Florida Hospital, Tampa General Launch West Florida Health
TAMPA, Fla. — Two Florida health care providers that formed a partnership two years ago announced on Jan. 9 that their new nonprofit company will be called West Florida Health.
The newly created West Florida Health is a joint venture between Tampa General Hospital and Florida Hospital, based in Orlando, Fla. Tampa General Hospital and Florida Hospital announced their formal partnership in September 2013. Their new company is not a merger of existing hospital operations, and neither hospitals are planning on selling properties.
The joint company unveiled three major initiatives after revealing the new name. The company announced it will break ground in 2015 on a 100,000-square-foot outpatient medical center located on South Falkenburg Road in Brandon, Fla. The company spent $5.8 million on the site, and construction costs are expected to be around $60 million.
“The concept is to move outpatient-based health care services directly into the communities where people live,” said Jim Burkhart, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital, in a statement. “Aligning these services with our two outstanding hospitals will give people the continuity of care that leads to better delivery of medical services in our community.”
The new medical center will offer a range of medical services, including a free-standing emergency room, ambulatory surgery center, imaging services, physical therapy, primary care and specialty physician offices. It will also offer community education and café spaces.
Additionally, in February, the company is launching a new homecare agency to provide services in Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco and portions of Sumter Counties in Florida. Future plans include expanding homecare services in Pinellas County.
For its third initiative, West Florida Health has submitted two certificates of need applications to provide hospice services in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties.
“Our mission is to continue to build on the expertise of Tampa General and Florida Hospital to provide accessible, affordable care to our communities. West Florida Health allows us to combine resources, provide more efficient and cost-effective care while still meeting the healthcare needs of the community,” said Mike Schultz, president and CEO of Florida Hospital West Florida Region, in a statement.
Florida Hospital is a statewide network of 23 hospitals and part of the Adventist Health System. Tampa General Hospital is a 1,018-bed academic medical center that serves as the region’s only center for Level I trauma care.