Adventist Care Centers breaks ground on new nursing and rehabilitation center in Tavares

Adventist Care Centers, a division of Adventist Health System, will break ground on a new 120-bed nursing and rehabilitation center on the campus of Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares on Thursday. The center will be located on the northwest corner of Florida Hospital Watermans property off Lake Eustis Drive and along the banks of Lake Etowah.

The two-story, 85,000 square foot facility will include all private rooms and comprehensive rehabilitation services. Land clearing began in early November, and the center is scheduled to begin operations by early 2018.

Adventist Care Centers has a long history of providing high-quality, compassionate care, and were honored to be approved to extend those services into Lake County, said Jody Barry, Vice Presidents of Facilities and Construction for Adventist Care Centers. Our new center will incorporate innovative design that will advance healing in a state-of-the-art facility. We will be offering residents access to nursing and rehabilitation services conveniently located next to one of the areas busiest medical centers. Our location will uniquely position the center to partner with Florida Hospital Waterman and provide the community with seamless long-term, post-acute care.

Adventist Care Centers received a certificate of need for the project last year when the state of Florida lifted a 14-year ban on new nursing home construction.

The new nursing and rehabilitation center will be first new facility of its kind to be built in north Lake County in nearly 20 years, said David Ottati, President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida Hospital Waterman. The addition of long-term nursing and rehabilitation services to our campus is an exciting extension of our mission to improve the overall health and well-being of the people and communities we serve. The addition of much-needed nursing and rehabilitation services to Lake County will enable patients to get the care they need right in their own community, close to their homes and families."

Construction of the new center will cost approximately $28 million and bring 280 temporary construction jobs to the area. Once operational, the center will employee 150 people. The building is being designed by Lantz-Boggio Architects, and will be built by Batson-Cook Construction.

Adventist Care Centers currently operates 15 nursing and rehabilitation centers in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky and Texas. The new center will be the organizations seventh facility in Florida, which also includes locations in Apopka, Orlando and Zephyrhills.