Bay Care

BayCare announced today that it will build a freestanding emergency department in the south Lakeland area to complement its other two hospital emergency rooms in fast-growing Polk County. The new facility will also include a special focus on providing emergency care for children.

Construction on the freestanding emergency department at 5501 S. Florida Ave. will begin in 2025, with an anticipated opening in late 2026.

“As Polk County becomes a more and more popular place to call home, we want to ensure BayCare’s unmatched clinical excellence is accessible for the community, including its youngest residents,” said BayCare President and CEO Stephanie Conners. “BayCare is always looking for new opportunities to provide patients care where, when and how they need it, and this investment in a new freestanding emergency department is no exception.”

The new, 12,000-square-foot facility will house 12 emergency care beds, plus three “fast-track” rooms for patients who require less-acute care. While BayCare’s expert clinicians and team members will serve patients of all ages, a special focus of the Lakeland facility will be pediatrics, with a direct connection to St. Joseph’s Children