Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital Awarded Brevard County’s first Primary Florida Resuscitation Center of Excellence

MELBOURNE, Fla. (April 27, 2026) — Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital has been designated a Primary Florida Resuscitation Center of Excellence in Brevard County, reflecting its demonstrated commitment to improving cardiac arrest outcomes, advancing evidence-based care and fostering strong partnerships with local emergency medical services. The hospital is the first and only one with this designation in Brevard County.

“This designation reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses, therapists and EMS partners who work together every day to improve outcomes for cardiac patients,” said Ron Gicca, president of Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital. “It affirms our commitment to delivering premium, total cardiac care, at the right time, for our community.”

The criteria also include a strong emphasis on community involvement, such as programs to train bystanders in resuscitation intervention efforts and bystander CPR training. Centers of Excellence are tasked with promoting wellness and enhancing necessary rehabilitation for cardiac arrest patients as well as providing support for their loved ones and caregivers.

“Caring for a patient in cardiac arrest requires seamless coordination, clinical expertise and constant evaluation of outcomes,” said Dr. Kevin Freels, emergency department medical director at Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital. “This recognition demonstrates that our emergency care teams are consistently meeting those high standards of rapid, team‑based emergency care in improving survival.”

EMS leaders say the designation underscores the importance of coordinated response from the field through hospital care.

“When EMS and hospital teams are aligned around best practices, patients have a better chance of survival,” said Dr. Bobby Ford, EMS Medical Director for Brevard County Fire Rescue and Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital emergency department medical director. “Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital has proven to be a strong partner in resuscitation care, and this designation reflects the strength of that collaboration.”

Each year, approximately 350,000 individuals die from cardiac arrest in the U.S., and it remains the third-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Sudden cardiac Arrest Foundation.

The designation is awarded through the Florida Resuscitation Centers of Excellence (FRCE) program in partnership with the Florida Association of EMS Medical Directors (FAEMSMD). Hospitals earning the designation demonstrate strong performance in resuscitation care, continuous quality improvement and coordinated systems of care with local EMS agencies, setting a standard for cardiac arrest treatment across Florida.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $14 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States – including Florida and Alabama – and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $2 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 24, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.