Lakewood Ranch area residents who reported long wait times and difficulty finding specialists are getting a direct response from one of Florida's largest health systems. BayCare Health System is expanding ambulatory care across Manatee County, driven by findings from a community health assessment that documented gaps in local access.
The expansion follows a 2024-2025 Community Needs Health Assessment conducted by the All4HealthFL Collaborative, a partnership of seven nonprofit health systems and four county health departments. The collaborative, established in 2019, included Manatee County in its work for the first time in 2025.
On Monday, March 31, 2025, representatives from 42 community organizations met for three hours to review findings. The assessment identified concerns about long wait times, difficulty finding providers, affordability and limited convenient locations for care.
Nearly a quarter of West Central Florida residents had not had a medical checkup in the past year, according to the collaborative's survey. Close to 20% of low-income residents under 65 lack health insurance, nearly double the national average.
"There are lots of options in the Sarasota-Manatee market for health care," said Brittany Lamont, president and CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. "But as far as having those specialties or those facilities a short drive away, I think it's important."
BayCare's expansion plans
BayCare, a nonprofit with 16 hospitals and roughly $7 billion in operating revenue, said it is expanding ambulatory care in the area as a direct result of what residents reported. Ambulatory care covers primary care, specialty care, imaging, lab services and other outpatient visits.
Dr. Christopher Bucciarelli, BayCare's vice president for ambulatory services and chief medical officer, said the system is prioritizing women's health, including delivery services. He said BayCare plans 10 years out while simultaneously addressing what can be done within five years, balancing fiscal responsibility with pressing community needs.
BayCare has released architectural renderings for a planned HealthHub on Moccasin Wallow Road in Manatee County, though no construction timeline or opening date has been announced.
On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, BayCare released its 2026-2028 Community Health Needs Assessment Implementation Plans, focusing on three areas: access to health and social services, behavioral health, and exercise, nutrition and weight. Lisa Bell, BayCare's director of community benefit, said in the announcement that the plans represent a commitment through outreach programs and partnerships with more than 80 community organizations.
Other providers in the market
BayCare is not alone. OrlandoHealth and Moffitt Cancer Center also participated in the All4HealthFL Collaborative assessment, and the Your Observer reported Tuesday, July 15, that both are among providers building out facilities in the area, though specific locations and timelines have not been confirmed.
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System already operates a freestanding emergency room in Lakewood Ranch as part of a network that includes full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice.
BayCare's 2026-2028 implementation plans represent the current planning horizon for the expansion. Residents can review the All4HealthFL assessment findings and BayCare's plans through the system's community benefit reports.
