AdventHealth Polk announces its partnership with Wake Forest Emergency Providers, part of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. This partnership means AdventHealth Polk emergency physicians are 100% board-certified in emergency medicine and bring the highest standards of care to every interaction with our patients.
Many of the past emergency physician team members joined Wake Forest Emergency Providers, keeping familiar, exceptional physicians local for our community. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in AdventHealth’s commitment to delivering whole-person, high-quality care to Polk and surrounding counties. This dedicated team of full-time emergency medicine physicians, supported by a rotating group of additional providers from AdventHealth Hendersonville, are now delivering expert, compassionate care at AdventHealth Polk.
The new emergency care team is led by Dr. John Binford, a long-time leader on the AdventHealth Polk (Formerly St. Luke’s Hospital) Emergency team. He is a board-certified emergency physician who brings extensive experience to this leadership role. The providers are trained in the latest emergency medicine practices and will implement best-in-class clinical protocols, including many developed at Wake Forest Baptist, ensuring a seamless and consistent patient experience across the region.
“We are pleased to expand our partnership with AdventHealth to provide exceptional-quality emergency care to those in Polk County and the surrounding communities,” said Dr. Chad Miller, president of Wake Forest Emergency Providers, and North Carolina and Georgia leader of emergency medicine for Advocate Health, of which Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is part.
“It is our honor to provide safe, compassionate, patient-centered care to hospitals across North Carolina and we look forward to partnering with the AdventHealth Polk team to serve this community,” added Miller, who is also chair of emergency medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
This expansion builds on the successful relationship with AdventHealth Hendersonville, where the Wake Forest Emergency Providers team has long provided emergency department services. The partnership at AdventHealth Polk deepens this collaboration, reinforcing a shared commitment to whole-person care and clinical excellence.
"This is more than a staffing change; it’s a strategic step forward in how we deliver emergency care," said Brandon Nudd, FACHE, president and CEO for AdventHealth Hendersonville and AdventHealth Polk. "Our patients can expect shorter wait times, advanced triage practices, and a team that is deeply connected to the mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ."
AdventHealth Polk, formerly St. Luke’s Hospital, is a 25-bed critical access hospital serving the people of Polk and surrounding counties. With this new partnership, the Emergency Department is positioned to provide even more timely, expert care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information, visit AdventHealthPolk.com.