Orlando Health is a private, not-for-profit network of community and specialty hospitals in Florida, Alabama, and Puerto Rico. Based in Orlando, Florida, Orlando Health is Central Florida’s fourth-largest employer with nearly 29,000 employees and more than 4,500 affiliated physicians. It is the second-largest health system in Florida. Its flagship hospital, Orlando Regional Medical Center, is home to Central Florida’s only Level I trauma center.
History Local leaders and physicians began meeting with the hospital commission of the Orlando Board of Trade in 1916 to plan a new hospital. Fundraising for the first full-service hospital in the county was organized by some of Orlando’s most prominent physicians, including Dr. C. D. Christ, Dr. John McEwan, Dr. Gaston Edwards, and Dr. J.B. Callahan, the only African-American doctor in Orlando. James LeRoy Giles, mayor of Orlando from 1916 to 1920, gave $1,000 to the building committee and led the hospital association. Orlando Health began serving its first patients when Orange General Hospital opened its doors in November 1918. When constructed, the four-story hospital included a ward for Black residents, separate wards for men and women on the first floor, and private rooms on the second floor. By 1923, the hospital had 102 beds and also featured a training school for nurses.
On Memorial Day 1946, Orange General Hospital was renamed to Orange Memorial Hospital to honor the soldiers who died in World War II, along with the institution’s founders. In 1951, Orange Memorial became one of Florida’s earliest teaching hospitals, welcoming medical students specializing in urology, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery.
The other predecessor to Orlando Health, Holiday Hospital, opened in 1950 with 17 beds. The name was borrowed from Holiday House, a smaller facility that had specialized in caring for children with rheumatic heart disease since 1939. By 1971, Holiday Hospital grew to 265 beds and became known for specialties in glaucoma detection and speech and hearing impediments. Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is now located where Holiday Hospital once stood.
In 1977, Orange Memorial and Holiday consolidated to form the new Orlando Regional Medical Center. The Orange Memorial Hospital building was demolished in 1994.
In 1984, the Air Care Team was formed, providing scene and interfacility air transport to the Central Florida area.
In 1985, ORMC opened Sand Lake Hospital, now known as Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital. This was the first Orlando Health hospital built outside of its downtown Orlando campus.
In 1989, ORMC opened the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women.
In 1991, the original Orange Memorial Hospital buildings were torn down. In its place ORMC embarked on a $66 million expansion of its downtown Orlando campus.
In 1992, ORMC changed its corporate name to Orlando Regional Healthcare System to reflect the growing network of facilities. That same year, ORHS began co-owning South Seminole Hospital with Healthtrust. In 1997, ORHS purchased a 49% share in Leesburg Regional Medical Center.
In 2006, ORHC opened Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. When Winnie Palmer opened, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, which was designed to handle 6,500 deliveries annually, had more than 12,000 births the previous year, making it the third busiest hospital for births in the U.S.
In October 2007, ORHC and University of Central Florida College of Medicine signed a partnership, to have medical students continue their education with the hospital network. In November 2019, the partnership came to an end when the medical school agreed to become a part owner of a teaching hospital with HCA Healthcare.
In 2008, the system was rebranded to change the corporate name of the organization from Orlando Regional Healthcare to Orlando Health.
In 2011, Orlando Health began a major $300 million expansion project at Orlando Regional Medical Center that included the construction of a new North Tower housing cardiac care, neurology, trauma ICU, and inpatient rehabilitation. The project also renovated the hospital’s South Tower.
In 2016, Orlando Health was thrust into the international spotlight following the mass shooting at the nearby PULSE nightclub as the closest trauma center. In less than 12 hours, surgeons at ORMC operated on 26 victims.
In 2020, the tiniest baby to ever survive at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies went home after six months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Baby Diana — born at 22 weeks weighing only 12 ounces and going home weighing over 7 pounds — joined a group of only 10 babies in the world recorded to have survived at her size and gestational age.
In 2021, the Orlando Health Foundation received its largest-ever gift, a $5 million gift to expand the Level One Trauma Center at ORMC. The gift from the donor, who chose to remain anonymous, increased surge capacity, which was a need recognized following the Pulse nightclub tragedy in 2016.
In October 2022, Orlando Health partnered with Doctors’ Center Hospitals to operate a 105-bed hospital in Dorado, Puerto Rico. In July 2023, the partnership expanded to include hospitals in San Juan, Bayamón, Manatí and Carolina and an ambulatory diagnostic and treatment center in Arecibo.
In August 2023, Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Hospital opened in downtown Orlando. It is the first orthopedic hospital in Florida.
On August 5, 2024, crossing state lines, Orlando Health agreed to purchase the majority stake in Birmingham-based Brookwood Baptist Health held by Tenet Healthcare, thus expanding Orlando Health’s presence in Alabama. The proposed deal would retain Baptist Health System as a partner.
n January 2025, Orlando Health opened a new hospital in Lake Mary to replace Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital in Longwood.
