Physicians Tour New Hospital Taking Shape in Lakeland

Lakeland, Fl – (July 22, 2025) – Orlando Health welcomed Watson Clinic physicians for an early look at Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital this month, underscoring the strength of the collaboration behind the project. The new facility will bring together the resources of both organizations to deliver innovative, patient-centered care to Polk County.

Set to open in June 2026, Orlando Health and Watson Clinic will bring their respective strengths to the new hospital. Leaders from both organizations have collaborated on shaping the hospital’s design, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and service offerings to align with the long-term healthcare needs of the region.

“Providing the physicians with this early look at the hospital is an important step in bringing our shared vision to life,” said Carlos Carrasco, president, Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital and senior vice president, Orlando Health. “Their clinical perspective and insights into the community assures that the hospital is designed to support efficient workflows, advanced medical technology, and a seamless patient experience from day one.”

The tour offered a first-hand look at the hospital’s layout, infrastructure and clinical spaces. Walking through the hospital at this early stage gave physicians the opportunity to visualize how their teams will operate within the facility and ensure the environment supports both clinical excellence and enhanced patient care.

The Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital will open with more than 300 inpatient beds, 69 emergency and observation beds, 11 working operating rooms, four cardiac and interventional suites and 18 beds in an intensive care unit (ICU) that will serve 36 patients at full build- out. Obstetric services and accommodations will also be prominent on opening day with eight labor and delivery rooms, two special c-section operating rooms and more than 25 post-partum rooms. A 12-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will debut shortly after the hospital opens.

The Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital represents a significant and long- term investment by Orlando Health in the future of Polk County.

Still photos of tour available at: Photo Link

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $12 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States – including Florida and Alabama – and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $1.7 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 23, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter.)