Education & Healthcare

Twin pillars supporting the Heartland’s high quality of life, the region’s education and healthcare are outcome-focused, based in best practices and characterized by experience, expertise and genuine care for the Heartland population.

Both public and private K-12 education lays a solid foundation for the future. Students thrive personally and educationally and graduate ready to go on to a career and/or college, and to keep going to the top of their fields. Key to this achievement are advantages like a strategic STEM curriculum focus, relevant career and technical education programs and dual enrollment.

Opportunities for post-high school training and education are easily accessible in the immediate area at institutions including:

• Florida SouthWestern State College. This fully accredited college offers associate and bachelor’s degrees as well as technical certifications in pathways such as humanities and social sciences, pure and applied sciences, business and technology education and health professions.

• Indian River State College. The 100+ programs at Indian River lead to associate and bachelor’s degrees, technical certificates and applied technology diplomas in eight different “meta majors” including arts, humanities and communication; STEM; business;  and industry, manufacturing and construction.

• Palm Beach State College.  Seven career pathways, ranging from arts to industry and manufacturing to STEM, organize over 100 Palm Beach State programs leading to B.S., A.A. and A.S. degrees, as well as career certifications.

• South Florida State College. Students can choose to earn an A.S., an A.A.S., college credit or technical certificates in more than 60 fields, and the College now offers a B.S. in three programs, including a bachelor’s degree in supervision and management.

• iTech Immokalee Technical College. iTech takes career training to a higher level with state-of-the-art facilities and curriculum development in partnership with local industries, which “adopt” relevant programs to provide laser-focused support.

A strong sector of the Heartland economy, healthcare is also a critical asset for Heartland residents enjoying a better life thanks to great care, and for Heartland business supported by a healthier population. Acute-care facilities include:

• HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital, a 100-bed acute care hospital delivering award-winning care supported by a wide range of specialty services.

• Okeechobee Healthcare Facility, a 210-bed rehabilitation facility providing a continuum of care, including short- and long-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing as well as various specialty programs including cardiac, dementia and Alzheimer’s care.

• Advent Health Wauchula, a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital (CAH) which has received an “A” rating from the Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety rating.

• Advent Health Sebring, a 204-bed acute care hospital providing services in more than 20 care areas.

• AdventHealth Lake Placid, a 50-bed facility providing ER, ICU, medical-surgical, and wellness center units. 

• HCA Florida Highlands Hospital, a 126-bed acute care facility where the range of clinical care and surgical services includes a Senior Care Emergency Room.

• DeSoto Memorial Hospital, where inpatient services include a 32-bed medical/surgical unit and an eight-bed intensive care unit.

• Hendry Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital that has earned the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval.

• Lakeside Medical Center, Florida’s only rural teaching hospital which also provides convenient state-of-the-art care to Belle Glade and Pahokee.