by RYAN MILEJCZAK
Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care
Central Florida Health Care is dedicated to bringing the highest quality medical care to the people of Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties. With the opening of their newest location in Mulberry, they’ll be even better able to serve the communities that need their services the most.
The story starts with the former Pentagon Federal Credit Union in Mulberry, a building that has sat vacant for several years.
“We were very fortunate to be able to go before the Citizen’s Oversight Committee to ask for funding to be able to purchase and do a full renovation of the location,” recounts Central Florida Health Care CEO Ann Claussen.
The CFHC team felt this was a great opportunity to expand, and the committee agreed, granting funding for the project.
“There is such a great need for our services to expand and hit new areas we’re not in,” Claussen explains.
The new center joins an existing Mulberry location built in 2014, allowing them to better serve patients in Mulberry and South Lakeland.
“The existing Mulberry location was funded through an HRSA grant and a school link grant, allowing us to really focus on partnering with schools,” explains Claussen.
The existing location will remain open and continue providing pediatrics and dental, with an expansion of dental services at the location planned. Meanwhile, other services will be moved to the new location.
Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Best says patients can expect a wide range of services from day one, with even more on the way.
“We’re moving our existing adults and specialty services — such as adult medicine, behavioral health, rheumatology, and podiatry, as well as labs and X-rays — out of our existing Mulberry location. And we will eventually offer dermatology and endocrinology at that location as well.”
Perhaps the most exciting offering, however, will be the location’s drive-through pharmacy.
“This will be our largest pharmacy out of any of our 17 locations, so we’re very excited about it,” Best says.
WIth this new center, CFHC hopes to continue meeting the needs of Polk County’s large and growing population.
“With Polk being the largest county we serve, we have 15 health centers there,” Claussen says. “There could be one or multiple locations in every city in which we provide healthcare, and it still wouldn’t be enough to serve the population.”
While this might be seen as a challenge, it’s one that CFHC is well-equipped to meet. The organization goes above and beyond to provide the best care for their patients, all in one location.
“What sets us apart from other companies providing health services is that we are a certified patient-centered medical home,” she adds. “And we want the community to know that means we provide all the services you need under one roof.”
This includes providing services to those who cannot afford care or otherwise have challenges accessing care.
“We’re the safety net; we don’t turn people away,” Claussen says. “We see people on Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, migrant populations, and homeless populations. We accept most insurance plans. Our navigators work with every patient who comes through the doors or calls so we can make sure we can qualify them for what they need to be seen by a provider.”
These navigators are available at every CFHC location, including the new Mulberry location once it opens, to help connect patients with not only clinical care they need but also other essential resources. The new location will measure 13,862 square feet, with Hinkleman Construction handling the renovations. It is set to open its doors May 7.