CENTRAL FLORIDA — Florida Hospital unveiled its plans on Tuesday to add three buildings across Central Florida at a cost of nearly $300 million.
The goal is to focus on women's healthcare. Each one of the buildings will be dedicated to women's healthcare.
In the next three years, the buildings will go up: one in Celebration, one in Winter Park and another in Orlando.
Doctors admitted the focus will help them compete with other hospitals, but they said they are not doing it to bring more money into the hospital.
"Women's service is not a cash cow and that's part of the reason why you do not see a lot of hospitals readily investing in women," said the senior vice president of Florida Hospital Dr. Monica Reed. "If we don't intervene the future generations will actually live less longer than we are."
Health experts at the University of Central Florida agree.
WFTV found out the life expectancy for women has only improved by nearly three years over the last couple of decades, compared to men's life expectancy, which has increased more than four and a half years.
"I think it has just continued to grow, just because of the fast-paced lifestyle we have and the neglect that women have in taking care of themselves," said patient Sarah Doherty.
Doherty said Florida Hospital saved her life, and her baby.
“They rescued me in my time of despair,” she said.
Doherty's daughter Isabella wanted to be born early, and there were other complications so mom spent two-months in the hospital.
"I was no longer scared but grateful to be surrounded by a team I could trust,” said Doherty.
She's glad more women will get access to the care she had.
Florida Hospital doctors are hoping to change that too by getting into the community with a new program to help women to dedicate themselves to a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, healthy eating and less stress.
Orlando Regional Medical Center already has its focus on women through specialized programs and the Winnnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, which contains 285 beds.