John R. Harding has been named the President and CEO of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. Harding is an integral part of the newly-formed joint venture company between Adventist Health System and University Community Hospital in Tampa. The recent granting of a certificate of need paved the way for a new $121 million hospital in Pasco County.
“John is an experienced and highly capable chief executive,” said Mike Schultz, Regional Vice President of Florida Hospital Orlando. “During his 13 years of healthcare leadership experience in Florida, he has a proven history of building excellent relationships with physicians and the community he serves. His understanding of the importance of quality and patient safety will provide Florida Hospital Zephyrhills with solid leadership for continued growth and a positive impact in the community.”
About his departure Harding commented, “This community graciously welcomed my wife Carol and I. We will take with us life long friendships. It was not an easy decision to leave, but the Lord is leading me in a new direction.”
During the announcement to his staff, Harding stated, “It’s not me, it’s you, think of the magnitude of what we have accomplished here. The new President and CEO will inherit the best healthcare team around.” A smooth transition is expected and a new successor will be announced shortly.
Harding is a long-standing community leader serving as a Board Member for the SFCC Foundation, the Economic Development Commission, Y.M.C.A. and Samaritans’ Touch. He has given years of service to the Avon Park Noon Rotary, Junior Achievement, United Way, area Chambers of Commerce as well as several healthcare boards.
Harding served as president and CEO of Florida Hospital Heartland Division for ten years. In that position he oversaw the growth of the divisions three campus’ in Sebring, Lake Placid and Wauchula. These communities have benefited greatly from the visionary leadership of Harding.
During his first year Harding opened the Wound Care Center in Sebring. That year Florida Hospital Wauchula became the first Critical Access hospital in the state of Florida. In 1999 he cut the ribbon for a Cardiac Catherization Lab in Sebring. In 2000 Florida Hospital Lake Placid underwent major renovations and saw the addition of an Intensive Care unit. Also that year, Sebring witnessed major growth with the opening of the Center for Sleep Studies.
During his tenure, Harding oversaw three expansions to the Sebring Emergency Department and the addition of Fast Track Care, proving his dedication to meeting the needs of this growing community.
Most notable was Harding’s commitment to invest in the most advanced technology. In 2002, he brought the Heartland an unprecedented level of quality radiology services with the opening of the Seascape Imaging Outpatient Center and the addition of PACS, Picture Archive Communication Systems. Later he added a Mobile MRI to serve Lake Placid and Wauchula. He continued to expand technology and in 2005 opened a second location of the Seascape Imaging Outpatient Center in South Sebring.
In the last two years major financial commitments have been made with building of Sebring’s additional 36 patient rooms, the implementation of electronic medical records (iConnect), the opening of the Child Learning Center, the ground breaking of the new Medical Office Pavilion and most recently, the announcement of the new Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine.