Tampa General Hospital (TGH) in Tampa, Florida, has partnered with Lakeside Medical Center to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare in the rural regions of Palm Beach County.

Under the partnership, TGH will provide operational management, administrative leadership and strategic support for Lakeside Medical Center in Belle Glade.

TGH's collaboration with the Health Care District’s public teaching hospital is an expansion of its existing network of providers and services in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.

The hospital's services in the region currently include cancer care, digestive health, primary care, kidney care, radiation oncology and general surgery.

Under a management and administrative services deal effective from 1 February, TGH is offering support to the medical centre to enhance its quality of care and bolster its clinical training, recruitment and retention, as well as improve its financial status.

Tampa General Hospital president and CEO John Couris said: “With this agreement, we’re extending the strategic, operational and clinical expertise we offer at Tampa General to support the leadership, providers and teams at Lakeside Medical Center and expand access to world-class care in the Glades.

“It’s the best of both worlds – high-quality care close to home.”

In conjunction with the deal, TGH has appointed Ron Doncaster as Lakeside Medical Center's business operations and integration vice-president.

In this role, Doncaster will lead operations, enable the integration of services and explore new programming and expansion opportunities.

Doncaster said: “Our number one goal is to meet the needs of the community.

“With improved delivery models and expanded access to specialists, we can elevate the level of care available in the community without losing the personal service only a local hospital can provide.”

TGH and Mass General Brigham recently announced a joint venture to develop a 10,000ft² radiation oncology centre in Palm Beach County.