New $18M Lakeland hospital emergency department complete

Lakeland Regional Health recently announced the completion of its first freestanding emergency department, at 6150 South Florida Ave. in Lakeland.

This 24,000-square-foot location provides the same care as the emergency department attached to the hospital, offering emergency radiology services including CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds and full on-site lab services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

“We are extremely proud to bring our award-winning emergency care closer to our patients in South Lakeland, says Danielle Drummond, president and CEO at Lakeland Regional Health, in a statement from the organization. “As part of our strategic plan, Lakeland Regional Health continues to expand access to comprehensive, world-class care. We are proud to provide the community we have served for over a century with convenient, lifesaving care.”

Creative Contractors completed the $18 million project in February of this year. The $190 million Clearwater-based firm recently opened an office in Lakeland as part of its expansion into Polk County and has completed other projects for Lakeland Regional Health, including the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children and Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Health. 

Lakeland Regional Health is a 910-bed nonprofit entity founded in 1916. It currently has nearly 8,000 employees and a medical staff of more than 1,300 according to its website. ProPublica reports that the hospital handled $1.16 billion in revenue in 2023.