{{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox hospital | name = AdventHealth Wauchula | org_group = AdventHealth | image = | caption = | logo = AdventHealth Wauchula logo.svg | logo_size = | location = 735 South 5th Avenue | region = Wauchula | state = Florida | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|27|32|22|N|81|48|26|W|region:US-FL|display=it}} | healthcare = Private hospital | funding = Non-profit hospital<ref name=profile/> | type = General hospital<ref name=profile/> | religious_affiliation = Seventh-day Adventist Church | affiliation = | standards = Joint Commission<ref name=profile/> | emergency = Yes<ref name=profile/> | beds = 25<ref name=profile/> | speciality = | helipad = No | former_names = Hardee Memorial Hospital<br>Florida Hospital Wauchula | constructed = 1968 and May 31, 2016 | opened = 1970 and December 21, 2017 | closed = 1992 | demolished = | website = {{URL|https://www.adventhealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-wauchula}} | other_links = }}
'''Adventist Health System-Sunbelt, Inc.''' (doing business as '''AdventHealth Wauchula''')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1457458986|title=Provider Information for 1457458986|website=NPI Registry|access-date=February 12, 2026}}</ref> is a non-profit hospital in Wauchula, Florida, United States owned by AdventHealth. The medical facility is a critical access hospital and a statutory rural hospital.<ref name=profile>{{Cite web|url=https://quality.healthfinder.fl.gov/Facility-Provider/Profile/?LID=10041|title=AdventHealth Wauchula|website=FloridaHealthFinder|access-date=April 22, 2025}}</ref> In 1988, the hospital received national attention after it was revealed that two babies were switched at birth there in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2019/09/08/switched-at-birth-in-1988-southwest-florida-calamity-drew-national-attention/2781549007/|title=Switched at birth: In 1988, a Southwest Florida calamity drew national attention|date=September 8, 2019|newspaper=Sarasota Herald Tribune|access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/kim-mays-biological-family-involved-switched-birth-scandal/story?id=67303922|title=Kim Mays, biological family involved in switched-at-birth scandal, custody battle describe navigating troubled times|last=Effron|first=Lauren|last2=Muldofsky|first2=Peri|date=November 27, 2019|website=ABC News|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref> In 2019, AdventHealth Wauchula received a bomb threat that forced it to evacuate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay28.com/news/region-desoto-highlands-hardee/bomb-threat-prompts-evacuation-at-adventhealth-hospital-in-wauchula|title=Bomb threat prompts evacuation at AdventHealth Hospital in Hardee County|date=November 8, 2019|website=Tampa Bay 28|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mysuncoast.com/2019/11/08/both-scenes-are-now-clear-hardee-county/|title=Hospital in Hardee County evacuated following bomb threat|date=November 8, 2019|website=WWSB|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref>
==History== In 1968, construction began on the first hospital in Wauchula, Florida. In 1970, Hardee Memorial Hospital opened.<ref name=history>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theheraldadvocate.com/news/adventhealth-wauchula-hosts-party-honoring-30th-anniversary/article_1474c152-a761-11ef-a34e-efbf05cc40aa.html|title=AdventHealth Wauchula Hosts Party Honoring 30th Anniversay|date=November 20, 2024|newspaper=The Herald-Advocate|access-date=April 15, 2025}}</ref> In late July 1992, hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the United States Bankruptcy Court in Tampa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/07/31/baby-swap-hospital-files-for-bankruptcy|title=Baby-swap hospital files for bankruptcy|last=Stengle|first=Bernice|last2=Good|first2=Jeffrey|date=July 31, 1992|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1992/08/01/hospital-in-the-baby-swap-case-files-for-bankruptcy/|title=Hospital In The Baby-swap Case Files For Bankruptcy|date=August 1, 1992|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref> The Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection had nothing to do with the baby-swap incident.<ref name=babysettlement>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1992/9/22/19006094/hospital-swaps-6-6-million-to-settle-baby-switch-suit/|title=Hospital Swaps $6.6 Million To Settle Baby-Switch Suit|date=September 22, 1992|newspaper=Deseret News|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref> Also in July 1992, the only physician who worked at the hospital quit their job and the medical facility closed later that month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/09/14/the-hospital-in-the-country-has-fallen-ill/|title=The hospital in the country has fallen ill|last=Stengle|first=Bernice|last2=Bell|first2=Beverly|date=September 14, 1992|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref> When the hospital closed it had been going by the name Crest Medical Center.<ref name=history/> In 1994, Adventist Health System had reopened it as Walker Memorial Hospital Wauchula.<ref name=history/>
