Orlando Health Announces April 22 Closure of Rockledge Hospital Amid Facility Concerns

Hospital had a rich history in Brevard County dating to its establishment in December 1941

BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – Orlando Health has announced plans to close its recently acquired Rockledge Hospital on April 22, citing its deteriorating condition and prohibitive repair costs.

In a statement, Ohme Entin, Senior Vice President of Orlando Health East Region, emphasized the organization’s commitment to the community and revealed plans to construct a new hospital in Brevard County. However, specific details regarding the timeline and location have not been disclosed.

“When we acquired Rockledge Hospital last fall, the organization was aware that the facility was in poor condition and did not meet our standards for patient care environments,” said Entin.

“Following in-depth inspections that could only occur after the acquisition, it was determined that the cost to repair and renovate the Rockledge Hospital property far exceeds the cost of a new, state-of-the-art hospital. To ensure the safety of our patients and team members, we have decided to close the hospital on April 22.”

Upon closure, the Rockledge facility will be demolished, and the land will be sold for redevelopment. Orlando Health is also evaluating the future use of other properties surrounding the hospital.

Employees affected by the closure are being offered positions at other Orlando Health locations.

The organization assures all Rockledge Hospital employees in good standing and open to relocation or commuting are guaranteed positions within the system.

Orlando Health acquired Rockledge Hospital, along with Melbourne Regional Medical Center and Sebastian River Medical Center, from Steward Health Care in October 2024. The $439 million deal also included related physician practices.

Wuesthoff Health System, which consisted of Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge and Wuesthoff Medical Center-Melbourne, was sold to Steward Health Care in 2017.

Health First Stresses Commitment and Mission to Community

Health First‘s new 268,000-square-foot Cape Canaveral Hospital is under construction in Central Brevard County and will include 120 private inpatient beds, 25 Emergency Department treatment rooms, and six Operating Rooms.

The project also includes a new 3-story, 92,000-square-foot Medical Office Building. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2026 and begin serving our community in early 2027—simultaneously with the new Cape Canaveral Hospital.

“Today’s announcement comes as neither a shock nor a surprise, as we—like the community—have long understood the physical challenges present within the facility, making it difficult to provide safe and accessible care to patients. We are examining all options to minimize impacts to our patients and community,” said Health First spokesman Lance Skelly.

“For 30 years, Health First has been Brevard County’s largest healthcare provider and one of the largest employers in the region. We look forward to continuing to grow and serve the Space Coast—as the region also continues to grow. We continue our commitment and mission to providing safe, accessible, high-quality care to the hundreds of thousands of residents, businesses, and visitors who call on us each and every year.

“As the Space Coast community continues its rapid development and expansion, this region will absolutely require a strong health care network that will grow with and meet those future needs and demands. We are ahead of schedule with our construction of the new Cape Canaveral Hospital and Medical Office Building in Merritt Island with a targeted open date of early 2027. The land is cleared, the foundation has been laid, and walls are already being erected.

“In addition, we are finalizing details to construct and open two new free-standing emergency departments in Brevard County by 2027. As our community continues to grow, the need for accessible, high-quality emergency care has never been more critical. These new facilities will help ensure that residents have convenient access to the care they need, close to home. We look forward to sharing more details about this exciting endeavor in the coming weeks.

“And as we announced in December, Health First has expanded its First Flight Air Ambulance program with a second full-time helicopter. The new helicopter and crew will be stationed in the northern tier of Brevard County, while the original aircraft and crew will remain in Melbourne, covering the southern tier and parts of Indian River County.

“And with the collaboration and addition of Parrish Healthcare to our Health Plan, we are excited to see membership growth across the northern county and are looking for even more ways to collaborate with Parrish.

“While changes like these are never easy, Health First remains deeply committed to improving the health and wellness of our community. Our focus has always been — and will continue to be — to put patients first by providing safe, accessible, and high-quality care. As Brevard County grows, we are dedicated to evolving with it, ensuring that every family has the care they need, close to home,” said Skelly.

END OF AN ERA

Wuesthoff Hospital had a rich history in Brevard County dating to its establishment on December 15, 1941.

The hospital was founded as a 10-bed, private, not-for-profit facility, made possible by a $12,500 donation from the heirs of Eugene Wuesthoff, a Milwaukee resident who wintered in Rockledge and envisioned a hospital for the community.

This generous contribution was contingent upon matching funds from the local community, which were successfully raised through a campaign organized by the Greater Cocoa Chamber of Commerce. Over 500 residents contributed.

Dr. Robert Schlernitzauer, the mayor of Rockledge at the time, persuaded the City Council to donate land from the former golf course of the Indian River Hotel as the hospital’s site.

In 2002, Wuesthoff Health System expanded by opening a second facility, Wuesthoff Medical Center-Melbourne, to serve the healthcare needs of south Brevard County and compete with the growing not-for-profit healthcare system Health First, which was formed in 1995 and included at the time of Holmes Regional Medical Center, Cape Canaveral Hospital and Palm Bay Hospital.

Wuesthoff Health System has undergone significant ownership changes over the years. In 2010, Health Management Associates, Inc. acquired the System, which included both the Rockledge and Melbourne hospitals.

Later, in 2017, Steward Health Care LLC purchased the system, integrating it into their network of community hospitals.

Following this acquisition, the hospitals were rebranded; Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge became Rockledge Regional Medical Center, and Wuesthoff Medical Center-Melbourne was renamed Melbourne Regional Medical Center.

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