It’s inevitable — we all get sick sometimes. Perhaps you’ve recently switched jobs or insurance providers, or you may be new to Lakeland (welcome) and in need of a local primary care doctor or specialist.

Establishing yourself with a primary care provider is one of those things you’ll be glad you did when you need one. Good thing Lakeland boasts top-of-the-line healthcare facilities.

Let’s take a further look at what’s available in our region when it comes to medical care. Note: This isn't an exhaustive list.

AdventHealth
At the company's Centra Care campus, AdventHealth offers a variety of medical services for its patients. Need urgent care? Walk-ins are accepted daily at its north + south Lakeland locations, with prescriptions available on-site. Cut your wait time by making an online reservation ahead of your visit.

What's new: AdventHealth is planning a hospital development in south Lakeland, complete with 400 beds, medical offices, commercial space, and even apartments.

This mock-up of the proposed AdventHealth hospital and medical offices shows that it would take up nearly 22 acres of the 218 acres of land owned by Drummond Company, Inc. | Image via City of Lakeland

BayCare Medical Group
There are several BayCare urgent care facilities throughout Lakeland, but its primary care facility offers services for everyday health, including diabetes management, adult + child physical exams, as well as women's exams.

Pro tip: Get familiar with the doctor/registered nurse practitioner on-site before your visit.

Lakeland Regional Health
LRH has been around for more than 100 years and has your back with its Physician Group is 400+ providers strong. With more than 30 locations and 40 specialties, it's easy to stay in-network and get the care you need close to home.

Pro tip: Look for Graduate Medical Education residents working around LRH — they're getting hands-on experience while providing high-quality care.

The new VA Clinic will include 121,000 sqft of usable space. | Rendering provided by James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital

Lakeland Veteran Affairs Clinic
Lakeland's VA Clinic offers primary care, mental health care, labs, and more services for those who have served our country. It relocated to a larger, state-of-the-art facility in 2024.

Pro tip: Polk County’s Veteran Services has an office here, with no appointments needed to discuss benefits + claims.

Orlando Health
Keep an eye out for this new player in Swan City's medical scene, which is making a big splash with the future Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital. Located in south Lakeland, this partnership will offer 300+ inpatient beds, 18 ICU beds, and a full labor and delivery department.

What's new: That's not Orlando Health's only foray into Lakeland. It will also have a freestanding emergency room on the north side of town.

The hospital is currently under construction off of Lakeland Highlands Road. | Rendering provided by Watson Clinic

Watson Clinic
This long-standing medical care group has grown to more than 20 locations throughout Central Florida, including its main campus in Lakeland, since opening in 1941. Its network of doctors and nurses bring intentional care to patients in need of medical attention in 25 specialties, from allergies to oncology to surgery.

What's new: Watson Clinic is building the Watson Clinic Parkway Medical Center and the Watson Clinic Surgery Center South at the site of its hospital partnership with Orlando Health.

Ready to connect with a provider? To set you up for success, here are a few pro tips for when you’re on the hunt, provided by Lakeland Regional Health:

Inquire about the practice’s hours and how after-hours queries are handled.
Schedule an interview/consultation, if the physician offers one. (For instance, LRH offers free 15-minute meet-and-greet consultations with its pediatricians.)
Ask for names of patients willing to share their experiences with the practice.

Pro tip: Websites like DocSpot filter physicians by location and offer patient reviews, insurance, language info, and more.