ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – Orlando Health is closing one of the two Brevard County hospitals it acquired last year after the previous owner filed for bankruptcy protection.
The hospital group announced Thursday it would close Rockledge Hospital, citing years of facility neglect and costly repairs.
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“This decision is necessary to ensure the safety of patients and team members,” Orlando Health officials said in its statement.
Steward Health Care sold Rockledge, Melbourne and Sebastian River hospitals to Orlando Health last year as it went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Court documents show the for-profit company, one of the largest in the country, was billions of dollars in debt.
The Orlando Health announcement said it was aware before buying Rockledge Hospital that it was in poor condition after years of neglect. The true extent, however, was discovered during inspections conducted after the acquisition.
“It was determined that the cost to repair and renovate Rockledge Hospital far exceeds the cost of a new, state-of-the-art hospital,” the Orlando Health announcement read.
The hospital group says plans are underway to find a site for a new hospital in Brevard County, along with other “sites of care.” It’s also set up a transition team to assist both patients and staff affected by the hospital’s closure.