Florida Hospital Heartland

Description

Mission
The Mission of Florida Hospital Heartland Division and its affiliates is to serve our community by providing quality healthcare services and promoting wellness and healthful living

The Mission of Florida Hospital Heartland Division and its affiliates is to serve our community by providing quality healthcare services and promoting wellness and healthful living

1 We seek to deliver our services with compassion and understanding

2 We strive to deliver our services efficiently using the highest level of
technology available to us and keeping in mind our customers need for cost
containment

3 To ensure the best possible outcomes we will promote quality cost
containment and service excellence among all who are involved in serving our
customers

4 Our services will be provided to all in need of medical assistance without
discrimination

5 We offer our services in an environment where physical mental and spiritual
healing are promoted and where everyone is treated with courtesy and respect

History

Our History
Florida Hospital Heartland Division has a long history of service to the people of Central Florida For over 60 years we have provided health care to all who need it without regard to race religion status or ability to pay

Walker Memorial Hospital once located on the beautiful shores of Lake Lillian in Avon Park first opened its doors on January 6 1948 The first patients were housed in a Spanishstyle building that was once the Highlands Lake Hotel built during the quotRoaring 20squot Along with the hotel were an 18hole golf course and a casino built on the west side of the lake This was a winter home to the wealthy and many renowned guests were entertained there including Sinclair Lewis Delicious food excellent service and a wonderful atmosphere were common

The hotel was forced out of business during the Depression and it was purchased by Helen G Randall a selfproclaimed quotdoctorquot in 1936 She had plans to make Avon Park the ideal health resort in the nation but she was discovered to be a fraud and her plans never materialized

The hotel stood vacant until the US Government purchased the hotel and converted it into a military training center during World War II Renamed Lodwick Aviation Military Academy the hotel was used as barracks for cadets training as United States Air Force Pilots

After World War II the residents of Highlands County felt that a hospital was desperately needed but the County Commission had no money available and they opposed a tax levy to purchase the hotel property for a hospital site

In 1946 a meeting was arranged between interested community leaders and representatives from the Seventhday Adventist Church to discuss plans for a medical facility in Avon Park An agreement was reached and plans were made to convert Highlands Lake Hotel into a hospital

The property was purchased in June of 1947 by the Florida Sanitarium and Benevolent Association a subsidiary of the church at a 100 discount This gift from the government was made with the provision that 150000 toward the conversion of the hotel to a hospital would be raised by October 1 1947 The Adventist church promised the balance of the 400000 necessary to complete the project The Ridge Area Hospital Association was formed and more than 300 members began calling on businesses and individuals presenting the hospital proposal and need for donations

Charles Walker the president and general campaign chairman of the RAHA was a wellknown and highly admired community leader He was extremely instrumental in the success of the hospital project Only days after the government deadline of October 1 Walker died of a heart attack at his home The name Walker Memorial Sanitarium and Hospital was chosen to honor Walker who had been such a prominent leader in the establishment of the hospital Later the name was shortened to Walker Memorial Hospital

On January 6 1948 approximately 5000 people gathered to witness the dedication of the hospital Senator Claude Pepper delivered the principle address and many other dignitaries were in attendance EF Hackman president of the Southern Union Conference of Seventhday Adventists presided over the ceremony

Workers pitched in and helped get the place ready for occupancycleaning and waxing floors straightening up the grounds and anything else that needed done They all ate together in one large room in the basement for 50 cents each meal Many of these workers lived in the old barracks building just north of the hospital Their family spirit and teamwork went a long way to getting things going in the early days

For a few years the hospital attracted a small clientele who paid 9 a day for a room meals and one hydrotherapy treatment Advances in medicine and science soon transformed the facility from a resortstyle environment to an acutecare general hospital By 1973 renovations has almost completely replaced the original resort hotel

The hospital grew over the years to serve the crowning community adding a satellite facility in Lake Placid in 1982 and another in Wauchula in 1992 Meanwhile the building in Avon Park was aging and in need of major repairs It was decided that the building needed to be replaced In 1997 the new 109bed Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center was opened Since then patient demand has dictated several construction projects with additions to our inpatient capacity currently 159 beds and renovations to our emergency department and outpatient diagnostic departments