Health First

Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courage, selflessness, and dedication will never be forgotten. From all of us at Health First, we thank our fallen heroes and the families who carry their legacy forward. 🇺🇸

#EMSWeek offers a moment to highlight what we see every day—the compassion, commitment, and lifesaving care our EMS partners bring to our community. Health First's trauma and stroke teams are proud to recognize BCFR R67 and MFD Station 74 for their incredible teamwork during a recent stroke alert where rapid identification and response made all the difference. EMS crews quickly identified signs of a serious stroke and delivered time-sensitive treatment within minutes of arrival. Because of that fast, coordinated response, the patient experienced a remarkable recovery and was able to return home with minimal deficits. Stories like this are a powerful reminder that in stroke care, every second matters.  We are deeply grateful for our partners across Brevard and the lifesaving work they do every day! 💜🚑

At Health First’s 4th annual Trauma Survivor Reunion, survivors, loved ones, first responders, and our trauma team came together to reconnect and reflect on the journeys that brought them here today. 💜 From vehicle, boating, and motorcycle accidents to life-saving emergency care, survivors reunited with the surgeons, advanced practitioners, nurses, therapists, first responders, and First Flight crews who supported them in some of their most critical moments. Last year, the Health First trauma team treated 2,745 trauma patients across Brevard County, reflecting the need for a highly skilled, coordinated response. “Our trauma surgeons, advanced practitioners, nurses, therapists, and First Flight crews work tirelessly to provide rapid, exceptional, and compassionate care,” said  Health First trauma surgeon Christina Sebastian, MD. Thank you to every member of our trauma team and EMS partners for the lifesaving work you do every day. Read the inspiring stories from some of the survivors at spacecoastdaily.com/2026/05/brevar…

Meet Casey Hopman, APRN, board-certified Hematology Oncology provider, now seeing patients at 8725 N. Wickham Road, Suite 200, Melbourne. Casey believes patience is an essential part of care. By taking the time to truly listen and connect, she is able to provide thoughtful, personalized treatment tailored to each patient’s needs. Schedule an appointment today at bit.ly/MyChart-CaseyH… #HematologyOncology #CancerCareBrevard #HealthFirstCancerInstitute

Summer travel season is here, and whether you're heading to the beach, visiting family, or running errands around town, a few simple safety reminders can help protect your little one. 💜 ☀️ Florida heat and holiday travel can be a dangerous combination for little ones. A parked car can heat up quickly — even with the windows cracked. Never leave your baby unattended in a vehicle, even for a minute. 🌬️ Make sure your baby has good airflow and isn’t getting too warm. While rear-facing car seats are the safest option, they can sometimes limit air circulation. Consider using your vehicle’s rear air vents or a small portable fan to help keep air moving and your baby comfortable. 🚗 Traveling with baby? Remember, car seats are made for travel — not routine sleep. If your baby falls asleep in the car, move them to a flat, firm sleep surface as soon as you arrive. Safe sleep reminders while traveling: ✔ Back to sleep, every time ✔ Use a crib, bassinet, or Pack ’n Play ✔ Keep the sleep space free of blankets, pillows, and toys ✔ Dress baby in light, fitted sleepwear to help prevent overheating For safe sleep tips and resources, visit hf.org/safesleep

Summer travel season is here, and whether you're heading to the beach, visiting family, or running errands around town, a few simple safety reminders can help protect your little one. 💜  ☀️ Florida heat and holiday travel can be a dangerous combination for little ones. A parked car can heat up quickly — even with the windows cracked. Never leave your baby unattended in a vehicle, even for a minute. 🌬️Make sure your baby has good airflow and isn’t getting too warm. While rear-facing car seats are the safest option, they can sometimes limit air circulation. Consider using your vehicle’s rear air vents or a small portable fan to help keep air moving and your baby comfortable. 🚗 Traveling with baby? Remember, car seats are made for travel — not routine sleep. If your baby falls asleep in the car, move them to a flat, firm sleep surface as soon as you arrive. Safe sleep reminders while traveling: ✔ Back to sleep, every time ✔ Use a crib, bassinet, or Pack ’n Play ✔ Keep the sleep space free of blankets, pillows, and toys ✔ Dress baby in light, fitted sleepwear to help prevent overheating For safe sleep tips and resources, visit hf.org/safesleep

Day or night, rain or shine, EMS professionals show up when our community needs them most. 🚑 This #EMSWeek, we’re proud to celebrate the first responders and partners who work tirelessly to care for Brevard County. Thank you for your dedication, compassion and service.

