AdventHealth breaks ground on new ER
AUBURNDALE – AdventHealth has broken ground on a new emergency room in Auburndale, expanding access to lifesaving care for residents in Polk County.
The AdventHealth Auburndale ER, located at 1052 U.S. 92 W., will feature 12 private exam rooms, advanced imaging (X-ray, CT and ultrasound), a full-service lab, pediatric emergency care, pharmacy services and respiratory therapy.
The more than 13,000-square-foot facility is expected to create over 35 jobs and open later this year as a department of AdventHealth Heart of Florida.
The project is designed by HuntonBrady and constructed by Robins & Morton, continuing a long-standing partnership.
BayCare earns Press Ganey awards
CLEARWATER – BayCare has earned 17 Press Ganey Human Experience Awards for 2025.
Press Ganey surveys patients from more than 41,000 health care facilities, asking about safety, quality and overall experience of care to come up with the rankings.
“BayCare continues to set the standard for clinical excellence and compassionate care,” said Stephanie Conners, president and CEO of BayCare. “These awards reflect the dedication of our incredible team who ensure every patient feels welcome, safe and supported when they walk through our doors.”
The Pinnacle of Excellence award honors locations that rank in the top 5% nationally for three consecutive years in delivering exceptional experiences.
The Guardian of Excellence award recognizes locations that rank in the top 5% for an entire year, celebrating consistent excellence in patient care.
Below is a complete list of BayCare’s 2025 Press Ganey awards:
Pinnacle of Excellence – Patient Experience Award Winners
- BayCare Laboratories (Palm Harbor)
- BayCare Laboratories (St. Anthony’s Hospital Medical Arts Building)
Pinnacle of Excellence – Physician Experience Award Winners
- Physicians at St. Anthony’s Hospital
- Physicians at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North
Guardian of Excellence – Patient Experience Award Winners
- St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital
- BayCare Outpatient Imaging (Bloomingdale)
- BayCare Outpatient Imaging (Land O’ Lakes)
- BayCare Outpatient Imaging (Wesley Chapel)
- BayCare Laboratories (Bloomingdale)
- BayCare Laboratories (Cheek-Powell)
- BayCare Laboratories (Mease Dunedin Hospital Physician Office Building)
- BayCare Laboratories (New Port Richey)
- BayCare Laboratories (Palm Harbor)
- BayCare Laboratories (South Tampa)
- BayCare Laboratories (St. Anthony’s Hospital Medical Arts Building)
- BayCare Laboratories (Sunset Point)
- BayCare Laboratories (Trinity)
Hospital offers support for new moms
LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North offers free in-person breastfeeding support groups and newborn care classes during February.
Events are open to all no matter which hospital you delivered or plan to deliver your child. The events will be held in classrooms at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road, Lutz.
- Breastfeeding Support Group: For breastfeeding mothers, their babies and one support person (grandmother, aunt, etc.) The group provides a place where breastfeeding mothers receive support from other breastfeeding mothers and certified breastfeeding consultants. Dates and times: Feb. 5 and 19, 10 to 11 a.m.
- Understanding Your Newborn: Provides information to the expectant mother and one support person about many aspects of safe infant care, including feeding, diapering, bathing, signs of illness and cues and communication. Dates and times: Feb. 5 and 19, 1 to 5 p.m.
Register by phone by calling 855-314-8352 and pressing the number “2” at the prompt. Or, register by visiting BayCareEvents.org and choosing “St. Joseph’s Hospital-North” in the “Facility/Location” filter and scrolling to the group or class you are interested in attending.
Get answers on Medicare
- PETERSBURG – SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas.
Specially trained volunteers can assist with Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information.
They’ll answer questions at the following Medicare programs:
- Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. at the Pinellas Park Library, 7770 52nd St. N., Pinellas Park. 727-369-0669
- Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. at the Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S., Gulfport. 727-893-1073
- Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hugh Embry Library, 14215 4th St., Dade City. 352-567-3576
SHINE services are free, unbiased and confidential. Counselors do not sell anything. They can be reached by calling 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.
