AdventHealth Breaks Ground on New ER in Booming Auburndale

AUBURNDALE, FL – January 12, 2026 – Against a backdrop of rapid demographic change, AdventHealth leaders and local officials broke ground today on a new freestanding emergency room, a project designed to bring critical medical services to the heart of one of Florida’s fastest-growing communities. The new facility promises to significantly reduce emergency care travel times for thousands of families in and around Auburndale.

The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant investment in a region grappling with the pressures of its own success. Polk County's population has surged dramatically, growing by over 20% in the decade leading up to 2020 and continuing to expand at a rate outpacing the state average. Auburndale itself has experienced a population boom of more than 31% since 2020 alone. This explosive growth has placed immense strain on existing public services, particularly healthcare.

Located at 1052 US Highway 92 West, the new AdventHealth Auburndale ER is a direct response to this mounting demand. The 13,000-plus square-foot facility is slated to open later this year and will operate as a department of AdventHealth Heart of Florida.

Addressing a Critical Healthcare Gap

For residents of Polk County, improved access to emergency care cannot come soon enough. The region has been designated a “provider-shortage area” by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for primary, mental, and dental health. A recent survey highlighted the issue, revealing that over 40% of Polk County residents were unable to receive needed healthcare in the past year. This shortage extends to emergency services, where Polk County Fire Rescue has reported a 42% increase in 9-1-1 calls, leading to strained resources and significant ambulance backlogs at hospital emergency departments.

AdventHealth's new ER aims to alleviate this pressure by providing a comprehensive suite of services directly within the community. The facility will feature 12 private exam rooms, a full-service laboratory to expedite test results, and advanced imaging capabilities, including X-ray, CT scans, and ultrasound. Importantly, the center will also offer specialized pediatric emergency care, pharmacy services, and respiratory therapy, ensuring a whole-person care approach for patients of all ages.

“Polk County is growing at a rapid pace, making it essential to continue to ensure our community has access to exceptional emergency care when they need it most,” said Tim Clark, AdventHealth Polk Market President and CEO, at the event. “This new ER in Auburndale is about bringing care closer to home and giving families peace of mind. We're delighted to take this latest step, further grow our footprint here and be part of this amazing community.”

A Strategic Move in a Competitive Market

The Auburndale ER is more than a standalone project; it represents a key piece of AdventHealth's broader strategy to expand its footprint across West Florida and meet the escalating healthcare demands of the region. The organization is making substantial investments throughout Polk County, including plans for a new 10-story hospital scheduled to open in 2027. This new freestanding ER serves as a crucial access point, establishing a strong presence in a burgeoning suburban area.

However, AdventHealth is not the only major player recognizing the opportunity in Auburndale. The move places it in direct competition with HCA Florida Healthcare, which is also developing a freestanding emergency department in the city. This burgeoning healthcare race underscores the strategic importance of the Auburndale market, promising residents more choices but also highlighting the intense competition among providers to capture the loyalty of a growing patient base.

By planting a flag with a state-of-the-art emergency facility, AdventHealth is positioning itself to become an integral part of the community's healthcare fabric for decades to come.

An Engine for Economic Growth and Partnership

Beyond its medical mission, the new ER is being hailed as a significant driver of local economic activity. The project is expected to create more than 35 new, skilled jobs, providing a welcome boost to the local economy. This aspect of the development was a key theme for local officials at the groundbreaking.

“Our main objective in municipal government is to provide the best possible service and quality of life to our citizens. This first-of-its-kind development helps us achieve that goal by providing critical, state-of-the-art health services to our growing community, not to mention the opportunity for economic growth,” said Auburndale Mayor Alex Cam. “We are so excited to embark on this partnership with AdventHealth... we look forward to beginning an enduring community partnership that will enhance the lives of Auburndale residents and the surrounding community for years to come.”

To bring the vision to life, AdventHealth has enlisted trusted partners with extensive experience in healthcare construction. HuntonBrady will serve as the architecture firm, while Robins & Morton will manage the construction. The press release noted the “longtime partnership” between AdventHealth and Robins & Morton, suggesting a streamlined and experienced approach to the project's execution.

“The groundbreaking of AdventHealth Auburndale ER marks an exciting milestone for our Auburndale community,” said Todd Watson, Robins & Morton Florida Division Manager. “We look forward to building a facility that will have a lasting, positive impact for many years to come.”

As construction commences, the project stands as a tangible symbol of the transformations underway in Central Florida, where population growth is fundamentally reshaping the landscape of community services, infrastructure, and healthcare.