What an inspiring morning at the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia Awareness, this weekend! 💜 Health First obstetrician Dr. Aimee Raup and members of the Health First team were proud to join families, caregivers, advocates, and community members coming together to raise awareness and support healthier outcomes for mothers and babies. Events like this are a powerful reminder of the importance of education, early recognition, and community support. Knowing the signs of preeclampsia, including severe headaches, vision changes, swelling, and high blood pressure, can help families seek care sooner. Thank you to everyone who walked, shared their stories, and helped shine a light on maternal health in our community.  Every mother deserves to feel heard and supported — that’s what care should feel like.

Meet Kathleen Springer, APRN, a family medicine provider now serving our community in Titusville at 1855 Knox McRae Dr. Kathleen focuses on building strong provider-patient partnerships and believes that meaningful care comes from empathy and connection. Schedule an appointment today at bit.ly/KathleenSpring… #TitusvilleHealthcare #HealthFirstProvider

Congratulations to Brian, a nurse at Cape Canaveral Hospital, on receiving the DAISY Award!  The DAISY Award is a prestigious international program that recognizes nurses for their outstanding, compassionate care.  Brian was recognized for helping coordinate care during a very emotional and complex situation involving a patient and a family member, where urgent medical needs and the importance of staying together both had to be considered. Recognizing how difficult the moment was, Brian worked with multiple teams to find a solution that allowed care to continue while also honoring the family’s need to stay close during a critical time. Thank you, Brian — and all our nurses — for the incredible impact you make every day for our patients and community. 💜 #DaisyAward #CapeCanaveralHospital

After drifting in the ocean for nearly five hours following a plane crash 80 miles off the coast of Melbourne, 11 survivors are now recovering thanks to the extraordinary efforts of rescue and medical teams.  Today, Victor Vargas, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Health First’s Hospital Division, and Scott Zenoni, MD, Health First Trauma Medical Director, joined survivor Olympia to share the incredible story of survival, rescue, and recovery following Tuesday’s crash. The 920th Rescue Wing, U.S. Coast Guard, and Patrick Space Force Base worked together to locate and rescue the survivors, who spent hours floating on life rafts unsure anyone would find them. Once rescued, the survivors were transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center, Brevard County’s only Level II Trauma Center, for advanced emergency and trauma care. Olympia shared heartfelt gratitude for the caregivers who cared for the survivors, saying: “I’ve never had nurses and doctors take care of me the way they took care of me.” We are grateful to every first responder, physician, nurse, and caregiver involved in this remarkable response. Every day, these teams stand ready to care for our community — and anyone who needs us in life’s most critical moments. 💜 ,

Many people think severe period pain is “just part of life.” It’s not always. Endometriosis affects millions of women and can cause symptoms that interfere with daily life. If you experience symptoms, it may be time to talk with a provider. Understanding your body is an important step toward finding relief and the care you deserve. Talk with an OB/GYN about your symptoms: ow.ly/9ZHq50YZ7UA #EndometriosisAwareness #WomensHealth #HealthFirstOBGYN

Health First is seeing a concerning rise in serious e-bike injuries across Brevard County! 🚲 Many of these incidents involve teenagers, making safety awareness especially important for parents and families. Here's what parents should know about e-bikes: 1️⃣ E-bikes can reach speeds of up to 40 mph, making crashes far more dangerous than many people realize. 2️⃣E-bike-related trauma calls have grown by 30% from 2024 to 2025. 3️⃣ Most of the injuries crews respond to involve riders without helmets or teens not following traffic laws. Hear directly from the Health First trauma team about the real cases they’re responding to: fox35orlando.com/news/health-fi…] #EBikeSafety #HealthFirstCares

Hi, thank you for reaching out. We’re very sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating this situation must be. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention. To help us escalate this matter, please send us a private message with the patient’s full name, date of birth, and a good contact phone number/email. Thank you.

