- Robert Channell
AdventHealth Waterman will begin construction on a freestanding emergency department in Fruitland Park in April.
Anticipated to open in early 2026, this facility is a $20 million investment in the community’s health care. It will bring essential emergency care services to the rapidly growing community of Fruitland Park and the surrounding areas of northern Lake County.
Located on a 27-acre site at the intersection of County Road 466A and Colony Boulevard, the ER will include 12 patient rooms and approximately 14,000 square feet.
“We are thrilled to expand our medical services west of AdventHealth Waterman, bringing even greater access to care for our growing community,” said Abel Biri, AdventHealth Waterman president and CEO. “This ER is more than just a building – it represents our commitment to serving our neighbors, providing access to care, and being there for them whenever they need us, day or night.”
Staffed by a comprehensive clinical team, including board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses, the ER will also have on-site respiratory therapy, a full-service laboratory, as well as CT, X-ray and ultrasound equipment to quickly diagnose and treat patients.
This project is estimated to create approximately 40 full-time AdventHealth Waterman jobs when it opens.
“This new ER is just the beginning, and it serves as the foundation of our broader commitment to bring more health services closer to where people live,” added Biri. “We are planning for today’s needs while building for tomorrow’s growth.”

Pictured left to right:
AdventHealth Waterman Executive Director Operations Kayla Tidwell,
AdventHealth Waterman Chief Medical Officer Dr. Floriano Putigna,
AdventHealth Waterman Chief Nursing Officer Lisa Bowman,
Christina Doidic, AdventHealth design & construct studio leader,
AdventHealth Waterman Chief Financial Officer Andrii Korchuk,
Theodore Martell, Kimley Horn civil engineer,
AdventHealth Waterman President and CEO Abel Biri,
AdventHealth Waterman Chief Operating Officer Anita Young, and Chris Dunlop, HuntonBrady architect.


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