Orlando Regional Healthcare, which has a Downtown campus thatincludes the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, has filed aformal statement with the Florida Agency for HealthcareAdministration, asking that body to deny Nemours' application foran operational permit. The ORH statement argues the Nemours OrlandoChildrens Hospital would duplicate services not only at its ArnoldPalmer Hospital but also at a nearby Florida Children's Hospitalrun by Florida Hospital, another competitor.

The ORH statement argues the planned 28-acre, south OrlandoNemours' class II pediatric hospital would be only four miles fromits Downtown medical campus. ORH has partnered with the NemoursChildren's Clinic since 1997. ORH is investing $125 million on newand renovated facilities, as GlobeSt.com previously reported.

At the same time that ORH filed its brief, Nemours also filedits first formal application for the new hospital. The 200-pageNemours statement maintains its new facility will not duplicateservices at any other metro Orlando hospital.