LAKELAND, Fla. - Polk County is experiencing a significant shortage of health care professionals, including dentists and pediatricians, due to its rapidly growing population.

The backstory:

This shortage surpasses the state average, leading to strained resources and impacting residents' access to timely medical care.

"Patients may face longer wait times in clinics and delays in scheduling appointments, which can hinder timely screenings and treatment for existing health issues and chronic diseases," explained Taylor Freeman, the public health planner with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County.

Why you should care:

The county is already witnessing an increase in emergency room visits for primary care services and chronic disease management.

To tackle this pressing issu

See Full Page