Orlando Health acquires cardiology practice

continues its expansion, this time by acquiring

an independent practice in Central Florida.

The acquisition, which went into effect on Aug. 1, brings up the institute’s number of physicians to 56 and a total of 22 locations.

Among physicians joining Orlando Health are interventional cardiologists

and who have been practicing in Orlando, Eustis, Sebring and Okeechobee.

“By bringing together the practices, we build on our expertise and experience,” said Cindy Reed, assistant vice president, Orlando Health Heart Institute, in a news release. “For patients this means greater access to services, treatments, and specialized programs and centers.”

In brief

recently purchased 6.3 acres in Osceola County from Tupperware Services to add to its adjacent 14.3 property that houses an emergency room and medical pavilion.

“The additional land will enable Orlando Health to plan for the future health and wellness needs of Osceola County,” the health system said in a news release.

has opened a new office in St. Cloud on North Narcoossee Road, adding an 18th location to its primary care network.

who joins Nemours from the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, will be the lead physicians.

an affiliate of HCA Healthcare’s North Florida Division, has started transfusing whole blood to resuscitate patients with severe traumatic hemorrhage at its Level II Trauma Center. The initiative was led in part by

the trauma center’s medical director, who as a former trauma surgeon in the United States Navy, treated military personnel during deployments in Egypt, Afghanistan and Iraq.

, a national franchise specializing in providing skilled medical and non-medical home health care services, has new territory available in Central Florida, including St. Augustine, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, and the Orlando area and is looking for qualified franchise partners. The company, based in Chicago, began franchising in 2005, and has since grown to a $350 million system with more than 330 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Several federal grants were given to Central Florida agencies during July and August.

— The Department of Health and Human Services awarded more than $1 million to

Miami, which supports 30 health centers, including and

in Orlando to expand the use of health IT. The award was part of $42 million in funding to 49 Health Center Controlled Networks that support 1,180 federally-funded health centers.

— HHS also awarded more than $7 million to 42 Florida community health centers, rural organizations and academic institutions to combat the opioid crisis by expanding access to addiction treatment and mental health services. In Central Florida,

received received received $167,000 each.

— HHS awarded more than $4.6 million to 45 health centers in Florida to improve quality and efficiency of their health services. Locally,

$120,000, $81,000 and

$75,000. The epidemiology clinical and information technology team at the

received the 2019 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Award for work in addressing the hepatitis A outbreak. The team administered more than 4,000 doses of hepatitis A vaccine to high-risk populations, saving about $26 million in treatment and hospitalization costs, health officials said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed three new members to the Florida Board of Medicine, including

of Winter Park, a radiation oncologist at Florida Radiation Oncology. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

The state Agency for Health Care Administration issued orders, denying license renewal for

an assisted living facility in Orange County.

in Seminole County surrendered its license to the state. The state also terminated assistive care services in Orange County from Medicaid.

,a resident of Guardian Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, received the 2019 Joe Negron Resident of the Year award from the Florida Health Care Association for contributions to her community.