Winter Haven Hospital Foundation Healthcare Workforce Development
The Florida State University College of Medicine Family Residency Program at Winter Haven Hospital
The Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program was established by the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation through the facilitation of a multi-million dollar grant from the Polk County Indigent Patient Care Fund. The program is a partnership with the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation and BayCare Health System in Winter Haven, Florida.
During the course of training, physician residents learn the full spectrum of Family Medicine, including integrated behavioral health care within the supportive environment and close-knit community of Winter Haven, Winter Haven Hospital, and the Winter Haven Women’s Hospital. The Family Medicine Residency Program plays an
important role in improving access to primary care by delivering care to literally thousands of local patients as part of its operation. Due to a shortage of primary care physicians in central Florida and Polk County the residency program is also critical in training family physicians who have an interest in staying in this area after their training. Numerous practice and employment opportunities exist for graduates within Winter Haven, Polk County, and the BayCare Health System.
The Winter Haven Hospital Foundation American Psychological Association Accredited Clinical Psychology Internship Program
The APA Accredited Clinical Psychology Training Program was established in 2022 by the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation in response to the BayCare Community Health Needs Assessment illustrating that lack of access to mental health services is the #1 health issue facing Polk County residents. The program is funded by ongoing Winter Haven Hospital Foundation support. The Clinical Psychology Internship Program is a full-time clinical training program for doctoral psychology students in their last year of training.
The program is a collaboration with the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation and the Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program, BayCare Health System, and the Centerstone Consortium. The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
The programs interns provide increased access to mental health services during their training by providing care for hundreds of local patients during the course of their training. The program trains doctoral-level clinical psychology students to become health service psychologists, who are well-equipped to provide brief intervention, psychotherapy, assessment, and consultation services to a diverse range of individuals in local healthcare settings.
The Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) College of Psychology Practicum Training Program
Like the Foundations APA Clinical Psychology Internship Program, the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation established the Florida Institute of Technology Clinical Psychology Practicum Training Program in 2020 to improve access to local mental health services.
The program is funded through a major ongoing grant from the Polk County Indigent Patient Care Fund. The Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) Practicum Training Program is a partnership with the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation, the Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program, and BayCare Health System. Since its inception in 2020 the programs students have cared for over 2,000 local patients.
Each practicum student is assigned to one of two training tracks: neuropsychological assessment or integrated behavioral health in primary care. This program plays a critical role in increasing access to care for patients in both Winter Haven Hospital’s Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation Clinic and BayCare Medical Group’s Family Health Center in Winter Haven. Additionally, the program seeks to attract students to continue their training and/or return for future clinical practice in the Winter Haven community.
Winter Haven Hospital Tele-Psychology Services
In 2020 the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation facilitated the establishment of a new Tele-Psychology program for the Winter Haven Hospital Emergency Services Department (ED). As a result of Foundation advocacy BayCare agreed to make available 8 doctoral level clinical psychologists for ED patients on a 24/7 basis. Since its inception the program has provided care for over 4,663 ED patients.
Winter Haven Hospital Foundation Nursing Workforce Development Fund
The Winter Haven Hospital Foundation Nursing Workforce Development Fund has
provided major ongoing support to the Polk State College School of Nursing to advance its ASN Program, the BSN Program and for Faculty Development.
The Foundations Nursing Workforce Development Fund also provides the Florida Southern College School of Nursing with MSN student grants and faculty development.
In its most recent initiative, the Foundation has implemented a number of new programs with the Florida State University College of Nursing including BSN scholarships for Polk County students and the facilitation of the BayCare BSN summer internship program for Polk County students.
