Teddy bears treated as HCA Florida Wellen Park Emergency celebrates with ribbon cutting and open house
HCA Florida Wellen ParkSM Emergency marked a special milestone today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community celebration, welcoming families to its Public Open House and Teddy Bear Clinic. The event provided children with a hands-on experience in a real emergency department setting while officially introducing the new facility to the community.
Local leaders, including North Port City officials, members of the Englewood, North Port, and Venice Chambers of Commerce, HCA Florida Englewood Hospital colleagues and first responders, gathered for the ribbon cutting, celebrating the upcoming opening of this state-of-the-art emergency facility.
Following the ceremony, families enjoyed a fun and educational afternoon where children brought their favorite stuffed teddy bears for a simulated medical journey, allowing young caregivers to experience the emergency room process in an engaging way.
Four-year-old Molly Fisher brought her Princess Bear to the event for a check-up, a mock x-ray, diagnosis and treatment. She also enjoyed ice cream and had an opportunity to see the Bayflight helicopter up close.
Families also had the opportunity to meet the dedicated emergency care team and explore the brand-new facility.
HCA Florida Wellen ParkSM Emergency is an 11,300-square-foot facility set to officially open Tuesday, March 25 at 7:00am.
It will provide 24/7 emergency care, featuring board-certified physicians and highly trained nurses specializing in emergency medicine. The facility will be equipped to diagnose and treat a wide range of emergency conditions, including:
- Injuries, such as fractures and lacerations
- Upper respiratory infections
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Stroke
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of everyone who joined us to celebrate today,” said HCA Florida Englewood Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kelly Lindsay. “Expanding access to high-quality emergency care is a priority for us. We are proud to have the opportunity to provide this life-saving care, close to home.”