mission is to provide support for activities that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders. In addition, the Foundation supports not-for-profit programs and projects aimed at children's health, safety, and well-being.

"It is very gratifying for our family and Foundation supporters to see a vision turn into reality," said Jack Nicklaus, honorary chairman of the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation Board of Directors.  "We look at this Center as more than just a doctor's office.  It is an important tool for parents to have in their tool boxes as they navigate the needs of children who require specialized care.  We are pleased to team with Miami Children's Hospital and look forward to continuing to help kids in the communities where our family lives and works."

About Miami Children's Hospital

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Miami Children's Hospital® is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with more than 650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric sub-specialists. The 289-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs ranked among the best in the nation in 2008, 2009 and 2010 by U.S.News & World Report. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor.

About Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation

The Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation focused on providing charitable support to organizations and initiatives that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders.

The Foundation supports not-for-profit programs and projects aimed at pediatric health care and health-related services.  In addition, the Foundation supports not-for-profit programs and projects aimed at children's health, safety and well-being.

For more information, visit www.nchcf.org.

SOURCE Miami Children's Hospital