On May 31, 2016, there was a groundbreaking for a new hospital.<ref name=history/> The new {{convert|50000|sqfoot}} facility was being built on U.S. Route 17 for $32 million about {{convert|0.75|mi|km}} to the northeast. It would have twenty-five beds, a fifteen bed emergency department and extensive therapy rooms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highlandstoday.com/hi/local-news/florida-hospital-breaks-ground-for-new-facility-in-wauchula-20160627/|title=Florida Hospital breaks ground for new facility in Wauchula|date=June 27, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628143911/http://www.highlandstoday.com/hi/local-news/florida-hospital-breaks-ground-for-new-facility-in-wauchula-20160627/ |archive-date=2016-06-28 }} .</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/capital/florida-hospital-wauchula-breaks-ground-on-32m-hospital.html|title=Florida Hospital Wauchula breaks ground on $32M hospital|date=June 27, 2016|website=Becker's Hospital Review|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref> On December 21, 2017, Florida Hospital Wauchula opened.<ref name=history/> In 2018, the Hardee County Industrial Development Authority purchased the old location for $2 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theheraldadvocate.com/news/demolition-of-old-hospital-set-to-cost-436-000/article_c70ef6b4-82e3-482e-bc78-02dd33009a91.html|title=Demolition Of Old Hospital Set To Cost $436,000|last=Kelly|first=Michael|date=March 19, 2025|newspaper=The Herald-Advocate|access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>
On January 2, 2019, Florida Hospital Wauchula rebranded to AdventHealth Wauchula.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/flagler/2019/01/02/florida-hospital-is-now-adventhealth/6400897007/|title=Florida Hospital is now AdventHealth|last=Ross|first=Nikki|date=January 2, 2019|newspaper=The Daytona Beach News-Journal|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://floridatrend.com/article/26099/florida-hospital-is-now-adventhealth|title=Florida Hospital is now AdventHealth|date=January 2, 2019|magazine=Florida Trend|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref> On November 8, the hospital received a bomb threat forcing it to evacuate all of its patients and employees. First responders from Desoto County, Hardee County, Highlands County, Manatee County, Polk County, Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission all responded to a 911 call from the hospital. But they could not find a bomb in the facility.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/all-clear-given-after-bomb-threat-forced-evacuations-at-wauchula-advent-health|title=All-clear given after bomb threat forced evacuations at Wauchula Advent Health|date=November 8, 2019|website=WTVT|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/crime/investigators-look-into-multiple-bomb-threats/67-4400d822-8436-4c9e-bd5d-87c395b69124|title=Patients evacuated from hospital after bomb threat; radio station also threatened|date=November 8, 2019|website=WTSP|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/hardee-county/bomb-threats-to-hospital-and-radio-station-being-investigated-in-hardee-county/|title=Bomb threats to hospital and radio station being investigates in Hardee County|date=November 8, 2019|website=WFLA-TV|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref>
On January 1, 2021, all hospitals were required to have their chargemaster on its website by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.<ref name=chargemaster>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay28.com/news/local-news/new-report-shows-tampa-bay-hospitals-not-following-medical-bill-transparency-law|title=New report shows Tampa Bay hospitals not following medical transparency law|date=February 23, 2022|website=Tampa Bay 28|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref> In a 2022, survey most hospitals in Florida, including AdventHealth Wauchula, were found to have failed to comply with the Hospital Price Transparency Law;<ref name=chargemaster/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://health.wusf.usf.edu/health-news-florida/2022-08-12/report-shows-majority-of-florida-hospitals-are-not-complying-with-the-federal-price-transparency-law|title=Report shows majority of Florida hospitals are not complying with the federal price transparency law|last=Miller|first=Daylina|date=August 12, 2022|website=Health News Florida|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref> the hospital came into full compliance with the law in February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.cim/news/health/2023/02/10/florida-tampa-bay-hospitals-care-costs-prices-services|title=Find out if Tampa Bay hospitals are hiding costs of medical care|last=Chavez|first=Juan|date=February 10, 2023|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref>
