Health Central, one of the last remaining independent hospitals in central Florida, has chosen to merge with Orlando Health, giving the Ocoee-based hospital financial support as well as a foothold in west Orange County, reports the Orlando Sentinel.
After the board of Health Central narrowed its pool of potential partners down to two systems, it voted, 13-3, to align with Orlando Health, beating out fellow contender Florida Hospital. The new partner operates seven hospitals in central Florida, including its flagship, Orlando Regional Medical Center.
As promised, Orlando Health will invest $120 million in Health Central during the next five years and expand cancer services and women's health services, bringing in doctors and staff from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center-Orlando and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. Florida Hospital had proposed a $100 million investment.
Officials at 171-bed Health Central emphasized that the next phase is to craft the terms of the merger, which could take up to six months, notes the Orlando Business Journal. But if negotiation plans fall through, Health Central will start over with Florida Hospital.
For more:
- read the Orlando Sentinel article
- here's the Orlando Business Journal article