Tag Archive for: bayfront health st. petersburg

Bayfront Health Breaks Ground On Major Campus Expansion In Downtown St. Pete’s Innovation District

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Bayfront Health St. Petersburg has begun construction on a major expansion of its downtown campus that will further cement the hospital as a prominent anchor of the Innovation District.

When Orlando Health purchased Bayfront Hospital St. Petersburg in 2020, it pledged to revive the 480-bed hospital after years of financial turmoil under its former owner. Orlando Health’s promise included not only strengthening the hospital’s charity care programs but to also restore Bayfront as a premier healthcare facility in St. Petersburg in both patient care and facilities provided.

Bayfront Health is the only state-accredited Level II Adult Trauma Center in Pinellas County and is nationally accredited as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. It is also the oldest hospital in St. Petersburg and began in 1910 as Good Samaritan Hospital.

In late 2022, Orlando Health announced the first major facilities expansion of Bayfront since its takeover with the announcement of Institute Square, a new medical complex planned immediately north the hospital.

“Bayfront Health – Institute Square ushers in a new era for our hospital and emphasizes Orlando Health’s commitment to providing advanced healthcare throughout our community,” said John Moore, Senior Vice President for Orlando Health and President of Bayfront Health.

“Institute Square will bring world-class care to the Tampa Bay region and beyond through partnerships with the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Florida Orthopaedic Institute, All Florida Orthopaedic Associates, and Women’s Care.”

Institute Square will be located immediately north of the hospital on the superblock bound by 5th Avenue South to the north, 6th Avenue South to the south, 7th Street South to the east, and 8th Street South to the west.

The medical complex will consist of three buildings: the Bayfront Health Medical Pavilion, Bayfront Health Women’s Pavilion, and a multi-level parking deck that will include an imaging center.

The Bayfront Health Medical Pavilion will be a four-story 120,000 square foot medical office building that will offer world-class care through partnerships with the Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute, and All Florida Orthopaedic Associates.

Cancer care at the new facility will be provided by multiple oncology specialists and physicians offering care in urogynecology, colorectal, thoracic, lung, head and neck, breast, and skin cancer treatments.

Just west of the Bayfront Health Medical Pavilion will be the Bayfront Health Women’s Pavilion, a three-story, 60,000 square foot building that will offer comprehensive women’s care. The facility will include care in obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health through all phases of life, from pre-teen to post-menopausal years. Bayfront is partnering with Women’s Care, a Tampa-based specialty women’s health physician group, on the facility.

Institute Square will also include a 9,500 square foot imaging center that will be located on the ground floor of a multi-level parking deck. The imaging center will include outpatient imaging and diagnostic laboratory services.

Each building at Institute Square will include separate patient drop off areas and covered walkways.

Construction on Institute Square is underway and existing buildings on the site were previously demolished. Current construction activities include relocating utilities and doing deep foundation work by placing more than 200 stone columns to support the new buildings. A ground crane is onsite to assist in the foundation work.

“We are excited for the St. Petersburg community to follow the construction of Institute Square with us on Bayfront Health’s main downtown campus,” said Matt Taylor, Senior Vice President of Asset Strategy for Orlando Health.

“Orlando Health is pleased to expand its presence and further invest in serving the community’s health and wellness needs through the new Women’s Pavilion, Medical Pavilion, Imaging Center, and parking garage now underway at Institute Square,” added Taylor.

Turner Construction Company is the general contractor for Institute Square.

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg expects to open Institute Square in 2025.

 

Source:  St. Pete Rising

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AdventHealth To Open New Hospital In Winter Haven; Orlando Health To Expand Into Lakeland

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Healthcare facilities are expanding at an astounding rate to match the population boom and increased need in Central Florida.

AdventHealth is expanding its footprint in Polk County with a new four-story hospital and emergency department off Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven. In Lakeland, Orlando Health is expanding, planning a hospital and surrounding campus in the fast-growing South Lakeland area.

This planned construction is further evidence of the growth in Polk County, which expanded from 603,000 residents in 2010 to 753,500 by 2021.

AdventHealth, a Seventh-Day Adventist nonprofit healthcare system headquartered in Altamonte Springs, recently announced its plans for a new, four-story hospital in Winter Haven.

The 42 acres north of Cypress Gardens Boulevard, south of River Lake and west of Cypress Gardens Road will eventually become a medical campus for the 192-bed AdventHealth Winter Haven hospital with an emergency department and 160,000 square feet of medical offices and ancillary facilities.

The AdventHealth expansion plans were given final approval when the Winter Haven City Commission unanimously approved the development November 14.

“The southeast section of Winter Haven is growing in leaps and bounds, and this will make it a lot easier when time is sensitive for medical issues for the citizens to get medical care,” says Winter Haven City Commissioner J.P. Powell. 

“It’s necessary. The other alternative was going to Lake Wales or Haines City, and with medical issues. time is of the essence. It will be a real asset.”

According to AdventHealth, the first phase of construction will include a freestanding emergency room that will open before the hospital is completed. Once open, hospital services will include primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedic, and urological specialty medical services.

