Hurricane Ian Update - Orlando Health

Emergency care

• Emergency care is always available pending accessibility due to weather. All Orlando Health emergency rooms in Central Florida (including free-standing) will remain open for the duration of the storm. 
  Hospitals should not be treated as storm shelters. Individuals in need of shelter from the storm should research available facilities in their county.

Elective procedures and physician practices

• Elective surgeries/procedures and physician practice appointments scheduled after 2:00 pm Wednesday, Sept. 28, and all day Thursday, Sept. 29, will be suspended and rescheduled. 
• Patients may contact their physician’s office to schedule a virtual visit, if applicable, or reschedule at a more convenient time. 
• Patients can message their Orlando Health physician through the patient portal, Orlando Health MyChart, through the app or by visiting OrlandoHealth.com/MyChart.

Valet service

• Valet service at all Orlando Health facilities will be suspended at 2:00 pm Wednesday, Sept. 28, and remain closed until the morning of Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. 

Information about visitation and family communications 

• No changes are planned to hospital visiting hours. 

Information about retail pharmacies 

• Scripts Pharmacy at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute on the downtown Orlando campus will remain open for the duration of the storm.

Information for expectant moms 

Patient safety and security is our top priority. We recommend the following for expectant moms who are concerned about experiencing false labor or true labor while Hurricane Ian impacts Central Florida:

• Expectant moms who are close to their due date and experiencing a medical emergency, should go to the triage department at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, if it is still safe to travel. Orlando Health Winnie Palmer will evaluate them and determine the best treatment options.
• Expectant moms should contact their OB-GYN for advice about their specific condition. Their physician is the most knowledgeable about their patients’ circumstances and will be able to make personalized recommendations or contact the hospital to discuss specific options.
• Expectant moms who have a scheduled induction or Cesarean delivery during the storm timeframe should speak with their physician about the best plan of action. 
• Pregnant women delivering at or near Orlando Health South Lake Hospital can come to the Center for Women’s Health at South Lake Hospital’s Triage Department for evaluation. 
• If expectant moms are in imminent labor or other medical distress during peak storm conditions, they should call 911 for further instruction and assistance.
• Before venturing out on area roadways, expectant moms should make sure they are safe and be aware of any curfews that may be implemented.
• Patient discharge and/or departure will depend on medical and weather conditions at that time.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with $8 billion of assets under management that serves the southeastern United States.

Founded more than 100 years ago, the healthcare system is recognized around the world for Central Florida’s only pediatric and adult Level One Trauma program as well as the only state-accredited Level Two Adult Trauma Center in the St. Petersburg region. It is the home of the nation’s largest neonatal intensive care unit under one roof, the only system in the southeast to offer open fetal surgery to repair the most severe forms of spina bifida, the site of an Olympic athlete training facility and operator of one of the largest and highest performing clinically integrated networks in the region. Orlando Health has pioneered life-changing medical research and its Graduate Medical Education program hosts more than 350 residents and fellows. The 3,200-bed system includes 10 award-winning hospitals, 9 hospital based ERs, and 7 free-standing emergency rooms; rehabilitation services, cancer and heart institutes, imaging and laboratory services, wound care centers, physician offices for adults and pediatrics, skilled nursing facilities, an in-patient behavioral health facility, home healthcare services in partnership with LHC Group, and urgent care centers in partnership with FastMed Urgent Care. More than 4,200 physicians, representing more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties have privileges across the Orlando Health system, which employs more than 23,000 team members. In FY21, Orlando Health served more than 160,000 inpatients and 3.6 million outpatients. During that same time period, Orlando Health provided approximately $648 million in total value to the communities it serves in the form of charity care, community benefit programs and services, community building activities and more. Additional information can be found at http://www.orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @orlandohealth.