Publisher’s Note

Growing up with a nurse for a mom, the importance of the role she and her peers play was ingrained in me. Unfortunately not everyone was raised with this insight, though I can assure you my mom helped others understand in her own way. From chaotic emergency rooms to tranquil hospice settings, nurses are present […]

Concerns over nursing shortages are nothing new. In fact, shortages have been a recurring dilemma since the 1970s. But recent changes are underscoring the need to identify workable solutions. Polk County’s population influx has hit a fevered pitch. According to the latest Census data, more people moved to Polk County than any other county in

The Pets & Your Health edition of Central Florida Health News is by far one of my favorites to produce. Our team here adores their fur-babies, so we jump at any chance to share the joys and benefits they bring. We asked our staff and readers to share photos of their pets with us, and

If you’ve spent any time in Winter Haven, you likely know — or know of — Chris and Hap Hazelwood. They are both, for lack of a better word, pillars of the Polk County community. Chris is executive director of Your Polk County Hub, and Hap is Treasurer and Board Member of Your Polk Hub.

Earlier this year, Polk County was named the fastest growing county in Florida, and the seventh-fastest growing county in the nation. That growth has been mirrored by the area’s healthcare industry, which has been booming. In 2023, Polk County had more announcements of new hospitals, expanded clinics, and new medical groups coming into the area

This is the time of year when we give thanks for our health and begin thinking about those New Year’s resolutions. It can be tempting — maybe even easier — to place the responsibility for our health squarely on our doctor’s shoulders. But here’s the rub: Health is a shared responsibility, and it’s time to

When this time of year rolls around, most people are thinking about Thanksgiving and the holidays. At Central Florida Media Group, we’ve got our sights set on something else. Our writers and editors are steadily working on the 2024 Central Florida Physicians Directory and Medical Providers Guide. With roughly 1,900 listings, it’s quite the task

Can you believe it’s almost the holiday season again? This year seems to have flown by! You know the feeling: Just when you start scoping out the perfect, robust pumpkin, you blink once and realize that sphere is actually the ball dropping on New Year’s Eve. This is a busy time of year for us

At Central Florida Health News, we work hard to take the top health headlines and drill down to the local level so you can see how the news affects you and your community. You’ve likely read about the shortage of healthcare workers — especially nurses — in our articles and columns. That’s because the shortage

The healthcare industry has always faced challenges, but the current staffing shortage is certainly one of the most formidable. You may have heard rumblings, or maybe you wondered why your doctor’s appointment was moved. In fact, staff shortages can have a snowball effect on everything from shuffled appointments and longer wait times to more dire