TAMPA POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE SECOND SUSPECT. A LAKELAND HOSPITAL RANKS NO. 1 IN THE COUNTRY FOR EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS. THAT'S A STAGGERING STATISTIC WHEN YOU STOP TO THINK ABOUT IT. LAKELAND REGIONAL HEALTH TOPPED THAT LIST BY A LONG SHOT. NEWS CHANNEL 8'S MELISSA MARINO IS IN LAKELAND TO SHOW US WHAT THAT MEANS. Reporter: JUST TO GIVE YOU A BETTER IDEA, MORE PEOPLE WALK INTO THESE EMERGENCY ROOM DOORS THAN AN ANY OTHER — THAN ANY OTHER HOSPITAL IN THE NATION AND NOW WE'RE GETTING A GLIMPSE INTO WHY. WITHIN MINUTES OF SITTING OUTSIDE LAKELAND REGIONAL HEALTH'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, YOU CAN SEE IT'S A BUSY PLACE. [ SIRENS ]. Reporter: IN FACTS, IT'S THE BUSIEST.
THE HOSPITAL LOGGING MORE THAN 217,000 ER VISITS IN A YEAR. RANKED NO. 1 IN A SURVEY FOR THE MOST ER VISITS IN THE U.S. FOR 2016. ONE THEORY? IF YOU THINK ABOUT A LARGE METROPOLITAN AREA, THERE'S TYPICALLY SEVERAL LARGE HOSPITALS OR SEVERAL HOSPITALS IN A BIG CITY. WITH LAKELAND, WE'RE THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE OFFER A VERY DIVERSE ARRAY OF SERVICES, SO IT PULLED A LOT OF VOLUME FROM OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. WITH MY SITUATION I HAVE TO COME BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE.
Reporter: FOR SOME PATIENTS GOING TO THE ER IS THEIR ONLY OPTION. YOU COME HERE AND MAKE PAYMENTS? RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO. I HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON MY VISITS. WE DO KNOW OF POLK'S POPULATION OF AROUND 640,000 THERE'S ABOUT 100,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE UNINSURED. ALSO, 20% OF OUR POPULATION IS 65 AND OLDER. Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, POLK COUNTY ALSO HAS A SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS. WE'RE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SHORTAGE AREA FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THE ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE IS A NATIONAL ISSUE. Reporter: BUT FOR THE HOSPITAL, THERE'S A SILVER LINING. THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PATIENTS CHALLENGE THEM TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT. WE HAVE EXPERT COMING FROM EVERYWHERE TO SEE HOW WE PROVIDE QUALITY OF CARE. Reporter: WE HAVE THE ENTIRE LIST OF HOSPITALS AND.
