DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – (November 7, 2018) – During its November 5 meeting, the Halifax Health Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a Letter of Intent to form a joint venture with University of Florida Health Shands to develop and operate a hospital in Deltona.
“As the medical landscape changes, it is becoming more important to partner with like organizations to provide a greater depth of critically needed healthcare services,” said Jeff Feasel, president and chief executive officer of Halifax Health. Feasel further explained, “UF Health and Halifax Health have many things in common. Both health systems are essential safety net organizations for their communities. Both organizations are committed to a mission of teaching and continual learning. Both organizations are instrumentalities of the State and are sovereign immune.”
The benefits of this joint venture to each organization include: visibility in new markets, additional clinical rotations for nurses and physicians, increase in patient base and enhanced revenue. In addition, Deltona and other West Volusia residents will have greater access to clinical specialties and subspecialties, a stronger continuum of care, more access to services, more advanced technology and increased access to clinical trials.
The Letter of Intent provides for Halifax Health and UF Health to work toward a joint venture for the hospital currently under construction in Deltona. At the present time, it is anticipated that Halifax Health would represent 51 percent of the joint venture while UF Health would represent 49 percent. In addition to working together to build the hospital, management, operations, staffing and quality will be jointly overseen by a team appointed by Halifax Health and UF Health.
“This partnership speaks to the need for collaboration to reduce healthcare costs while continuing to elevate the quality care the two organizations provide,” said Feasel, adding, “This is great news for our area because this partnership will provide the highest level of specialty physicians and staff and will serve as a testament of our continued commitment to providing expert critical care to all of the communities we serve.”
Halifax Health and UF Health have a history of working together to improve the access Volusia County residents have to expert medical care. In 2015, Halifax Health established a partnership with UF Health for heart and vascular surgery services. Two years later, the organizations collaborated to enhance Halifax Health Medical Center’s kidney transplant program.
About Halifax Health
Recognized by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures, Halifax Health serves Volusia and Flagler counties, providing a continuum of healthcare services through a network of organizations including a tertiary hospital, community hospital, freestanding emergency department, an urgent care, psychiatric services, a cancer treatment center with five outreach locations, the area’s largest hospice, a center for inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, primary care walk-in clinics, a walk-in clinic specializing in women’s health, a pediatric care community clinic, three children’s medical practices, a home healthcare agency, and an exclusive provider organization. Halifax Health offers the area’s only Level II Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Emergency Department, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Services, complete Neurosurgical Services, OB Emergency Department and Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for babies born as early as 28 weeks. For more information, visit halifaxhealth.org.
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