Torrential rains Nov. 1-2 led to the flooding and evacuation of Sea Pines Rehabilitation Hospital in Melbourne, Fla., which is partly owned by Birmingham, Ala.-based Encompass Health. The flooding resulted in significant damage to Sea Pines, and the hospital will be closed indefinitely, according to a Nov. 6 news release.
The 90-bed hospital is a joint venture between Encompass and Holmes Regional Medical Center, a subsidiary of Health First. The partners are committed to reopening the hospital and are evaluating whether to refurbish or replace it.
“We are enormously grateful for the heroic efforts of our hospital staff and the first responders in ensuring the safety of our patients during this catastrophic weather event,” Pat Tuer, Encompass Health executive vice president and COO, said in a press release. “Reopening Sea Pines is a high priority, and we are currently in discussions with our joint venture partner to determine the best path forward.”
All patients have been accounted for and admitted to another appropriate medical facility or discharged home, and staff were evacuated safely.
Throughout the closure, Sea Pines will incur certain operational expenses. Encompass said it plans to exclude those expenses and any related insurance proceeds from its adjusted financial results, because they don’t reflect its ongoing operating performance.
