Orlando Health

The Brevard community expresses disappointment after Orlando Health, citing poor conditions and neglect, shuttered the hospital, which it bought during Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy last year.

Orlando Health has taken over day-to-day operations in the five Birmingham facilities after paying a reported $910 million. The system remains a faith-based organization with Tenet as a partner.

Ownership of the five hospitals were transferred to Steward's landlord and are being run by an interim manager. The court also approved Orlando Health's purchase of three Steward hospitals in the Space Coast region.

A bankruptcy judge is scheduled to hold a hearing Sept. 10 on the bid to purchase three Florida hospitals owned by Steward Health, which filed for Chapter 11.

Judge Christopher Lopez’s order acknowledges that Orlando Health is a qualified bidder and its $439 million offer is a qualified first bid for the medical centers in Brevard and Indian River counties.

The agreement includes Rockledge Regional Medical Center and Melbourne Regional Medical Center, both in Brevard County, and Sebastian River Medical Center in Indian River County.

Dr. Mandy Cohen spoke with Orlando health leaders as part of her tour of the country's local health facilities. Her message: "We all need to keep working as a team."

State officials say there is no outbreak in the region. The cases were made public days after the Florida Department of Health reported its 10th case since mid-February.

The multiyear agreement was reached just before the deadline. According to UnitedHealthcare, negotiations stalled due to a disagreement over Medicare Advantage and Medicaid contracts.

There's still not a lot of data available as to why some people get long COVID and others don't.

Orlando Health is launching an at-home treatment service for certain patients in the east Orlando area.

Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital is slated for the Wiregrass Ranch community in Wesley Chapel, just north of Tampa. An opening date has not been announced.