Tim Clark, president and CEO of the AdventHealth Polk Market, has worked at AdventHealth for 19 years in various positions. He started as president and CEO of the Polk Market on June 5. He says the new hospital will bring “whole-person care to residents close to home,” particularly in the southeast section of Winter Haven.

Once completed, the new hospital will be part of a network of AdventHealth centers already operational in areas such as Carrollwood (Tampa), Dade City, Lake Placid, Lake Wales, Sebring, and Wauchula. It will also be among five freestanding offsite AdventHealth emergency rooms, including those in Brandon, Palm Harbor and Tampa’s Westchase community.

In addition to AdventHealth, Orlando Health’s foray into Polk County will help to create more medical access points, particularly along Interstate 4, for individuals living in South Lakeland.

Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health is a nonprofit healthcare organization with $7.6 billion in assets that is headquartered in Orlando and serves the southeastern United States.

Orlando Health’s Lakeland Highlands Hospital will be located on 80 acres south of the Polk Parkway at Lakeland Highlands Road and the Winter Lake Extension Road. Pre-construction work is already underway, and construction will begin in early 2023 with an expected opening in summer 2026, according to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. The first phase of the multi-story hospital will have 136 inpatient beds and 24 emergency department beds. Plans for future phases call for an expansion to 360 beds.

Orlando Health officials have already been meeting with City of Lakeland officials and community leaders over the past several months.

“When we open, we will have enough capacity in Phase I to address immediate needs that will serve us for the first four to five years of operation,” says John Moore, senior vice president of Orlando Health West Region and president of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. 

“Going forward, expansion will be based on analytics and will occur in phases of approximately 90- to 120-bed increments.”

Orlando Health will build in an area already served by Lakeland Regional Hospital and Bartow Memorial Medical Center and has used market data to bring medical services to areas where additional medical care is needed.

The new Orlando Health Lakeland Highlands Hospital is planned to include a 20,000-square-foot ambulatory surgical center; 240,000 square feet of medical office space; a 20,000 square feet of retail space; and a 150-room hotel to accommodate patients and their families.

“Hotel accommodations play an important role when providing health care,” says Moore, who’s responsible for developing, leading, and implementing the hospital’s strategic and operational direction. 

“They are an extremely important factor when discussing outpatient procedures, especially for those driving in who have a procedure on day one and a follow-up appointment with a surgeon the next day.”

Moore says Orlando Health’s strategic planning team conducted research and reviews to determine areas in Polk County that are lacking in certain medical services that can be provided by Orlando Health. He cites Lakeland Regional Hospital having the highest-volume emergency department in the area, “which is a challenge for any one facility to manage.”

Additionally, Orlando Health Lakeland Highlands Hospital will have a larger inpatient capacity than what was originally planned, says Dr. Jamal Hakim, chief operating officer.

“As one of the state’s fastest growing communities, Orlando Health recognizes that it needs to accelerate its delivery of high-quality, outcome-based health care to these communities,” he says. “We are excited about our revised plan and its many benefits for the community.” 

The addition to Polk County — and more specifically Lakeland’s — health care options are welcome, says Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz. He says the city’s growth must consider how it enhances “quality of life through community health.”

“Orlando Health’s Lakeland expansion provides expanded services on a timely basis to support our growth,” says Mutz. “The significant capital investment and historical quality of health care provided by Orlando Health will become a timely and necessary addition for our citizens.” 

 

Source:  Central Florida Health News

 

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$37 Million Medical Facility Coming To The West Side Of St. Pete

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Residents on the west side of St. Petersburg will soon have easier access to medical care thanks to Bayfront Health’s new state-of-the-art, $37 million facility currently under construction in the Crossroads neighborhood.

City and county officials joined leadership from Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and its parent company, Orlando Health, on March 26 to commemorate the completion of the foundation for the new Bayfront Health Emergency Room & Medical Pavilion – Crossroads. The four-acre site at 1800 66th St. N. will feature a three-story, 42,000-square-foot facility with a 14,000-square-foot emergency room on the ground floor. According to a release, the emergency department will include 12 exam rooms, two resuscitation rooms, six waiting areas and an ambulance bay.

Bayfront Health purchased the property, formerly home to a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) facility, in March of 2021. After partnering with Ryan A+E, Inc. and the City of St. Petersburg on a master plan, construction crews broke ground on the site in February. After congratulating all of the project’s stakeholders, Pinellas County Commission Chair Charlie Justice joked that it was also a sad day due to his nostalgic memories of waiting at the former DMV for hours.

“In Pinellas County, we have 24 cities and nearly a million people,” he said. “We know nothing happens without good partners and partnerships, and healthcare for a million people in Pinellas County is also a partnership.

“We’re incredibly grateful for Bayfront Health expanding their reach beyond their scope to now come out to the west side.”

Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens said her experience in several levels of government, including two presidential administrations, provided a broad perspective on a variety of issues – especially health care. The most important work, she said, takes place locally in communities like St. Pete and through projects like the Crossroads Medical Pavilion.

