Watson Clinic Collaborates with Orlando Health on New Hospital; Constructing Additional Locations on Campus

Guest Blog Post

Watson Clinic is pleased to announce an affiliation with Orlando Health on the Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, a seven-story facility currently under construction at 4000 Lakeland Highlands Blvd. in Lakeland. In addition, Watson Clinic has announced two new locations – a state-of-the-art Medical Office Building and a cutting-edge Ambulatory Surgery Center - which are currently being constructed on the hospital campus.

The hospital will open with more than 300 inpatient beds, 69 emergency and observation beds, 11 working operating rooms, four cardiac and interventional suites and 18 beds in an intensive care unit (ICU) that will serve 36 patients at full build-out. Obstetric services and accommodations will also be prominent on opening day with eight labor and delivery rooms, two special c-section operating rooms and more than 25 post-partum rooms. A 12-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will debut shortly after the hospital opens.
 
The Watson Clinic Medical Office Building (name yet to be determined) will be an 80,000 square foot, four-story facility offering convenient appointment availability with specialists from Watson Clinic’s departments of Urology, Orthopaedic Surgery, General Surgery, OB-GYN, Gynecologic Oncology, and much more. On-site radiology imaging and laboratory testing will further enhance the level of care provided in this exciting new facility. The building will also offer self-check in kiosks, expansive waiting areas, and additional features that support operational efficiency and patient comfort.
 
The new Watson Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center will expand the roster of outpatient procedures and services offered at the Watson Clinic Surgery Center at 1315 N. Florida Ave. in Lakeland. The center will be outfitted with six state-of-the-art operating rooms, 20 pre- and post-holding bays, and six post-anesthesia care units.  

Pictured - Watson Clinic Medical Office Building (top) & Watson Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center (bottom). Conceptual Renderings provided by Watson Clinic.

Like Watson Clinic’s 20 additional locations throughout Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties, the new Medical Office Building and Ambulatory Surgery Center will serve as standalone facilities operated exclusively by Watson Clinic. When coupled alongside the Clinic’s affiliation with Orlando Health on the Lakeland Highlands Hospital, these two additional locations will ensure a full-fledged campus where a patient’s every medical need can be addressed.
 
"Watson Clinic is excited to expand our presence on the new campus in order to serve the healthcare needs of our growing community," said Watson Clinic Chief Executive Office Jason Hirsbrunner. "These two new facilities will provide our current patients and all area residents with additional access to exceptional healthcare and – in the process – it will also bring more job opportunities to Polk County."
 
Currently, the entire Lakeland Highlands campus is scheduled to open in the summer of 2026. For more information and frequent updates on this ambitious project, follow Watson Clinic on their social media platforms or visit WatsonClinic.com/OH.