2020 Highlights

January

BayCare joins a pivotal clinical trial to help surgeons performing breast cancer surgery.

Dr. Blumencranz with the Lumicell device
A new patient room at St. Joseph's Hospital-North

February

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz opens its $75 million expansion.


For a third time, BayCare is named one of the 100 Best Places to Work in America.

March

BayCare launches Tampa Bay’s first public access COVID-19 drive-through testing sites.


BayCare debuts an online COVID-19 screening tool.

COVID-19 drive-through testing location
BayCare laboratory team member

April

BayCare Laboratories takes on processing specimens from COVID-19 testing sites.


BayCare launches its Nurse Triage Line.


BayCare Behavioral Health begins offering telehealth visits for patients.

May

A topping-out ceremony marks progress on the Bilheimer Tower construction at Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor.

Construction of the new tower at Mease Countryside Hospital
BayCare Urgent Care in Lakeland

June

Lakeland gets its first BayCare Urgent Care center.

BayCare is the first health system in Florida to provide digital PET/CT scanning.

A new BayCare service line, Employer Solutions, helps employers get safely back to work.

BayCare and government partners open COVID-19 test site at Tropicana Field.

For the second time, BayCare ranks in the top 20% of health systems nationally.

July

BayCare expedites the opening of 30 new rooms at Tampa’s St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Photo of the new St. Joseph's Hospital pedestrian being lifted into place.
Artist's rendering of the new South Florida Baptist Hospital

August

BayCare announces plans for a new South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City.

September

BayCare and Tampa International Airport open a COVID-19 testing site.


BayCare ranks No. 6 on the list of 50 Top Companies That Care by PEOPLE and Great Place to Work.

BayCare and Tampa International Airport opened a COVID-19 passenger testing site at the airport.
BayCare's Medical Respite Program at Pinellas Hope

October

BayCare’s Medical Respite Program moves into expanded quarters at Pinellas Hope.


BayCare HomeCare launches BayCare@Home, offering hospital-level care to some patients in their homes.


The American Heart Association recognizes BayCare hospitals.

November

BayCare opens its newest HealthHub in South Tampa.


BayCare.org wins the Gold award for best overall website among hospital systems nationwide from the eHealthcare Leadership Awards.

BayCare HealthHub South Tampa
COVID-19 vaccinations at Winter Haven Hospital

December

BayCare breaks ground for a new hospital in the Wesley Chapel area of Pasco County.


BayCare begins vaccinating frontline health care workers.