Owens said the ceremony was more than a celebration for a concrete foundation as it highlighted continued investment in the city’s communities.

“As our city continues to grow, so does the need for increased services,” she added. “It’s partnerships like this that make me excited for the future of the city.”

City Councilmember Copley Gerdes represents District 1, which encompasses the site of the future medical pavilion. He also grew up less than a mile away and said he could hit a golf ball to his current home. Gerdes reminisced of playing sports in the area with his family as a child, which provided many opportunities for minor injuries. He said his family would soon have a shorter distance to travel when seeking care for future mishaps.

Gerdes also noted the large construction site for a new development was an unaccustomed view for residents on the west side of the city and said he hopes it spurs further growth.

“I really have a belief that a building like this can be the anchor for continued development on the west side of St. Petersburg,” he said. “And the great part about that is … giving quality healthcare to our side of town, as well.”

Dr. Traci Ryan, medical director for Bayfront Health’s emergency facilities, told the Catalyst that the Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Emergency Room would provide emergency medical care for those living within a 10-mile radius of the site. She said the organization’s closeness with the surrounding community sets it apart from other healthcare providers, and she also noted that many employees grew up in the area.

Ryan said Bayfront focuses on fostering good relationships between its patients and providers and makes a conscientious effort to quickly move patients through its emergency facilities.

“Nobody wants to spend their day in E.R.,” she added. “Generally, our wait times at our freestanding (clinics) are five or 10 minutes, and you’re in and out in … 120 minutes to less than 90 minutes.”

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg has provided health services for the city since 1910, and officials expect the Crossroads Emergency Room & Medical Pavilion to open in the spring of 2023.

 

Source:  St. Pete Catalyst

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Bayfront Health St. Petersburg To Be Sold To Orlando Health

The city’s oldest and largest hospital, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, is set to be sold to nonprofit health care company Orlando Health, pending a vote by the City Council on July 9.

Community Health Systems Inc., the private company which currently owns the 480-bed facility, announced it had signed an agreement with Orlando Health on Thursday. The news comes about a year after city officials raised concerns about the management of the hospital, which sits on city-owned land and provides care to all, regardless of insurance status.

Orlando Health will take over operations and the long-term lease that Community Health Systems holds with the city, so long as council members approve next month, a news release said. A copy of the proposed lease obtained by the Tampa Bay Times shows it would run for 50 years.

The agreement states Orlando Health must continue to “provide charity care to needy and underserved persons” and “those who may otherwise be unable to afford or obtain care due to various possible adverse circumstances.”

City councilman Robert Blackmon, who was born at Bayfront St. Petersburg, said Friday that continuing the charity care was a “sticking point” in negotiations with Orlando Health. He said he will support the agreement, as did councilwoman Darden Rice.

After a one-on-one conversation with the company’s president and CEO David Strong a couple of months ago, Blackmon said he is confident charity care will continue at the hospital — and be even better under new management.

He pointed to a string of troubles at Bayfront under Community Health Systems, which purchased it in 2013. The hospital has seen layoffs and resignations of top executives, the ending of a partnership with the University of South Florida, and a Department of Justice investigation related to charity care finances in recent years.

Already frustrated, city officials grew more so in early 2019, when then-Bayfront CEO Joe Mullany gave council members a glowing annual report that did not align with problems playing out in public view.

“We’ve had difficult times in the last few years,” Blackmon said. “Orlando Health is the best-situated group to bring (Bayfront) back to the excellence it was once known for.”

Rice called the sale the “only reasonable solution” to the ongoing issues at the hospital.

“Ultimately, the new ownership is what is best for our community,” she said.

The city’s other six council members did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Mayor Rick Kriseman was not available for an interview.

About 15,000 patients were served at Bayfront St. Petersburg in 2018, according to hospital records. As of July 2019, the hospital employed 1,839 people and had 171 open positions.

Officials for Orlando Health declined to be interviewed, instead releasing a statement that said the sale should be final by Sept. 30.

Peter Young, a hospital consultant based in Fort Myers, said Orlando Health, which operates the only Level 1 trauma center in the Orlando area, is in an “expansion moment” of “picking up the skeletal remains” of hospitals in need of rejuvenation.

The purchase of Bayfront St. Petersburg would be the nonprofit’s debut in the Tampa Bay area, and make it so the nonprofit owns 14 total hospitals, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The sale also would mark the second Community Health Systems hospital acquired by Orlando Health, as it purchased Osceola County’s St. Cloud Regional Medical Center in April, the Sentinel reported.

Community Health Systems, based in Tennessee, has sold more than 50 hospitals since 2017 to pay off debt related to its $7.6 billion purchase of Florida’s Health Managed Associates in 2014, according to the National Business Journal.

Bayfront officials declined to be interviewed, and the company released a statement by Sharon Hayes, chief executive officer of the St. Petersburg hospital:

“Orlando Health is well-respected for their work to sustain and enhance medical services, and we are excited to partner with them to benefit our patients and communities,” she wrote. “This is an extraordinary time in health care and together we will continue to provide quality care for our neighbors, friends and family.”

 

Source:  Tampa Bay Times

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