Polk County
Strengthening health and medical preparedness by bringing local partners together to coordinate resources, build response capabilities, and support the needs of communities across Polk County.
Chapter Information
Local Leadership
Upcoming Events
To attend a meeting, please request your seat by filling out the form below. All meetings are open to the public.
Member Organizations
- AdventHealth Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center
- AdventHealth Heart of Florida Surgery Center
- AdventHealth Lake Wales
- AdventHealth Sebring Home Care
- Astoria Senior Living
- BayCare Bartow Regional Medical Center
- BayCare Home Care
- BayCare Winter Haven Hospital
- Bedrock Rehab and Nursing Center at Wedgewood
- City of Lakeland Fire
- Compassionate Care Hospice
- Da Vita Dialysis
- Florida Department of Health of Polk County
- Florida Presbyterian Homes
- Fresenius Medical Care
- Grace Health Care of Lake Wales
- Good Shepherd Hospice
- HCA Florida Champions Gate Emergency
- Highlands Lake Center
- Lake Gibson Village Health & Rehab
- Lakeland Nursing & Rehab
- Lakeland Regional Hospital
- New Horizons Assisted Living Facility
- Orlando Health Lakeland Highlands Hospital
- Orlando Health North Lakeland ER
- Polk County Emergency Management
- Polk County Fire Rescue
- Scott Lake & Rehab
- Senior Helpers
- Senior Support Servicing, LLC
- Surgery Center of Lakeland Hills Blvd.
- The Manor at Carpenters
- The Rohr Home
- Valencia Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center
Polk county ESF-8 WG
Building a Stronger Preparedness Network
The Polk ESF 8 Health and Medical Coalition brings together healthcare organizations, public health providers, emergency management, public safety agencies, government partners, and other community organizations with a role in disaster preparedness and response.
The coalition is dedicated to creating and promoting a state of readiness while supporting recovery efforts that protect the health and well being of Polk County residents during catastrophic events, large scale disasters, and emergencies.
Through collaboration, education, assessment, planning, and support services, Polk County partners work together to identify preparedness needs, strengthen local capabilities, and improve coordination across the health and medical community.
The coalition provides a network where organizations can share knowledge, resources, and expertise while maintaining their individual roles and responsibilities within the broader emergency response system.
Our Mission
Mobilizing Local Strength for Regional Readiness
The mission of the Polk ESF 8 Health and Medical Coalition is to enhance collaborative response efforts to disasters and emergencies by mobilizing local assets to meet community, county, and regional needs.
The coalition works to strengthen the relationships and capabilities that allow local partners to communicate effectively, coordinate resources, and support one another throughout the emergency management cycle.
By bringing diverse organizations together before an emergency occurs, the coalition helps Polk County develop a more connected and capable health and medical response network.
OUR FOCUS
Focused on Readiness
The Polk ESF 8 Health and Medical Coalition focuses on strengthening the partnerships, resources, and response capabilities needed to support Polk County communities during emergencies and large scale events.
Collaborative Response
Strengthening coordination among healthcare, public health, emergency management, public safety, and community partners to support a unified response when emergencies occur.
Preparedness & Planning
Supporting education, assessment, planning, and preparedness activities that help organizations identify gaps and strengthen their ability to respond.
Local Resources
Mobilizing local assets, capabilities, and expertise to help meet community and county needs during disasters and other events that impact the health and medical system.
Community & Regional Support
Building local capabilities that can support not only Polk County communities, but also broader regional response needs when resources and coordination are required beyond the county.
Training Supports Stronger Response
Preparedness is not a one time event. Ongoing education, collaboration, and practice help healthcare organizations respond faster, recover more effectively, and better protect their communities during emergencies.
ONE REGIONAL NETWORK
Stronger Together Across Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Health & Medical Preparedness Coalition brings healthcare and emergency preparedness partners together across nine counties. Through collaboration, planning, training, and shared resources, the coalition works to strengthen preparedness and response throughout the region.
