Dozens of local business professionals and politicians were in attendance for the official opening of The Villages Regional Hospital’s Joint Institute on Wednesday.
Located on the third floor of the hospital, the new branch services a wide array of joint ailments, including replacement surgeries.
“You may wonder why I’m here: I’m not just a pretty face. I had both knees replaced here and it was a great service,” said Lady Lake Mayor Jim Richards of his experience with the institute.
Staff indicated that the vision for the Joint Institute was born out of necessity over a year and a half ago.
In addition to Mayor Richards, Congressman Daniel Webster, Florida Representative Don Hahnfeldt, and Wildwood Commissioner Joe Elliot, as well as a couple of Villages supervisors, helped bring in the new hospital wing.
All attendees were treated to tours of the new facility, where staff showed off the new machines and individual rooms for future patients.
