ROCKLEDGE, Fla. Health First notified 214 associates Wednesday that their positions are being eliminated, the Brevard County health system announced.
The cuts represent about 2 percent of Health First’s 10,350 associates. No hospital or emergency department is closing, according to the statement.
“This was not an easy decision and comes after a careful review of how we can best continue delivering on our mission to improve the health and wellness of the communities we serve,” Health First said in a statement provided by spokesman Lance Skelly.
Most of the affected positions are administrative, management and clerical support roles. Health First said it is continuing to recruit for clinical and other essential positions.
Some clinical positions are affected by changes to specific programs and services:
- The Hospital at Home program is ending. Current patients will continue receiving care through the program until their care is complete.
- The Viera location of the Integrated Care Program is closing. The program will continue, with Viera patients transferring to the Gateway team.
- Health First Medical Group is ending its standalone comprehensive health assessment program. Those assessments will continue through annual wellness visits with patients’ primary care providers.
Health First said patients affected by the changes are being contacted directly about next steps.
Every impacted associate will receive a 60-day paid notice period with full pay and benefits, according to the statement. The health system said it is also providing job-search support and helping affected employees explore other positions within Health First.
“We recognize the impact these decisions have on our associates, their families, and their colleagues,” the statement read. “Our mission at Health First does not change. We will continue to provide safe, high-quality care for our patients and invest in the services and facilities this community needs.”
Skelly told The Space Coast Rocket that Health First would not offer interviews or additional spokespeople Wednesday. The statement did not identify which departments or facilities the administrative cuts affect.
Health First launched its Hospital at Home program in 2021 to open hospital space during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming one of the first health systems in Florida to offer hospital-level care in patients’ homes. The program reached 1,000 patients in 2024, when leaders said they were planning for rapid growth.
After Orlando Health closed Rockledge Hospital in April 2025, removing nearly 300 beds from Brevard County, Health First promoted the program as an option for patients.
The staffing reductions come as Health First moves forward with several major construction and expansion projects across the county, including a new Cape Canaveral Hospital expected to open in early 2027. Health First is led by President and CEO Terry Forde, who took the job in August 2024.
Health systems across the country have announced workforce reductions this year. Georgia-based Wellstar Health System eliminated 761 roles, also about 2 percent of its workforce, largely in corporate and administrative functions.
This is a developing story. The Space Coast Rocket will update it as more information becomes available.
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