St. Petersburg, FL (Sept. 1, 2015) – A significant collaboration has been announced that aims to enhance healthcare services within Pinellas County and the broader Tampa Bay Area. Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and the University of South Florida (USF Health) have officially signed an affiliation agreement. This partnership is designed to broaden and strengthen the medical care accessible to patients in the communities served by Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, leveraging the expertise of USF Health physicians.
This strategic alliance positions Bayfront Health St. Petersburg as the primary affiliate of USF Health, a leading academic health center in the region. This designation is particularly focused on Bayfront Health’s service area encompassing mid-to-south Pinellas County, ensuring that residents within these Usf Health Counties Served benefit directly from this collaboration.
Dr. Charles J. Lockwood of USF Health and Kathryn J. Gillette of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, representing the partnership to expand healthcare services in Pinellas County.
Kathryn J. Gillette, Bayfront Health Market President and CEO, emphasized the positive impact of this affiliation. “Collaborating with USF Health, a recognized leader in medical education and research within the Tampa Bay Area, is crucial for Bayfront Health’s continued success. We are committed to being the community’s top choice for high-quality healthcare services,” she stated. Gillette further added that patients choosing Bayfront Health St. Petersburg can anticipate receiving care informed by cutting-edge clinical practices that prioritize patient well-being.
Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, Senior Vice President for USF Health and Dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, also highlighted the patient-centered focus of the partnership. “This affiliation in key medical specialties brings together USF Health’s commitment to applying research discoveries to clinical practice and Bayfront Health’s dedication to patient-focused care,” Dr. Lockwood explained. He expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration’s potential to improve patient health outcomes within the usf health counties served. Dr. Lockwood also noted the shared goal of enhancing healthcare value in the Tampa Bay community by improving patient satisfaction, raising quality standards, and managing healthcare costs effectively.
The initial phase of this affiliation is set to launch this month, focusing on physician services in critical areas such as general and interventional cardiology and colorectal surgery. Furthermore, USF Health and Bayfront Health are actively exploring expanding physician practices into other essential specialties, including breast cancer care, urogynecology, and reproductive endocrinology. This expansion will further benefit the communities within the usf health counties served by providing access to a broader range of specialized medical expertise.
About Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, a 480-bed teaching hospital, has been a cornerstone of healthcare in the Tampa Bay community since 1906. Accredited by The Joint Commission, Bayfront is designated as Pinellas County’s only Level II trauma center, equipped with Bayflite air medical services. It also holds distinctions as a Level III regional perinatal intensive care center, primary stroke center, chest pain center with PCI capabilities, Level IV epilepsy center, and is Joint Commission certified in hip and knee replacement. More details can be found at www.bayfrontstpete.com. The strength of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg lies in its extensive network of skilled physicians and specialists, dedicated to providing comprehensive care to patients across the usf health counties served.
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg serves as the flagship hospital for a network spanning Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Bayfront Health Brooksville, Bayfront Health Spring Hill, Venice Regional Bayfront Health, Bayfront Health Port Charlotte, Bayfront Health Punta Gorda, and Bayfront Health Dade City. Collectively, these hospitals manage a significant volume of patient care, demonstrating their extensive reach and impact within the region.
About USF Health
USF Health embodies a vision for the future of health, uniting the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the Colleges of Nursing, Public Health, and Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is recognized as a top-tier research university nationally. For more information, please visit www.health.usf.edu. USF Health is committed to serving the healthcare needs of various usf health counties served through its diverse programs and partnerships.
Media Contacts:
Elena Mesa, Public Information Officer, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg [email protected] or (727) 893-6831
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications [email protected] or (813) 974-3303
Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications
