WATCH: Health First Grows Emergency Care Network, Will Be Staffed 24/7 By Emergency Physicians and Clinical Team

HEALTH FIRST BREAKS GROUND ON BREVARD’S FIRST FREESTANDING EMERGENCY ROOM

ABOVE VIDEO: Health First, alongside City of Rockledge officials, has officially begun site preparation and is moving forward with construction of Brevard County’s first freestanding emergency room, marking a major expansion of local emergency care access.

“This new freestanding emergency room will bring emergency care closer to home for the people of Rockledge. It will bring relief to first responders who’ve had to stretch farther to serve this area. And it will bring renewed hope to our clinical teams because they’ll know they’re getting to patients faster.”

– Kesha Cummings, Health First Hospital Division Vice President of Emergency and Trauma Services.

BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – Health First and City of Rockledge officials gathered with over 200 healthcare and community leaders on a brisk Wednesday morning to officially break ground on Brevard County’s first freestanding emergency room in Rockledge, Florida.

Health First in May announced plans to accelerate construction of two new freestanding emergency rooms to help ensure residents continue to have reliable, 24/7 emergency care close to home.

Site preparation work has already officially commenced toward the construction of the new facility at 3300 S. Fiske Blvd. in Rockledge, which will include:

■ A modern, 12-bed freestanding emergency room, spanning approximately 13,500 sq. ft.

■ Fully equipped lab and imaging services, including CT, X-ray and ultrasound.

■ A three-bay low-acuity treatment area, dedicated triage room and two-bay ambulance entrance.

■ Full generator backup, capable of sustaining operations for up to 72 hours.

■ A Category 4–rated structure, designed to withstand winds up to 165 mph.

■ And most importantly, it will be staffed 24/7 by highly trained emergency physicians and clinical teams.

“For more than 30 years, Health First has served the people of Brevard with a commitment to meeting our community’s health care needs—and that includes being ready for the unexpected,” said Health First President and CEO Terry Forde.

“We’ve been planning to grow our emergency care network, and the timing could not be more critical for us to accelerate our plans. Our neighbors can count on us to step up and deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

“We are thrilled that Health First has chosen Rockledge as the site of a stand-alone emergency room facility,” said City of Rockledge Mayor Tom Price.

“This ER serves as a powerful step forward after the closure of the Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital last year. We are grateful for the partnership with Health First, and we applaud their commitment to the Rockledge and Cocoa communities.”

Health First has long planned for the creation of freestanding ERs in Brevard County as the population is projected to grow steadily into the next decade. However, based on the evolving needs of the community, particularly given the swift closure of Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital in April 2025, Health First has fast-tracked long-planned efforts to expand access to emergency care across Brevard County.

“When Rockledge lost its ER, those emergency needs didn’t disappear—they shifted to our other hospitals. Our teams across the county stepped up to meet that demand, absorbing more than 11,000 patients in our emergency departments. It hasn’t been easy, but through it all, they’ve responded with professionalism, grace, and compassion—never losing sight of the people and families at the center of every emergency,” said Mike Mullowney, president, Health First Hospital Division.

“This facility is being built for this community. It will ease pressure, restore balance, and allow our teams to continue delivering the timely, high-quality care they’re known for—closer to where patients live. Moments like this bring our vision to life – and this new ER is a powerful example of that commitment in action,” Mullowney continued.

“I’ve spent my career in emergency care, and I can tell you—every second counts. In an emergency, minutes can mean the difference between full recovery and a life changed forever. When Rockledge Hospital closed last year, that ‘golden window of time—where speed makes the biggest difference—got harder to reach. Families had to travel farther. First responders had longer transport times. And patients in crisis had to wait longer to get the care they needed,” said Kesha Cummings, RN, MSN, CENP, CEN, Hospital Division vice president of emergency and trauma services.

“This new freestanding emergency room will bring emergency care closer to home for the people of Rockledge. It will bring relief to first responders who’ve had to stretch farther to serve this area. And it will bring renewed hope to our clinical teams—because they’ll know they’re getting to patients faster,” Cummings continued.

Freestanding ERs deliver the same high-quality care found in hospital emergency departments—fully equipped and staffed around the clock by emergency physicians and trained care teams. Located in growing areas across the county, they help reduce travel times for patients and support faster treatment during critical moments. In addition to the Rockledge ER, Health First has embarked upon aggressive growth and expansion plans across the entire Space Coast – including plans for a second freestanding ER in the south end of the county near Palm Bay.

“We’re moving quickly but carefully,” said Keila Stradtner, Health First system vice president for facilities construction and real estate. We want the community to know that these emergency departments have been in the works—and we’re accelerating our efforts to meet the moment and ensure every resident has access to safe, timely care. We are proud to work hand-in-hand with city and county leaders, emergency responders, construction partners, and residents to expand access to high-quality emergency care for all of Brevard County.”

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