Lakeland Regional Health (LRH) plans to open two new Freestanding Emergency Departments over the next 24 months – one at U.S. Highway 17 and CR 540 in the Winter Haven area in mid-2027 and one on U.S. 98 North at Marcum Road in early 2028.
The new locations will be the second and third Freestanding Emergency Departments for LRH. The organization’s first Freestanding Emergency Department opened in March 2025 at 6150 S. Florida Ave., off CR 540A. LRH’s Freestanding Emergency Departments provide the same expert emergency care as Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center’s Emergency Department.
“We are proud to bring our lifesaving emergency care closer to patients of all ages in Winter Haven and North Lakeland,” said Dr. Timothy Regan, President of Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and Chief Medical Officer of Lakeland Regional Health. “As part of our strategic plan, we continue to expand access to our nationally recognized care. We have proudly served our community for 110 years and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional and compassionate care for our neighbors close to home.”
At the new locations, patients can expect comprehensive emergency care for both adults and children. Just like LRH’s main emergency room, the state-of-the-art Freestanding Emergency Departments will be open 24/7 and offer emergency radiology services, such as CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and on-site lab services.
Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, the largest hospital in Polk County, is only minutes away from the new locations. Patients who need to be admitted will be transported to the Medical Center at no cost to the patient. The Medical Center is part of Lakeland Regional Health, Polk County’s largest local health system, and has more than 1,400 members of the medical staff. Additionally, the LRH Physician Group, which comprises more than 450 providers in 40+ specialties, will provide patients with excellent follow-up care close to home.
Freestanding Emergency Department locations are part of the LRH Medical Center. They are not urgent care centers; services and care are billed at hospital Emergency Department rates.
That last sentence is a lulu. Be aware you will be billed at emergency room prices, which will be steep.