Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital

Located in Lakeland, Florida, the new Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital will be a realization of a collaboration between Orlando Health and Watson Clinic, serving Polk County and the surrounding region.

Opening its doors in summer 2026, the seven-story, 302-bed facility will be staffed by Watson Clinic’s roster of expert physicians and providers. The comprehensive acute care facility will offer advanced technology and expertise in numerous areas, including cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, obstetrics, surgery and surgical oncology. With 11 operating rooms, four cardiac and interventional suites, an 18-bed  intensive care unit (ICU) that will serve 36 patients at full build-out, and capacity to accommodate up to 360 inpatient beds, the hospital will support a wide offering of surgical and procedural services across multiple specialties. A robust cardiovascular program will include diagnostic cardiology and future PCI, structural heart disease and advanced electrophysiology (EP) services. Another focus will be a strong neurology program with an emphasis on stroke and spine care. A full obstetrical unit will feature eight labor and delivery rooms, two designated C-section operating rooms and more than 25 postpartum rooms, with a 12-bed neonatal intensive care unit scheduled to debut soon after opening. With 69 emergency and observation beds, a full-service, 24-hour emergency department will have the ability to treat a wide range of illnesses and injuries, from minor to major, in both adults and children.

The campus also will house a new four-story Watson Clinic medical office building featuring a number of services including radiology, laboratory, OB-GYN, gynecologic oncology, urology, orthopedic surgery and general surgery. A new Watson Clinic ambulatory surgery center on the campus will offer a host of outpatient procedures.

One of the region’s largest and most established physician-led practices, Watson Clinic has more than 84 years of deeply rooted history in the community. As the population in the area continues to grow, Orlando Health and Watson Clinic are expanding their footprints to meet the increasing demand, delivering healthcare services of the highest quality and greatest convenience for patients in Lakeland and beyond. Nationally recognized, Orlando Health also will bring its expertise in building an exceptional workplace culture that focuses on personal and professional growth programs that support physicians and team members throughout their careers.