@Health_First we’ve called every few weeks since March 31st to get an itemized bill for my husband’s ER visit. We’ve talked to Chatrice, Jill and Naomi. Why is it difficult to get transparency in medical billing? Yet, the bills keep coming as a lump sum with threat of collection

With summer break around the corner and strong rip currents reported along the Space Coast recently, it’s a good time to brush up on swim safety. 🏊 Check for rip current advisories before heading to your favorite beach and follow these tips: 🛟Swim at a guarded beach. 🚩Check beach warning flags for current conditions. ⚠️ If you get caught in a rip current, float, don't tread water. #WellnessWednesday #SwimSafety #FloridaBeachSafety

The closure of Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital brought significant change to healthcare access across Brevard County and created new challenges for patients, families, caregivers, and first responders alike. Over the past year, Health First has worked tirelessly alongside community partners to help meet the growing needs of our community. Since the closure, our teams have taken major steps to help expand access to care across the Space Coast, including: ➡️ Expanding First Flight air ambulance services with the addition of a second helicopter. ➡️ Building Brevard County’s first freestanding ER in Rockledge, projected to open in December 2026/January 2027, with another planned location serving Palm Bay and surrounding communities. ➡️ Recruiting and hiring hundreds of new associates and nurses. ➡️ Accelerating expansion plans at Viera Hospital. ➡️ Advancing Palm Bay Hospital tower expansion plans. ➡️ Expanding emergency, surgical, cardiac, and inpatient capacity across the system. Learn more about the many steps being taken to support access to care for our growing community at ow.ly/XGiA50YYs6k.

You don’t need to be a healthcare professional to make a difference in an emergency. During Stop the Bleed Day, we’re helping you learn how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take action with confidence.🩸 Join us for a free, one-hour interactive course featuring video demonstrations, lectures, and hands-on practice.   📅Thursday, May 21, 2026 ⏰ 9 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. 📍 Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center Executive Conference Room A Please enter through D Lobby ➡️ Register now at hf.org/stopthebleed

As their internships come to a close, we’re celebrating all that our Project SEARCH participants have accomplished!🎉 From learning new skills to growing in confidence, their time has been filled with meaningful progress in a real workplace setting. Project SEARCH is a school-to-work program designed for young adults with disabilities. It combines classroom instruction, workplace training, and individualized support to help build readiness for employment. ☀️ Summer Camps are starting June 8th! ☀️ To attend, participants must be a Vocational Rehabilitation client and be between 14 and 21 years of age. ➡️ If interested, please contact your VR Counselor or local VR office for referral.

GLP-1 medications are becoming an important tool in weight management—but they work best when they’re part of a broader, long-term approach to health. Amanda Hughes, APRN with Health First’s weight loss program, explains what patients should know about these medications: 1️⃣ GLP-1s are most effective when paired with sustainable lifestyle changes like nutrition and physical activity. 2️⃣ Stopping the medication can often lead to weight regain, since weight management is a long-term process. 3️⃣ Ongoing, personalized care is key to helping patients build habits that support lasting success. Learn more about GLP-1 medications and how Health First supports long-term, sustainable weight loss at ow.ly/opIK50YWK2G #GLP1Medications #HealthFirstWeightLoss #WeightManagement

Nurses are the heartbeat of every hospital, bringing compassion and steady expertise to some of life’s most critical moments. At Health First, we’re proud to support our nurses at every stage of their journey, from their first steps in healthcare to advanced clinical roles, and everything in between. Hear from Raquel, an RN in our Emergency Department, on how the support of her team has helped shape her growth and transition into nursing. “I love my job because I've grown from ER tech to a new grad RN in the same fast-paced, ever evolving department that shaped me, and I get to work alongside an incredible team that feels like family.” Looking to make a meaningful impact? Join our team and be part of a mission that truly makes a difference: hf.org/careers #ILoveThisPlace #NursesWeek