Specialized care for children available close to home
Find specialty care for your child close to home at Lakeland Regional Health. | Photo provided by Lakeland Regional Health
When a child is sick or injured, families need care they can trust — and they need it close to home. Lakeland Regional Health (LRH) provides that peace of mind through its comprehensive pediatric services and its collaboration with Nemours Children’s Health, bringing nationally recognized expertise directly to the community.
Comprehensive pediatric specialty services
Children at LRH have access to a wide range of specialty care, including:
Orthopedics
Pediatric Surgery
Cardiology
Neurology
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Pulmonology
Ophthalmology
Rheumatology
Urology, and more
From routine appointments to complex diagnoses, LRH provides seamless coordination and expert care for children from newborn through adolescence.
Emergency, surgical, and inpatient care designed for kids
“Whether it is elective or emergent surgery, whether it is simple or complex surgery, we strive to provide the highest quality care for your child,” says Drew Rideout, MD, Pediatric General Surgeon, Nemours Children’s Health, who practices at LRH. “With extensive experience in minimally invasive surgery, we aim to provide the best possible care close to where you live. Most importantly, we seek to treat your child just as we would want our child treated.”
Lakeland Regional Health offers a dedicated Children’s Emergency Department, a specialized PICU for higher-level care, and child-friendly inpatient rooms and surgical suites. Surgeons are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to care for patients from birth to age 18. Pediatric orthopedic specialists also provide around-the-clock support for fractures, injuries, and urgent musculoskeletal needs.
“In pediatric orthopedics, we often see kids who have been slowed down by an injury. We reassure our patients and their parents that kids heal quickly, and then we try to get them back to doing what’s most important to them, so they can simply enjoy being kids,” says Joseph Khoury, MD, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Nemours Children’s Health, who practices at LRH.
“We have a fantastic team of pediatric-trained physicians and nurses, along with child life specialists and pediatric subspecialists,” adds Charles Eldridge, MD, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Director at LRH’s George W. Jenkins Children’s Emergency Department. “We’re able to treat everything from minor injuries such as bumps and bruises to more severe injuries such as broken bones, concussions, asthma exacerbations, and pediatric trauma. Families can trust their child is in the right place.”
Care built around kids and families
Every aspect of children’s care at LRH — from equipment and spaces to the specially trained staff — is designed to support safety, comfort, growth, and long-term wellness. Families can feel confident knowing highly specialized pediatric care is available right in their community.
News Notes
News Notes
Cause
Registration is open for the 12th Annual Promise Run to support Hollis Cancer Center. The event is set for March 7, 2026, and includes a 10K and 5K race. The Promise Run takes place rain or shine at the Lake Mirror Promenade in downtown Lakeland. Learn more + register.
Listen
Lakeland Regional Health introduces Inside Scope, a podcast featuring expert insights on trending health topics. Hosted by Dr. Daniel Haight, each episode explores issues such as when to visit urgent care and managing joint pain. Tune in.
Holiday
The holiday season is full of joy — but it can also bring its share of accidents and illnesses. From minor burns while baking and decorating mishaps to common holiday injuries and the inevitable cold or flu, here’s what to do if you need help.
Health
Patients in Central Florida no longer need to travel far for advanced cancer care. At Lakeland Regional Health (LRH), fellowship-trained surgical oncologists provide expert treatment for malignant and benign digestive tract cancers, gynecologic cancers, skin cancer, and more. Learn more.
Community
After a routine checkup revealed a hidden heart issue, Glenn underwent a minimally invasive Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). The procedure restored his heart function and recovery was quick, with Glenn back to normal life soon after. Check out his story.
