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.

Many Watson Clinic doctors will be on staff at the new Lakeland Highlands hospital when it opens in June 2026.

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 has filed for Chapter 11.

Medical Properties Trust claims that Steward did not properly follow bankruptcy procedures in agreeing to Orlando Health's bid for three Florida hospitals. Steward says MPT is interfering in the sales process.

The $910 million deal will make Orlando Health a managing partner in Brookwood Baptist Health, which includes five Birmingham-area hospitals, as well as affiliated physician practices and operations.

The program, which has resulted in fewer patient infections and readmission rates, is being expanded to Lake and Osceola counties.

Has the pollen been worse this year? Doctors think so and are seeing more cases of allergy complaints this year then before. Rain in the state's forecast may offer a brief respite.

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."