==Baby-swap incident and aftermath== In December 1978, babies Arlena Twigg and Kimberly Michelle May, were born at Hardee Memorial Hospital, they were inadvertently switched, unknown to their parents at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/11/23/facing-facts-how-dad-told-girl-she-wasnt-his/|title=Facing Facts: How Dad Told Girl She Wasn't His|date=November 23, 1989|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref>
In early September 1988, Ernest and Regina Twigg of Sebring, Florida, filed a lawsuit against Hardee Memorial Hospital and four of its employees in a United States District Court in Tampa for $100 million.<ref name=babyswitch>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/09/08/wrong-tot-suit-hinges-on-genetic-fingerprint/|title=Wrong-Tot Suit Hinges On Genetic 'Fingerprint'|date=September 8, 1988|newspaper=The Morning Call|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name=twigg>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/22/us/nine-years-after-births-fbi-investigates-baby-swap-case.html|title=Nine Years After Births, F.B.I. Investigates Baby Swap Case|date=September 22, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name=hardeelawsuit>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1989/11/20/18833161/tests-prove-babies-were-swapped/|title=Tests Prove Babies Were Swapped|date=November 20, 1989|newspaper=Deseret News|access-date=July 26, 2024}}</ref> They did this after a genetic test on Arlena, before she died in August 1988 from a congenital heart defect, revealed that she was not their daughter.<ref name=babyswitch/><ref name=hardeelawsuit/> The Twiggs asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate Hardee Memorial Hospital, which they did, finding that no federal crime had been committed.<ref name=babyswitch/><ref name=twigg/><ref name=hardeelawsuit/>
In 1989, the Twiggs filed a lawsuit against Robert Mays of Sarasota, Florida to seek custody of Kimberly Mays; after almost a year they agreed to drop their custody lawsuit if a genetic test was done on Kimberly. Originally Robert Mays had refused to submit Kimberly to a genetic test.<ref name=genetictest>{{Cite web|url=https://www.postbulletin.com/tests-confirm-10-year-old-mix-up|title=Tests confirm 10-year-old-mix-up|date=November 20, 1989|newspaper=Post-Bulletin|access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref><ref name=genetictest2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/11/20/tests-prove-wrong-couple-got-kimberly/|title=Tests Prove Wrong Couple Got Kimberly|date=November 20, 1989|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref> When the genetic test was carried out on Robert and Kimberly by Johns Hopkins University, it found that Kimberly was, to 99.9 percent probability, the daughter of the Twiggs.<ref name=hardeelawsuit/><ref name=genetictest/><ref name=genetictest2/>
In 1991, Hardee Memorial Hospital agreed to settle the lawsuit for $3.5 million to $7 million.<ref name=babysettlement/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/07/30/7-million-ends-baby-swap-suit/|title=$7-million ends baby swap suit|last=Good|first=Jeffrey|last2=Wolfe|first2=Debbie|date=July 30, 1991|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1991/09/28/the-twigg-settlement/|title=The Twigg Settlement|date=September 28, 1991|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref> Also in late August 1992, the hospital agreed to settle a lawsuit by Robert Mays and daughter Kimberly Mays for $6.6 million.<ref name=babysettlement/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/08/19/hospital-father-in-baby-swap-seetle-suit/|title=Hospital, father in baby-swap settle suit|last=Vielmetti|first=Bruce|date=August 19, 1992|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref> The money would be paid out from the Florida Patient's Compensation Fund, which was created by Florida hospitals to pay for lawsuits by patients.<ref name=babysettlement/>
In late August 1993, Kimberly Mays successfully divorced the Twiggs, when Circuit Judge Stephen Dakan refused to order her to see them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nytimes.com/1993/08/19/us/florida-girl-14-wins-right-not-to-see-biological-family.html|title=Florida Girl, 14, Wins Right Not to See Biological Family|last=Rohter|first=Larry|date=August 19, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-19-mn-25418-story.html|title=Court Will Not Force Girl to See Birth Parents|last=Harrison|first=Eric|date=August 19, 1993|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref> In late November 1993, the Twiggs asked for a criminal probe into the baby-swap.<ref name=polygraph>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-25-mn-60713-story.html|title=Parents Ask Criminal Probe In Florida Baby Swap Case|date=November 25, 1993|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1993/11/25/19078427/criminal-probe-sought-in-claim-of-baby-swap/|title=Criminal Probe Sought In Claim Of Baby Swap|date=November 25, 1993|newspaper=Deseret News|via=Associated Press|access-date=July 26, 2024}}</ref> They did this after Patsy Webb, a former nurses' aid from Hardee Memorial Hospital, had said that a physician told her to switch Arlena and Kimberly. And that she had refused the request of the physician and that the following day they had been switched.<ref name=talltale>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/11/24/florida-nurses-aide-tells-of-1978-baby-swap/487e2577-7849-4afe-ae09-c929c7a2057a/|title=Florida Nurse's Aide Tells Of 1978 Baby Swap|date=November 23, 1993|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 26, 2024}}</ref> Later Robert May had been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and took a polygraph test, which he passed.<ref name=polygraph/>
