Orlando Health South Lake Hospital Now Offering Driving Assessment Program

Clermont, FL (Oct. 17, 2023) – Orlando Health South Lake Hospital now offers driving evaluations for medically at-risk drivers with physical or cognitive impairments.

The new program, which is the only one of its kind offered in Lake County, provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessment to determine readiness for a “behind-the-wheel” evaluation. To qualify, individuals must have driven prior to disability, have a referral from a medical doctor and possess a valid driver’s license.

Occupational therapists first evaluate each patient’s individual needs through a cognitive and clinical evaluation. If the participant is able and meets the requirements, a behind-the-wheel driving evaluation is recommended. Orlando Health South Lake does not conduct the behind-the-wheel assessments.

“Driving is a crucial part of everyday life for many, and safety on the road is of utmost importance,” said Drew Clark, director of rehabilitation services at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. “We’re pleased to be able to offer this service to Lake County and help make sure our community is safe at the wheel.”

Older drivers and those with disabilities related to trauma, disease, aging and/or weakness may benefit from a special evaluation. Common conditions associated with medically at-risk drivers include stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological impairments, neuromuscular disease, amputations, cognitive impairments or advanced age.

Insurance is accepted for the service. Those interested in more information about the program can call (352) 394-4071 ext. 4600.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with $9.2 billion of assets under management that serves the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico.

Founded more than 100 years ago, the healthcare system is recognized around the world for Central Florida’s only pediatric and adult Level I Trauma program as well as the only state-accredited Level II Adult Trauma Center in Pinellas County. It is the home of the nation’s largest neonatal intensive care unit under one roof, the only system in the southeast to offer open fetal surgery to repair the most severe forms of spina bifida, the site of an Olympic athlete training facility and operator of one of the largest and highest performing clinically integrated networks in the region. Orlando Health has pioneered life-changing medical research and its Graduate Medical Education program hosts more than 350 residents and fellows.

The 3,888-bed system includes 29 hospitals and emergency departments – 24 of which are currently operational with five coming soon. The system also includes nine specialty institutes, more than 100 adult and pediatric primary care practices, skilled nursing facilities, an in-patient behavioral health facility under the management of Acadia Healthcare, and more than 60 outpatient facilities that include imaging and laboratory services, wound care centers, home healthcare services in partnership with LHC Group, and urgent care centers in partnership with FastMed Urgent Care. More than 4,750 physicians, representing more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties have privileges across the Orlando Health system, which employs more than 27,000 team members and more than 1,200 physicians.

In FY22, Orlando Health served nearly 142,000 inpatients and 3.9 million outpatients. The healthcare system provided more than $782 million in total value to the communities it serves in the form of charity care, community benefit programs and services, community building activities and more in FY 21, the most recent period for which this information is available. Additional information can be found at http://www.orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @orlandohealth.