Verified findings edition · Bartow, Florida
BayCare ownership, hospital performance, nurse pay, expansion, executive compensation, contractors and community value. Research cutoff: August 30, 2026.
Public evidence depicts an expanding nonprofit hospital with positive historical finances, meaningful community benefit and favorable safety evidence. It does not publicly disclose Bartow nurse FTEs, night-shift coverage, a Bartow RN pay distribution or future SCP coverage for the expanded emergency department.
CMS showed three overall stars; the available mortality measures had no worse-than-national results, and BayCare reported a Spring 2026 Leapfrog A for Bartow. These hospital-wide measures do not prove every shift was adequately staffed.
Bartow reported $9.93 million across displayed 2024 Schedule H community-benefit categories, including $3.32 million in net financial assistance. Charity assistance, Medicaid shortfall and other categories remain distinct.
Bartow reported $127.20 million in 2024 revenue and $24.50 million in excess revenue over expenses. This Form 990 result is not a current audited operating margin or proof of unrestricted cash in 2026.
One 22-year ER charge nurse reported a $50.35 base rate and $58.26 with night and charge differentials. The base is above the 2025 regional all-RN median and P90, but it cannot establish Bartow's median or rule out senior-pay compression.
The announced $110 million project expands ED rooms from 16 to 43, licensed beds from 72 to 90 and ICU beds from six to 12, with additional step-down, surgical and diagnostic capacity. The latest reviewed report described phase two as under construction.
Public records support SCP Health as Bartow's emergency-medicine contractor and Onex as SCP's sponsor. That chain does not establish private-equity ownership of the hospital, causation of a staffing decision or the compensation of any particular physician.
| Measure | Verified public finding | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Bartow Regional Medical Center, Inc.; EIN 47-5387418; CCN 100121; Florida license 4428 | BayCare control began January 1, 2016 |
| Licensed beds | 72 in the reviewed 2026-2028 license | The planned 90 beds were not labeled operational |
| 2024 activity | 4,134 inpatients; 39,354 ED patients | Annual counts, not shift workload |
| Reported employees | 606 people employed during 2024 | Not FTEs, nurses or shift staffing |
| Area | Before | Announced total or addition |
|---|---|---|
| ED exam rooms | 16 | 43 total (+27) |
| Licensed hospital beds | 72 | 90 total (+18) |
| ICU beds | 6 | 12 total (+6) |
| Step-down beds | - | 12 new |
| Operating rooms | - | 2 new |
The expansion is substantial positive campus investment. No later opening notice was found by August 30, 2026, so the additional rooms and beds are described as announced or under construction, not all operational.
The PDF includes a larger selected source register. The complete internal investigation retains 118 source-ledger entries.
Published August 30, 2026. Historical records retain their original reporting periods. In an emergency, call 911 or use the nearest appropriate emergency department. This research is not advice to delay emergency care.