Lakeland Regional Medical Center is the fifth largest hospital in Florida, licensed for 851 beds. The mission of LRMC is to improve lives by providing exceptional healthcare. LRMC, located on Lakeland Highlands Boulevard, is part of Lakeland Regional Health Systems, which also owns Lakeland Regional Cancer Center, Lakeland Regional Orthopedics Associates, Lakeland Regional Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Clinic, Lakeland Regional Neurosurgical Associates, and Lakeland Regional Surgical Associates. LRHS is also a joint partner in Lakeland Surgical and Diagnostic Center, an ambulatory surgery center, with area physicians.
A not-for-profit medical facility, LRMC has been in Lakeland since 1916 (originally began as Morrell Memorial Hospital) and is prepared to meet the healthcare needs of the entire region.
History:
editIn 1914, Mrs. Jane Morrell bequeathed a parcel of land with the idea of creating a community hospital that would benefit Polk County residents.
In 1916, Morrell Memorial hospital was opened on Lemon Street with a staff of 24 and 65 beds.
In 1926, the hospital was moved to its current location with the construction of a new 100-bed facility.
In 1959, a new 322-bed hospital was built and Morrell Memorial became Lakeland General hospital.
By 1982, the hospital grew to over 800 beds, with patients coming from increasing distances as programs grew and improved. The Board of Trustees voted to change the name to Lakeland Regional Medical Center to better reflect the scope of services provided.
In early 1985, hospital and city officials began discussing corporate reorganization as a means of addressing new demands. A lease and transfer agreement was signed, allowing the hospital to become a private, not-for-profit hospital governed by a Board of Directors, effective October 1, 1986.
In 1995, LRMC joined with physicians in the community to construct an outpatient surgical and diagnostic center separate from the main hospital facility.
In 2003, Lakeland Regional Cancer Center opened at 3525 Lakeland Hills Boulevard. In April 2005, the new B-wing, an 8-story patient tower that also houses the cafeteria and kitchen, opened.
In 2008, a fourth intensive care unit was opened – the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Lakeland Regional Cancer Center underwent its first expansion with the addition of nine new chemotherapy chairs and two examination rooms. And Lakeland Regional Orthopedics Associates was opened.
In 2009, Lakeland Regional Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Clinic was opened.
Dedicated Healthcare Leader in Central Florida
editLakeland Regional Medical Center is the fifth largest hospital in the state of Florida, with 851 licensed beds. LRMC currently has the 4th highest number of discharges in the state and is the busiest single-site emergency room, with 82 beds. Annual patient visits exceed 142,000. LRMC has 4 adult intensive care units, housing 72 beds total. It is the only state-designated trauma center serving Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties, and has the only pediatric emergency department and pediatric intensive care unit in Polk County. Lakeland Regional Neurosurgical Associates offer the area’s only cranial surgery.
High Quality Healthcare, Close to Home
editLRMC is accredited by the Joint Commission and offers a wide scope of specialized medical care services, such as: •Neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric intensive care unit •Advanced cardiac care, including minimally invasive open heart surgery, electrophysiology and interventional procedures •Neurosurgery, including cranial surgery and minimally invasive spinal surgery •State certified Level II trauma center •Comprehensive cancer center
LRMC provides advanced technology, such as the daVinci robotic surgical system, BrainLab neurosurgical navigation system, computer navigation and gender specific knees in orthopedic surgery, and the MERCI device for stroke intervention.
Medical staff includes a number of hospital-based physicians: trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, critical care intensivists, internal medicine hospitalists, pediatric hospitalists, neonatologists, and psychiatrists.
Leader in cardiovascular care in the region
editLRMC is the only facility in Polk County with an accredited chest pain center. As first in the region to perform open heart surgery, Lakeland Regional Medical Center has more than 30 years of experience with open heart surgery. In addition, Lakeland Regional was first to offer leading advances in treatment like atherectomy and stenting, including drug-eluting stents. That commitment to bringing state-of-the-art procedures to the area continues today.
Over 70 million Americans have heart disease. Through the aid of sophisticated diagnostics and interventional procedures, LRMC's Heart Center is improving the lives of patients with heart disease like never before.
A few of the procedures offered include: •Drug-eluting stents •Cartomerge imaging •Angioplasty •Intracardiac echocardiography •Carotid stenting •Intravascular ultrasound
LRMC has long been on the forefront of cardiac care. As the first in the area to bring open-heart procedures and robotic surgery, LRMC offers treatment comparable to leading heart centers across the country.