In March 2025, Orlando Health announced a collaboration with Watson Clinic to open Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital in June 2026. When it opens it will have 69 emergency and 18 intensive care beds, 11 operating rooms, four cardiac suites and a birthing center with eight labor and delivery rooms, with a 12-bed neonatal intensive care unit debuting shortly after opening.
, Orlando Health is developing the Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, which is expected to open in 2026 in Wesley Chapel.
Mergers and acquisitions In March 1977, Orange Memorial and Holiday Hospital merged to form Orlando Regional Medical Center, creating efficiencies by eliminating duplicated services and equipment between the two hospitals.
In 1997, Orlando Regional Healthcare System acquired a 49 percent share in Leesburg Regional Medical Center.
In 1992, Orlando Health acquired South Seminole Hospital, its first hospital in Seminole County.
In 1995, South Lake Hospital became affiliated with Orlando Health. The hospital became fully integrated with OH in 2019.
In 1999, Orlando Regional Healthcare System purchased Lucerne Hospital to streamline care and relieve overcrowding at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
In 2011, Orlando Health purchased Health Central Hospital in Ocoee. The purchase also included Health Central Park, a 228-bed nursing facility.
In 2013, Orlando Health acquired Physician Associates, one of the largest multispecialty practices in Central Florida. Two years later, OHPA acquired Pediatric Associates of Orlando, one of the region’s first pediatric practices.
In 2020, Orlando Health acquired Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic, later known as Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute (OHJOI). Orlando Health also finalized its purchase of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center in 2020.
In 2022, the Colon and Rectal Clinic of Orlando joined Orlando Health to create the Orlando Health Colon and Rectal Institute after more than 40 years of partnership.
Tampa Bay region In June 2020, Community Health Systems announced it would sell St. Petersburg's oldest and largest hospital, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, to Orlando Health. On October 1, 2020, the sale by Community Health Systems and minority partner Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg finalized.
After the sale, Orlando Health made significant investments in the hospital to update and improve the facility and equipment. In May 2025, Bayfront received its first ever A grade for safety.
In 2023, Florida Medical Clinic, a physician group with more than 60 locations in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties, joined Orlando Health. As of June 2025, Orlando Health is developing the Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, which is expected to open in 2026 in Wesley Chapel.
Birmingham, Alabama Orlando Health completed its purchase of Tenet Healthcare’s majority stake in Brookwood Baptist Health in October 2024. The five-hospital system includes locations in Birmingham, Talladega, Alabaster, and Jasper.
Florida’s Space Coast In October 2024, Orlando Health completed a $439 million purchase of three hospitals from Steward Health Care located in Melbourne, Rockledge, and Sebastian. In April 2025, Orlando Health closed the Rockledge hospital, which had fallen into significant disrepair under the previous owners. Orlando Health has committed to spending more than $750 million in Brevard County on the construction of a new hospital and other healthcare facilities by 2029.
Facilities , Orlando Health operates 25 hospitals, 12 free-standing emergency rooms, and 12 specialty institutes in Florida, Alabama and Puerto Rico.
Orlando metro area There are four hospitals and five specialty institutes located on Orlando Health’s main campus in downtown Orlando: Orlando Regional Medical Center, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, and Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute.
Other Orlando Health hospitals in the Orlando area include:
Orlando Health Behavioral Health Hospital in Longwood Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orlando Orlando Health - Health Central Hospital and Health Central Park, a Nursing Rehabilitation Center in Ocoee Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital in Winter Garden Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital in Lake Mary Orlando Health South Lake Hospital in Clermont
Orlando Health's 12 specialty institutes are headquartered in downtown Orlando, with locations in Tampa Bay, central Florida, and along the Space Coast and Treasure Coast.
Orlando Health Advanced Rehabilitation Institute Orlando Health Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Institute Orlando Health Cancer Institute Orlando Health Children's Heart Institute Orlando Health Children's Neuroscience Institute Orlando Health Colon and Rectal Institute Orlando Health Digestive Health Institute Orlando Health Heart and Vascular Institute Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute Orlando Health Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Institute Orlando Health Women's Institute
Tampa Bay area In October 2020, Orlando Health acquired St. Petersburg’s oldest and largest hospital, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. The Orlando Health Cancer Institute has a presence at Bayfront. Orlando Health's Jewett Orthopedic Institute and Digestive Health Institute have locations throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties. As of June 2025, Orlando Health is developing the Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, which is expected to open in 2026 in Wesley Chapel.
Puerto Rico In October 2022, Orlando Health partnered with Doctors’ Center Hospitals to operate a 105-bed hospital in Dorado, Puerto Rico. In July 2023, the partnership expanded to include hospitals in San Juan, Bayamón, Manatí and Carolina and an ambulatory diagnostic and treatment center in Arecibo.
Space Coast and Treasure Coast