The Florida Hospital Heartland Division serves more than 100,000 permanent residents in Highlands and Hardee counties. In winter, the population increases by 20 percent. Located in the heart of the Florida peninsula, Florida Hospital Heartland Division has enjoyed a special place in Avon Park and the surrounding communities for 50 years. It is one of the area’s largest employers. In addition to a 111-bed facility in Sebring, Florida Hospital Heartland Division operates a 50-bed satellite facility in Lake Placid and a 25-bed facility in Wauchula. The division also includes several outpatient therapy centers. With a total of 195 beds, more than 1,100 employees and a medical staff of over 150, Florida Hospital Heartland Division serves 87,000 inpatient, outpatient and emergency visits per year. More than 1,100 babies were born at Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center last year. The Florida Hospital Heartland Division is operated in the tradition of Adventist healthcare, which recognizes that total health is achieved through the proper balance of physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being. Florida Hospital Lake Placid operates the only inpatient mental health unit in Highlands County. Florida Hospital Wauchula became part of Adventist Health System in 1993, providing inpatient, transitional care, outpatient and emergency services in Hardee County.