AdventHealth Lake Wales
History
1928–1999
In 1928, June Hobbs and a nurse opened Lake Wales' first hospital; it had nine beds and was in a two-story apartment. About one year later it closed. In 1929, Lake Wales, Highland Park and Mountain Lake raised $80,000 to build a 25-bed hospital. Lake Wales Hospital officially opened on March 12, 1930. Additional bedrooms were added in 1948 and 1956, increasing the number of beds to 60. In 1965, a new 110-bed hospital was built. Nine years later the third floor opened, increasing the number of beds to 154, and the original hospital became a medical office building.
In 1985, construction workers began the construction of the Deeley A. Hunt Building, a 120-bed nursing home adjacent of the hospital. In 1993, Lake Wales Hospital merged with its nursing home and was renamed Lake Wales Medical Centers. Also in 1993, the hospital became part of Mid Florida Medical Services. In late November 1999, the Winter Haven Hospital Board of Trustees voted unanimously on expansion and renovation of Lake Wales Medical Center. They also approved the demolition of the former hospital.
2000–2009
In late June 2000, Lake Wales Medical Centers announced that it would have a new emergency department with private treatment rooms constructed; it would double the size of the emergency department. The intensive care unit would be moved to the second floor. Ambulatory surgery would be moved to the first story and take over the former ICU and emergency department. The surgical suit would be expanded. Two of the primary emergency treatment rooms would become endoscopy rooms. In early February 2001, the hospital wanted to move its medical records, human resources and housekeeping to the first story of the nursing home. Before they could be moved it had to get permission from the Agency for Healthcare Administration to change the license of the first story. Demolition of the old hospital started in August, it would take two to three months to demolish and cost $5 to 6 million due to asbestos.
In January 2002, construction workers started to construct the new emergency department. In late May 2003, Lake Wales Medical Center's 14,000-square-foot emergency department opened to patients; it cost $4.5 million to build.
In late July 2002, Mid Florida Medical Services decided to sell the hospital after hearing from local residents. In early September, both Community Health Systems and Health Management Associates were interested in buying the hospital.
On December 2, Lake Wales Medical Centers was purchased by Community Health Systems from Mid-Florida Medical Services.
In August 2007, renovations at the hospital were completed at a cost of $6.9 million. In December 2008, a $4 million renovation began on the Deeley A. Hunt Building after the nursing home closed. The space was renovated to contain a board room, offices, reception room, education space and thirty-two private patient rooms. Three of the patient rooms are designed for obesity and three others can be used as negative-pressure rooms. In early May 2009, the former nursing home space at Lake Wales Medical Center was opened to the public.
2018–present
On January 9, 2018, construction workers broke ground on a new 5,100-square-foot wound healing center at the hospital, it would be double the size of the old facility. The wound healing center was completed at the end of 2018 and included six treatment rooms, three hyperbaric chambers, waiting area and a lobby. On May 22, 2019, AdventHealth bought Lake Wales Medical Center from Community Health Systems for $10,146,000. On September 1, AdventHealth officially took over the management of Lake Wales Medical Center. It was renamed AdventHealth Lake Wales and joined AdventHealth Central Florida Division.
On January 1, 2021, the United States government passed a law requiring all hospitals to have their chargemaster on its website. In early February, 2023, almost all of the AdventHealth hospitals had their chargemaster on their website, including AdventHealth Lake Wales.
Services
In mid January 2024, the hospital added a mammography unit.
Awards and recognitions
The hospital's wound healing center has been recognized by Healogics, with the Center of Excellence Award four years in a row and the Center of Distinction Award five years in a row.
See also
References
- ^ "Polk County Hospitals Continue to Grow". Central Florida Development Council. September 21, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Adams, Robin (February 5, 2011). "At One Point, Eight Hospitals Took Care of Residents". The Ledger. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ Bygrave, William (February 2, 2001). "Demolition of old Lake Wales hospital delayed". The Ledger. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ Blair, Bill (September 14, 2002). "Medical Center Sale Decision Set Soon". The Ledger. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ Bygrave, William (November 30, 1999). "New facilities included in expansion OK'd for Lake Wales Medical Center". The Ledger. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ Bygrave, William (June 30, 2000). "Lake Wales hospital growth plans announced". The Ledger. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Schottelkotte, Suzie (May 23, 2003). "New Emergency Facility to Open". The Ledger. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Bair, Bill (July 28, 2002). "Local Opinion Considered in Decision to Sell Hospital". The Ledger. Retrieved July 28, 2002.
- ^ Blair, Bill (September 14, 2002). "Medical Center Sale Decision Set Soon". The Ledger. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ Bair, Bill (October 3, 2002). "Sale of Lake Wales Medical Centers". The Ledger. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ Adams, Robin (May 4, 2009). "Hospital's New Wing Designed For Privacy". The Ledger. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ "Lake Wales Medical Center Expansion Nears Completion In Florida". DesignCurial. February 10, 2009. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ Williams, Allison (January 10, 2018). "Lake Wales Medical Center Breaks Ground For Expansion of Wound Healing Center". The Daily Ridge. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ Baker, Charles (January 14, 2018). "Lake Wales Medical Center expanding". YourSun.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ Miller, Naseem (May 22, 2019). "AdventHealth acquires 2 Polk County hospitals from Community Health Systems". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Huff, Pam (May 23, 2019). "AdventHealth to acquire two Polk County health care facilities". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ McQuaid, Kevin (November 8, 2019). "AdventHealth buys two Polk County centers for $100 million". Business Observer. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "Community Health Systems Completes Divestitures of Hospitals Located in Davenport and Lake Wales, Florida". Nasdaq. August 30, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, Lake Wales Medical Center Will Join AdventHealth". Orlando Medical News. August 31, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "New report shows Tampa Bay hospitals not following medical transparency law". WFTS-TV. February 23, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Chavez, Juan (February 10, 2023). "Find out if Tampa Bay hospitals are hiding costs of medical care". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ "Latest 3 D Mammography Unit Added at AdventHealth Lake Wales". Lake Wales News.Net. January 15, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ "AdventHealth Lake Wales unveils new 3D Mammography Unit". Highlands News-Sun. January 17, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ Meyer, Marilyn (April 30, 2016). "Lake Wales wound care centers' work recognized". The Ledger. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ Meyer, Marilyn (June 6, 2017). "Wound Healing Center at Lake Wales Medical Center earns two awards". The Ledger. Retrieved October 9, 2024.