AdventHealth to build new freestanding ER

is building a freestanding ER and medical office building in Clermont at the intersection of S.R. 50 and Citrus Tower Blvd., less than a mile away from Orlando Health South Lake Hospital.

The hospital said the plan is in response to the rapidly-growing population in the area.

The ER will have 24 patient rooms and the twostory office building — dubbed health park — will feature primary and specialty care practices, imaging, outpatient sports medicine and rehab and lab services.

“Health parks represent a dramatic reimagining of the of the health-care experience,” said Dr. Scott Bradly, senior vice president of ambulatory services for the AdventHealth Central Florida Division, in a news release. “Based on extensive consumer research, AdventHealth health parks will offer our patients a much easier, more convenient experience to access the care they need.”

The hospital first introduced its plans to the City of Clermont in September and initially had plans for the southwest corner of the intersection.

The plan received some opposition from the public and South Lake Hospital.

One South Lake Hospital physician said “it’s not just irresponsible but it’s immoral,” to put a freestanding ER down the road from South Lake Hospital, “siphoning off patients” and taking advantage of “the most vulnerable patients” who are seeking care. Others said AdventHealth’s freestanding ER will duplicate services and create confusion.

But supporters said AdventHealth’s arrival will bring more choices to Clermont citizens, including those whose insurance only gives them in-network access to AdventHealth.

AdventHealth later shifted the project east of Paloma Road to avoid having to seek zoning waivers from the city, according to Orlando Sentinel’s sister publication, Growth Spotter. Its plans were uniformly approved by the Clermont City Council in January.

This is the health system’s seventh freestanding ER in Central Florida.

The facilities are to open in 2021. expected

in Ocoee is one of 786 hospitals in the nation to receive a 1% penalty from Medicare for having high rates of hospital-acquired complications, such as infections, according to an analysis by Kaiser Health News. The hospital has been penalized every year since 2018. No other hospital in the Orlando area received a penalty this year.

, an integrated group of independent primary care physicians and specialists in Central Florida, lowered its total cost of care by 6% as part of participation in

The two organizations have been working together to monitor ER use by patients and implement measures that would reduce hospital admissions and readmissions. The collaboration also resulted in about 8% lower hospital admissions, 6% fewer ER visits and 3.5% drop in hospital readmissions.

“By working cooperatively with Florida Blue in sharing data, resources and expertise, we have been able to provide a holistic, end-to-end continuum of care to the 16,000 Florida Blue members under our care,” said Dr. Memory Crowley, Primary Partners medical director, in a news release.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

awarded $2.1 million to

to help individuals and families with HIV/AIDS access medical care and support. The award is through the agency’s HIV Emergency Relief Program, which gives financial assistance to metro areas affected by the HIV epidemic. Nearly 10,000 individuals in Orange County live with HIV or AIDS. The Orlando region ranked 2nd in the country for the number of new HIV cases, according to the latest available data.

is building an 80-bed, $13-million facility on its Orlando campus. The new facility will open in September. HCI Design Associates is interior designer. McCree General Contractors and R.L. Burns are general contractors.

and have started a new residency program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at West Florida Hospital in Pensacola. The program, which has received initial accreditation is the UCF-HCA consortium’s 26th program in Florida, training more than 440 residents and fellows.

has named as vice president of quality and clinical transformation. He will be responsible for “working with senior leadership and physicians to deliver enhanced patient safety and quality medical care,” according to the health system. Ralls was the deputy county administrator and director of health and public safety for Orange County and played an integral role after the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

has brought on board an Orlando native and a graduate of Bishop Moore High School.