Some of the procedures available are: •Off-pump and on-pump bypass surgery •Surgical MAZE for atrial fibrillation •Mitral valve repair •Radiofrequency ablation •Biventricular pacemakers and defibrillators •Laser lead extraction •Mitral valvuloplasty •Induced hypothermia
LRMC has more OR suites than other area hospitals, and the most catheterization labs in Polk County, with six invasive cardiology labs, performing over 10,000 procedures annually. Lakeland Regional is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, and is the only hospital in the area with the ability to treat stroke beyond 3 hours. LRMC was the first to use interventional devices such as carotid stenting, and clot removal devices for acute stroke.
Oncology Care
editLRMC’s dedicated inpatient oncology unit houses 44 beds with mostly private rooms for inpatient visits, and a short-stay room for outpatient blood transfusion services. The unit features a library filled with patient education resources and internet access plus a family lounge equipped with refrigerator and microwave for families and visitors. The cancer program is now the fifth largest in the state.
Designed with great attention to detail, Lakeland Regional Cancer Center’s state-of-the-art facility brings patients all the services necessary to overcome cancer - a renowned team of cancer specialists and support staff, the most innovative procedures, and highly effective diagnostics. LRCC also has a prosthetics boutique, resource library and healing garden to help patients cope with every facet of the disease. All surgical procedures and inpatient services are provided at LRMC.
Lakeland Regional Cancer Center provides highly skilled and compassionate physicians who specialize in: •Surgical Oncology •Radiation Oncology •Medical Oncology •Urology/Urologic Oncology
Advanced Neurosurgery Care
editThe physicians at Lakeland Regional Neurosurgical Associates specialize in the types of illness and injury that can disrupt the neurological system. With the BrainLab VectorVisioin, surgeons have a more effective utilization of digital medical information and greater precision through image-guided surgery.
With three highly skilled neurosurgeons on staff, the experience, surgical skill and knowledge are comparable to that found in major metropolitan medical centers.
Orthopedics Care
editFrom arthritis, sprains and osteoporosis to total joint replacement, arthroscopy and major sports injuries, LRMC is dedicated to helping patients get the most out of life. Skilled orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons, along with specialized orthopedic nurses, comprise a team that is highly adept at the latest diagnostics and treatments.
Orthopedic Services Include: •Bone density screenings •Back pain diagnosis and treatment •Arthritis and osteoporosis treatment •Arthroscopy •Sports medicine •Total joint replacement •Partial knee resurfacing •Navigated surgery •Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation
Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Care
editLakeland Regional Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Clinic offers care for a variety of conditions, including: •neurological trauma •post surgical rehabilitation •cancer recovery •Multiple Sclerosis •stroke recovery •lymphedema management •musculoskeletal disorders •sports injuries •orthopedic surgery Parkinson's Disease
The 6,000 square foot facility offers a rehabilitation gym with the most sophisticated equipment, a HydroWorx therapeutic pool, gait and balance analysis, pilates training evaluation and routine development, specialized hand therapy, a lymphedema clinic, and speech and vocal therapy.
Trauma Services
editLakeland Regional Medical Center is a Level II Trauma Center providing initial trauma care, regardless of the injury, with physician subspecialists promptly available. Florida currently has 21 trauma centers - seven Level I centers, 12 Level II centers and two pediatric trauma centers.
LRMC became a state approved Level II Trauma Center in 1998 and is the only designated trauma center for Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. While this is LRMC's primary service area, trauma patients are also received from other counties, including Hillsborough and Pasco. Expert trauma care was provided for more than 1,000 critically injured patients at LRMC in 2007. Of these patients, 74% were residents of Polk County. The majority of trauma patients at LRMC are between the ages of 16 and 65.
The LifeNet 5 Helicopter stationed at the Bartow Airbase in Polk County is utilized to transport trauma patients to LRMC that would otherwise involve ground transport times greater than 30 minutes. LifeNet's rapid response, expertly trained areomedical crew, and ability to provide resuscitation en route, including blood products, makes a difference when minutes count for the critically injured patient.
The six full-time Trauma Surgeons at LRMC provide trauma call on a continuous basis.
A Positive Community Steward
editLakeland Regional Medical Center is the fifth largest employer in Polk County with over 4,500 employees. Due to its lease agreement with the city, it contributes a percentage of net revenues to the City of Lakeland each year (total of $10.9 million in 2008). LRMC directly impacts the local economy by an estimated $815 million+ annually through payroll, capital expenditures, purchased supplies, food and utilities.
Awards and Designations •Full accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation •3-star rating by Society of Thoracic Surgeons •Designated as a Primary Stroke Center by Joint Commission •Breast Center of Excellence Accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers •Medical Cardiology Unit name Best in Adaptability by Advance for Nurses magazine •Wound Care Center of Distinction •3 year approval with commendation by the Commission on Cancer, program of the American College of Surgeons •Quality Respiratory Care Recognition by the American Association for Respiratory Care •Get with the Guidelines Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award •Polk Works Employer of Distinction •Accredited Chest Pain Center, with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, by the Society of Chest Pain Centers