Health First partners with Crane Creek Surgery Center

Brevard County’s largest health care provider is getting even larger.

Health First Inc. on Tuesday announced a deal to form a joint venture with the Crane Creek Surgery Center in Melbourne. 

The new partnership includes The B.A.C.K. Center becoming part of Health First Medical Group.

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Although agreements have been signed, Health First said work remains to integrate the affected operations. Officials anticipating the operations will be combined in late spring 2022.

Financial terms of the agreement were not announced.

Health First and Crane Creek Surgery Center say they will will work to grow surgical services at the Crane Creek location.

Health First operates four hospitals in Brevard County — Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. Palm Bay Hospital and Viera Hospital — as well as a multispecialty medical group, health insurance plans, and outpatient and wellness services.

“We have long explored a partnership with Crane Creek Surgery Center and The B.A.C.K. Center, as we share the same goals and dedication to patient care, quality of services and plans for growth,” Frank Letherby, Health First’s chief executive officer for community health services, said in a statement announcing the deal. “Together, our teams have an opportunity to align resources in a way that better serves and delights our customers, and we look forward to launching this new partnership in spring 2022.”