City of Winter Haven Honors BayCare for Its Commitment to Community Health
by James Coulter
For nearly the past century, Winter Haven Hospital has been meeting the healthcare needs of the community. And ever since acquiring it in 2013, BayCare has been assisting the hospital in its mission “during blue skies and grey skies.”
To commemorate its commitment to community healthcare, the City of Winter Haven honored BayCare Winter Haven with an official city proclamation. The proclamation was presented at the regular meeting of the Winter Haven City Commission on Mon. Dec. 9.
As the proclamation read, BayCare Winter Haven has proven to remain diligent in providing medical care and emergency services to the Winter Haven community rain or shine.
“We recognize their commitment to meeting the needs of our citizens during blue skies and grey skies as well as their delivery of services during emergencies such as Hurricane Milton,” the proclamation read.
Tom Garthwaite, BayCare Winter Haven President, commended the City Commission for presenting his organization with the proclamation, especially on the cusp of its upcoming centennial anniversary.
“We are proud to be in the Winter Haven community,” he said. “We have been here for 98 years, and we are looking forward to celebrating our centennial in 2026.”
Garthwaite recently became a Winter Haven resident. Having worked and lived in big cities like Tampa and Orlando, he considers the Winter Haven Hospital on par with hospitals in those cities.
“The innovativeness of Winter Haven is up there with every large metropolitan city I have ever been in,” he said. “I am proud to now be a resident of Winter Haven Florida. So thank you on behalf of our health system, our hospital, and myself.”
