A new 550,000-square-foot hospital will open in south Lakeland on July 8, marking the first healthcare facility of its kind to open in the city in more than a century. The Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands facility features more than 300 patient beds and nearly 50 emergency room beds.

Facility Details

Hospital officials hired 1,500 employees and around 75 physicians to meet the needs of a growing population. The medical center includes 11 operating rooms equipped with advanced surgical robots.

Dr. Doris Koduah, an internal medicine hospitalist, noted that many residents moving to the surrounding communities will utilize the facility. “We have so many people moving to the south side and surrounding communities. All these people in Plant City and other areas around here will be utilizing this facility a lot,” Koduah said.

Future Medical Options

Orlando Health’s invested more than $500 million into the community and the hospital represents one of the largest capital investments in Polk County in 25 years. A free-standing emergency department is currently under construction in North Lakeland, scheduled to open in October.

Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.