Munroe Regional Medical Center is now part of Florida Hospital, the West Florida Division of Adventist Health System

Adventist Health System, the parent company of Florida Hospital, today announced that it has finalized an agreement to officially acquire the 425-bed Munroe Regional Medical Center, Munroe Medical Group and its related outpatient locations, including the TimberRidge free-standing emergency department. It has also finalized the purchase of certain assets. Munroe Regional Medical Center will be renamed Florida Hospital Ocala and will join the West Florida Division as the second largest hospital in the division and the third largest in Adventist Health System.

'Munroe Regional Medical Center is a pillar of its community with a legacy of delivering quality care and I am honored that it is now part of our organization,' said Terry Shaw, president/CEO for Adventist Health System. 'We look forward to impacting and serving the community both inside and outside of the hospital walls with Christ-centered, whole-person care and delivering on our mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ to help residents live healthier lives.'

The Florida Hospital network now includes 28 hospitals, 11 of which are in the West Florida Division. These include Florida Hospital Carrollwood, Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care, Florida Hospital Dade City, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Lake Placid, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Sebring, Florida Hospital North Pinellas, Florida Hospital Ocala, Florida Hospital Tampa, Florida Hospital Wauchula, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

'This is a time of growth and expansion for the West Florida Division, and an opportunity to bring our brand of inspired, compassionate care to the Ocala community,' said Mike Schultz, president/CEO of the West Florida Division of Adventist Health System. 'We are committed to delivering the best health care in an easy, accessible and affordable way.'

The organization has named Joe Johnson as the hospital's president/CEO effective immediately. Johnson has more than 30 years of experience in the health care industry, most recently serving as the president and CEO for Florida Hospital Carrollwood. He has held numerous hospital executive and leadership roles including president/CEO for Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, vice president and chief operating officer for Florida Hospital Tampa, vice president for Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center and administrator of its campus in Lake Placid.

'It is an honor to lead Munroe Regional Medical Center in this transition to become Florida Hospital Ocala and a member of Adventist Health System,' said Johnson. 'I am excited to be part of this community and to work with the hospital leadership, physicians, clinicians and team members to help deliver exceptional whole-person care and impact the overall health of the Ocala community.'

Munroe Regional Medical Center is an acute care hospital, earning recognition from U.S. News & World Report in 2017 as one of the Best Regional Hospitals, while also earning its High Performing Hospitals distinction. The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission and is a certified Chest Pain Center with accreditations for atrial fibrillation and heart failure.