Lakeland Regional Hospital: A Teaching Facility?

is lakeland regional hospital a teaching hospital

Lakeland Regional Health is a hospital in Lakeland, Florida, and is one of the largest hospitals in the country. In 2023, it welcomed 70 inaugural resident physicians as part of its first graduate medical education program, marking its first days as a teaching hospital. The hospital has been accredited for 187 spots across seven areas: internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, transitional year, and a critical care fellowship. The addition of residents, their teaching faculty, and the additional research and education will further the hospital's work across various clinical services, helping to relieve accessibility problems in the county.

Characteristics Values
Name Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center
Location Lakeland, FL
Address 1324 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland, FL
Type Teaching Hospital
Number of Beds 864 or 910
Ranking High Performing in 7 adult specialties/procedures
Number of Residents 70
Number of Employees 700 or more than 7,000
Areas of Residency Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Psychiatry, Transitional Year, Critical Care Fellowship

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Lakeland Regional Health's teaching programs

Lakeland Regional Health (LRH) has recently become a teaching hospital, with 70 inaugural residents across seven areas: internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, transitional year, and a critical care fellowship. The hospital has been accredited for 187 spots in these areas. LRH's first class of resident physicians began making rounds and treating patients in July 2023.

The hospital's graduate medical education program aims to educate and train residents to become specialists and subspecialists ready to serve patients. The comprehensive specialties and services available at Lakeland Regional Health provide a wide range of educational and training opportunities. LRH currently sponsors seven programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and plans to expand its offerings soon.

The launch of the residency program is part of LRH's plan to address several key community health issues and improve the quality of healthcare in Polk County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. With a ratio of more than 2,000 residents for each primary care provider in the county in 2022, there is a growing concern and gap in local healthcare. By launching its first Research Department and having residents conduct medical research and investigate improvements and new procedures, LRH aims to help address these issues.

In addition to the seven accredited programs, LRH is developing and reviewing additional residency programs, including emergency medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, a surgical critical care fellowship, and a transitional year. The family medicine residency will be hosted at LRH's planned 22-acre expansion into North Lakeland. The medical residents will eventually reach 190 residents across eight programs, helping to fill gaps in healthcare coverage across Polk County.

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Residency programs

Lakeland Regional Health is a teaching hospital in Lakeland, Florida, that offers residency programs in several medical and surgical specialties. The hospital welcomed its first class of 70 resident physicians in 2023, marking its transition into a teaching hospital.

The establishment of residency programs at Lakeland Regional Health addresses the hospital's previous lack of graduate training, which was unusual for a hospital of its size. As the fifth-largest hospital in Florida and 44th largest in the country, with over 900 beds, Lakeland Regional Health recognized the opportunity to contribute to the education of future physicians.

The residency programs are designed to address key community health issues and help fill gaps in healthcare coverage across Polk County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. The residents are distributed across seven or eight accredited programs, including internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, a critical care fellowship, and a transitional year.

In addition to patient care, residents at Lakeland Regional Health are engaged in medical research and the investigation of new procedures. This aspect of the residency programs contributes to the hospital's academic excellence and enhances its clinical services. The integration of teaching and research is expected to improve healthcare outcomes for the residents of Polk County and the surrounding community.

The development of residency programs at Lakeland Regional Health aligns with its commitment to academic and clinical excellence. By welcoming resident physicians, the hospital opens its doors to the next generation of physicians, fostering an environment of learning and improvement. This transition into a teaching hospital positions Lakeland Regional Health alongside other top-ranked hospitals known for their dedication to medical education.

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Graduate medical education

Lakeland Regional Health is one of the largest hospitals in Florida, with 864 beds, and is the second-largest private employer in Polk County with over 7,000 employees and a medical staff of more than 700. In 2023, Lakeland Regional Health welcomed 70 inaugural members to its graduate medical education program, marking its first days as a teaching hospital.

The hospital has been accredited for 187 spots across seven areas: internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, transitional year, and a critical care fellowship. The addition of residents, their teaching faculty, and the increased research and education will further the hospital's work across various clinical services, helping to relieve some of the accessibility problems throughout the county. Polk County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, and in 2022, there was a ratio of more than 2,000 residents for each primary care provider available in the county.

