POLK COUNTY
County
Profile:
1998 population 467,466.
Twenty-three percent of the population is below 150
percent of the federal poverty level. The major city is
Lakeland.
Health Care Access:
According to the Florida
Department of Business and Professional Regulation, in
1988, Polk County had 704 medical doctors, 17 osteopathic
physicians, 135 dentists, and 3,596 registered nurses
actively licensed.
Status of Volunteer Efforts:
- We Care of Polk County
is a humanitarian program that provides volunteer
specialty medical services to Polk County
residents who meet certain guidelines. This
program is a joint effort of the Polk County
Medical Association ant the Polk County
Commission, in cooperation with Polk County
Health Department. For additional information
contact: Sandy Swanson, Program Coordinator, 832
Spring Lake Square, Winter Haven, FL 33881, (941)
299-3200 Fax (941) 295-9679 or e-mail wecare@ibm.net.
- The Good Samaritan Clinic
at Talbot House Ministries continues to
utilize volunteers, both medical professional and
lay persons, to assist in the medical needs of
the homeless. This clinic works closely with the
Polk County Health Department and neighboring
medical facilities to provide primary and
specialty care. The Good Samaritan Clinic also
provides prescriptive medication to the patients
served. For additional information contact:
Gloria Troilo, Clinic Coordinator, Good Samaritan
Free at Talbot House Ministries, 601 North
Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33802 (941)
687-8475 Fax (941) 802-1182.
- Haines City Volunteer
Clinic: Dr. Michael Degnan provides
well-baby clinics, school physical exams, primary
care and family medical services to the indigent
population of this small rural community. Dr.
Degnan holds monthly clinics in his office for 2
hours on the third Wednesday of each month. For
additional information contact: Haines City
Health Department, 111 North 11th
Street, Haines City, FL 33844 (941) 421 3204 Fax
(941) 421-3210 Attn: Ruby Willix.
110
Volunteer Program Efforts:
Polk County Health Department
Along with the individual
volunteers who donated time, the following community
partnerships have been active over the year.
The Polk County Health Department
immunization team has an established community
partnership with the Kiwanis Clubs, Lakeland Regional
Medical Center, Regency Medical Center, and the First
Presbyterian Church of Bartow. The joint effort has been
instrumental in providing convenient locations, thus
providing immunization compliance in the county.
A partnership with the Health
Department and the Junior League of Lakeland has been
established. They supply children’s books for the
"Read to Succeed" program, which are given to
families who may be receiving multiple over-due
immunizations.
The Lakeland Presbyterian
Apartment Craft Club continues to provide hand
made toys, which are given to children during clinic
appointments.
Contact: Polk County Health
Department 3241 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33805
Attn: Lou Jorden, 110 Coordinator (941) 688-5583 or email
Lou_Jorden@doh.state.fl.us
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