Health First Acquires Space Coast Cancer Centers
- FLASCO
- September 21, 2015
- News
Health First Acquires Space Coast Cancer Centers
A unit of Health First on Friday completed its acquisition of Space Coast Cancer Center, which had facilities in Titusville, Viera and Merritt Island.
Former FLASCO President and Current FLASCO Board Member, Dr. Richard Levine, who founded and was president of the Space Coast Cancer Center, said the facilities and most of their staffs will be part of Health First, effective Saturday. The cancer care facilities will be renamed to be part of the Health First Cancer Institute.
Space Coast Cancer Center has eight physicians and an overall staff of about 100 who currently serve roughly 10,000 patients, Levine said.
Levine said the agreement with Health First was finalized after about a year of negotiations. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Health First Cancer Institute will have four facilities, including the Health First Cancer Services on Hickory Street in Melbourne and the three former Space Coast Cancer Center locations: the Titusville Cancer Center, Merritt Island Cancer Center and Viera Cancer Center.
Levine said all three Space Coast Cancer Center facilities offer chemotherapy and laboratory services. Titusville and Viera also have radiation therapy services. And Titusville also has diagnostic imaging.
The Health First Melbourne facility also offers the full range of cancer services.
Levine, whose cancer facilities trace their roots to a cancer practice he established in 1983, plans to retire.
He said he expects all the other doctors from Space Coast Cancer Center and about 95 percent of the overall staff to become part of Health First Cancer Institute.
“Health First developed a strategic plan so that Space Coast Cancer Center would complement their strategy,” Levine said. “It’s a win-win. I believe cancer patients, caregivers and family members will benefit.”
In a statement issued late Friday, Aaron Robinson, senior executive for Health First Cancer Institute, said: “Health First Cancer Institute will leverage the collective knowledge, dedication and compassion to provide patients with advanced specialists, multiple locations, inpatient and outpatient services, and the full continuum of services needed for those fighting cancer. We are pleased to join together in the battle against cancer and support our Brevard County residents in the management of this terrible disease.”
Health First said that, through the new setup, “Health First Cancer Institute brings together Brevard’s two leading cancer service providers. The dedication and commitment of the providers and associates leverages the strengths of each to create destination cancer care for Brevard County.”
The Health First Cancer Institute will provide specialties that include medical oncology, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, surgical oncology, thoracic oncology, urology, radiology and pathology.
Health First termed it “a comprehensive and collaborative program for the detection, treatment and management of cancer.”
Levine said he has been working with health insurance providers to facilitate the transition for patients to the new setup, assuring the “continuity of care.”
Health First also operates four hospitals in Brevard — its flagship Holmes Regional Medical Center, as well as Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Palm Bay Hospital and Viera Hospital. It also has health insurance plans, outpatient and wellness services.
Source: Dave Berman, Florida Today
Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 and dberman@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @ByDaveBerman and on Facebook at facebook.com/dave.berman.54