The graduate medical education program will help address the growing concern and gap in local healthcare. Danielle Drummond, CEO and President of Lakeland Regional Health, stated that the hospital's staff has grown from about 500 to more than 700 physicians and medical providers during her 10 years at the hospital. The residents will work alongside attending physicians, gaining valuable experience and contributing to the hospital's commitment to bettering its care for the community.

The teaching program is a key component of the hospital's long-term future. It will provide residents with a comprehensive education and allow them to gain hands-on experience in various specialties. The residents will have the opportunity to conduct medical research, investigate improvements and new procedures, and work closely with experienced physicians. This will not only enhance their medical knowledge but also prepare them for their future careers as physicians.

Lakeland Regional Health's decision to become a teaching hospital aligns with its goal of contributing to the learning and development of the next generation of physicians. By offering graduate medical education, the hospital is not only addressing local healthcare gaps but also ensuring that future physicians are well-equipped to meet the diverse and complex needs of patients.

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Benefits of becoming a teaching hospital

Lakeland Regional Health in Florida has recently become a teaching hospital, welcoming 70 residents across seven areas, including internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, and psychiatry. The hospital has been accredited for 187 spots across these areas.

Becoming a teaching hospital offers several benefits, which are outlined below.

Training the next generation of healthcare providers

Teaching hospitals are responsible for training the next generation of healthcare providers. They offer graduate medical education programs that provide supervised clinical training to resident physicians under the direction of attending physicians. This helps to address physician shortages and ensures a pipeline of qualified healthcare professionals.

Staying at the forefront of medical research and technology

Teaching hospitals are often affiliated with medical schools and are at the forefront of medical research and technology. They contribute to the development of new treatments and innovations, ensuring that patients have access to the latest advancements. The presence of residents and medical students also encourages attending physicians to stay current with medical developments and innovations.

Improved patient care and community health

The comprehensive team approach in teaching hospitals involves collaboration between various healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and technologists, to develop individualized care plans for patients. This multidisciplinary approach enhances patient care and improves health outcomes. Teaching hospitals also offer a wide range of specialty services and expertise, providing unique care not available elsewhere in the region.

Enhancing the hospital's reputation and recognition

By becoming a teaching hospital, an institution aligns itself with top-ranked hospitals in the country. This enhances its reputation and recognition, as demonstrated by Lakeland Regional Health's goal to become a "better organization" through its residency program.

Addressing healthcare gaps

Teaching hospitals can help address healthcare gaps and improve accessibility to high-quality healthcare in the community. The addition of residents and their teaching faculty contributes to the hospital's work across various clinical services, ensuring better coverage and improved health outcomes for residents.

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The hospital's ranking and size

Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida, is one of the largest hospitals in the state, with sources citing it as the fifth-largest and others noting it has 864 beds and over 7,000 employees. It is also the second-largest private employer in Polk County. The hospital has been recognised as high-performing in seven adult procedures and conditions and has been rated across ten key categories by patients.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Lakeland Regional Health as high-performing in seven different specialties for 2024-2025. The hospital's performance is evaluated in outcomes and access to care by socioeconomics and demographics. Patients have rated the hospital on criteria such as room cleanliness, quietness, and the quality of explanations given by physicians and nurses.

In 2023, Lakeland Regional Health welcomed 70 inaugural members to its graduate medical education program, marking its first days as a teaching hospital. The hospital has been accredited for 187 spots across seven areas: internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, transitional year, and a critical care fellowship. The addition of residents is expected to further the hospital's work across various clinical services and help relieve accessibility problems in the county.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Lakeland Regional Hospital is a teaching hospital.

Lakeland Regional Hospital became a teaching hospital in 2023.

Lakeland Regional Hospital welcomed 70 inaugural residents as it became a teaching hospital. The hospital has been accredited for 187 spots across seven areas, and the medical residents will eventually reach 190 residents across eight programs.

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