Healthcare

Bartow offers a wide range of medical services complete with a regional medical center, nursing homes and assisted living services. In addition, the Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc. Health and Life Center offers a variety of health and aging services, and is home to several human services agencies. The Polk County Health Department is in Bartow. The county agency directs and coordinates the health and medical response for emergencies, and identifies resources to meet the needs of the community. Public health services, including disease control, food, water, and drug safety, radiological and biological hazard response, and public health information are also provided.

BAYCARE BARTOW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

BayCare Bartow Regional Medical Center (BRMC), founded in 1925 as Bartow Memorial Hospital, serves as Bartow’s primary medical facility providing healthcare services to Bartow, Ft. Meade, Mulberry, South Lakeland, rural south Polk County, and northern Hardee County. The state-of-the-art facility is located on US 98 North offering a full range of healthcare services.

Bartow Regional Medical Center has made a lot of improvements since the hospital joined the BayCare family four years ago. From top to bottom (we’ve got a new roof!), you’ll like the looks of all these changes. Thanks to an upgrade and renovation to our cardiac cath lab, we’ve got a new process to quickly treat STEMIs, one of the most severe types of heart attack. And we’ve been accredited as a Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation for practicing the gold standard of robotic surgery. We’ve even started a pet therapy volunteer program to help sooth our patient’s anxiety. But no matter how much we improve our facility, now and in the future, what makes us special is how we care for you. At Bartow Regional Medical Center, you get personalized, quality health care from a compassionate, experienced team. And that’s a good look for everyone.

ASSISTED LIVING & NURSING HOMES

The Bartow area is also home to assisted living facilities and full-service nursing/rehabilitation centers. Assisted living facilities offer services aimed at maintaining the mental and physical health of its residents through the encouragement of continued independence. Assisted living offers a home-like setting where residents can continue to lead a full and fulfilling life under the watchful eye of a trained, caring staff.

Area nursing homes include Bartow Center, a private 120-bed facility offering short- and long-term care services including a full range of skilled nursing services suitable for patients who may have suffered from a prolonged acute, chronic illness or recently undergone surgery. In addition, rehabilitation services are available including physical therapy, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology. Bartow Center’s case management system provides sound recommendations regarding the plan of care for each patient, and the center’s respite care program offers a short-term solution for caregivers who need a break.

Polk County’s Community Health and Social Services operates Bartow’s Rohr Home, a licensed 60-bed skilled nursing facility. The facility specializes in long-term and sub-acute care, including “rehab to home” care following hospitalization. A full-time physician/medical director is responsible for overseeing the medical care provided to the residents. Specialty care physician consultations are coordinated on-site for the residents for services such as podiatry, optical, psychological, hospice, etc. The facility has undergone a $1.6 million renovation.

Savannah Court Assisted Living Residence offers custom-designed programs, which encourage the continued independence of its residents. As needs increase, Savannah Court is ready with varying levels of services based on the individual needs and desires of each resident. The center has a well-appointed dining room and activity center. Support is offered to its residents in all areas of daily living, from housekeeping, meals, laundry and individual personal care to medication assistance and meaningful activities.

BARTOW COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION, INC.

The Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that operates the Health and Life Center in the former hospital location at the corner of Main Street and Highway 17. Home to healthcare organizations and many local physician offices, the Foundation is committed to enhancing the community with a growing list of health-related services.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Polk County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division responds to all emergency medical calls and provides Polk County’s ambulance service. This division oversees the 911 emergency communications center and dispatches all ambulances, County fire vehicles and some municipal fire vehicles. EMS also transports patients requiring Basic Life Support to area medical facilities both in and out of the County. Remember, if you have an emergency, dial 911.

Bartow’s airport is home to LifeNet Bartow – a private company that handles helicopter transportation to and from hospitals in Polk County. LifeNet provides helicopter transportation in Polk, and handles calls in neighboring counties, including Osceola and Hardee. By getting patients to hospitals quickly and performing procedures while in-flight, LifeNet Bartow significantly increases the chances of a patient’s survival.

• Remember, if you have an emergency situation, please call 911!
• Bartow Regional Medical Center 24-hour Emergency Department U.S. Hwy. 98 N., 863-519-1440 www.bartowregional.com
• Polk County Emergency Services Bartow Municipal Airport, Building 250, Suite 12, 863-519-7400 www.polk-county.net

POLK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The Polk County Health Department is a partnership between the Florida Department of Health and the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. It provides a wide range of services to promote and protect the health of Polk County residents and visitors. These services address medical, dental, nutritional and environmental concerns including: health promotion and preparedness, prenatal care, immunizations (including children’s, flu, pneumonia and international travelers), adult health, pediatrics, hepatitis/liver failure prevention and control, family planning, dental care, school health, disease outbreak investigations, HIV/AIDS, TB and Healthy Start case management.

The Women, Infants & Children program provides dietary guidance and food supplements to nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children. The Vital Statistics Office keeps birth and death certificates and tracks statistics on the County’s births and deaths. For more information on the services of the Health Department, call 863-519-7900.

• Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties, Inc. 650 E. Davidson St., 863-534-9224 www.healthystarthhp.org
• Polk County Health Department 1290 Golfview Ave., 863-519-7900 www.mypolkhealth.org