No criminal probe was planned, since the claim by Patsy Webb was considered a tall tale.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/11/30/no-probe-planned-into-baby-swap-tale/|title=No probe planned into baby swap tale|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 26, 2024}}</ref> During the custody hearing for Kimberly, Webb said in court that she knew nothing of the switch.<ref name=talltale/>
In March 1994, Kimberly Mays ran away from home and was found later by Sarasota police at the YMCA, she later moved in with the Twiggs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/03/us/girl-in-custody-dispute-leaves-the-father-she-fought-to-be-with.html|title=Girl in Custody Dispute Leaves the Father She Fought|date=March 3, 1994|newspaper=The New York Times|via=Associated Press|access-date=July 29, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-10-mn-32324-story.html|title=Kimberly Mays Moves in With Birth Parents: Family Teen-ager switched as newborn asks to stay with couple she told court she never wanted to see again. 'Personal difficulties' cited.|last=Clary|first=Mike|date=March 10, 1994|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/03/10/kim-mays-moves-in-with-parents-she-divorced/|title=Kim Mays moves in with parents she 'divorced'|last=Murphy|first=Chuck|last2=Christian|first2=Nichole|last3=Good|first3=Jeffrey|date=March 10, 1994|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref> In early May 1994, the Twiggs, Robert Mays and Kimberly were back in the courtroom of Circuit Judge Stephen Dakan. He overturned his August 1993 decision, granting both the Twiggs and Robert Mays guardianship of Kimberly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/15/us/judge-finalizes-parent-switch-by-florida-girl.html|title=Judge Finalizes Parent Switch By Florida Girl|date=May 15, 1994|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/05/15/judge-signs-order-giving-kim-mays-three-guardians/|title=Judge signs order giving Kim Mays three guardians|date=May 15, 1994|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref>
==Awards and recognitions== AdventHealth Wauchula received from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a five-star rating from 2020 to 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/the-407-hospitals-with-5-stars-from-cms/|title=The 407 hospitals with 5 stars from CMS|last=Vaidya|first=Anuja|date=January 29, 2020|magazine=Becker's Clinical Leadership|access-date=May 26, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/rankings-and-ratings/455-hospitals-with-5-stars-from-cms-2021/|title=455 hospitals with 5 stars from CMS: 2021|last=Bean|first=Mackenzie|last2=Masson|first2=Gabrielle|date=April 29, 2021|magazine=Becker's Hospital Review|access-date=May 26, 2026}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Seventh-day Adventist hospitals *Switched at Birth (1991 film)
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay28.com/news/region-desoto-highlands-hardee/hospital-angel-91-year-old-volunteer-logs-more-than-50-000-hours-at-adventhealth-wauchula|title=Hospital angel: 91-year-old volunteer logs more than 50,000 hours at AdventHealth Wauchula|last=Daly|first=Sean|website=Tampa Bay 28|date=November 13, 2019|access-date=July 29, 2024|ref=none}} *{{Cite web|url=https://midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/highlands_health/adventhealth-wauchula-celebrates-new-mural-wellness-trail-and-prayer-garden/article_a0f592d8-9839-11ee-b137-47881537e838.html|title=AdventHealth Wauchula celebrates new mural, Wellness Trail and Prayer Garden|newspaper=Highlands News-Sun|date=December 20, 2023|access-date=July 25, 2024|ref=none}}
==External links== *{{Official website}} *[https://data.montgomeryadvertiser.com/hospital-ratings/detail/adventhealth-wauchula/fl/101300/ AdventHealth Wauchula] Montgomery Advertiser *[https://data.usatoday.com/hospital-capacity/facility/adventhealth-wauchula/101300/ AdventHealth Wauchula (Wauchula, FL)] USA Today *[https://hospitalcompare.io/profile/adventhealth-wauchula-fl AdventHealth Wauchula] HospitalCompare *[https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/hospital/101300/view-all?city=Arcadia&state=FL&zipcode=34266 Adventhealth Wauchula] Medicare.gov
{{Portal bar|Christianity|Florida|Medicine}} {{AdventHealth}} {{authority control}}
Category:1970 establishments in Florida Category:2017 establishments in Florida Category:AdventHealth Category:Buildings and structures in Hardee County, Florida Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1970 Category:Hospital buildings completed in 2017 Category:Hospitals established in 1970 Category:Hospitals established in 2017 Category:Hospitals in Florida