HCA Florida Ocala Hospital​

04/11/2025

With assistance from HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, more than 100 students from select Marion County high schools will receive training this week in CPR and basic life support (BLS).

The students participate in the HOSA-Future Health Professionals (HOSA) program at their respective schools. The HCA Healthcare Foundation provided funding for this training under a three-year, $60,000 grant to the Public Education Foundation of Marion County (PEFMC). The grant fosters opportunities for HOSA students to obtain specialized training, clinical experience, preparation for certification exams, and internships and externships.

The sessions, held at the Marion Technical Institute in Ocala, teach students techniques to render emergency aid to adults and infants. First up on Monday were 44 HOSA students from Belleview High School. By Friday, Nov. 7, dozens more students from North Marion High, West Port High, and Lake Weir High schools will also be trained in this life-saving skill.

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital are proud to partner with the PEFMC, Marion County Public Schools, and the HOSA faculty members to help these students learn CPR and further their knowledge of healthcare careers.

Our hospitals also offer hands-only CPR training to the general public. The next class is scheduled for 9-10 a.m. on Nov. 20 at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital. Please plan to join us and ensure the like these students you have the necessary skills to give the gift of life, if the situation arises.

Visit this link to learn more or to register: https://bit.ly/4oR3tQj. We look forward to seeing you!

03/11/2025

Lead the charge. Inspire the change. 🙌💙
Partnering with Women United of Marion County, we’re building a more equitable, healthy future for every family, and this year’s Annual Luncheon is your chance to be part of that movement.
Our colleagues at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital​ are reflecting on "The Happiness Journal" by Dr. Sophia Godkin, and inviting you to join them in exploring how happiness can shape the way we live, lead, and connect.
🎤 Meet Dr. Sophia Godkin, “The Happiness Doctor” and author of The Happiness Journal and The Five-Minute Gratitude Journal, as she shares “The Happiness Equation: 3 Elements That Can Shift the Way We Feel and Live.”
💎 Plus, enjoy an inspiring afternoon featuring:
✨ Delicious catering by La Casella
🎶 Live music & local vendors
🎟 Raffles, including a 14k gold diamond cuff bracelet (valued at $3,200) donated by Gause & Son Jewelers
📅 Wednesday, November 5, 2025
🕦 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Harvey R. Klein Conference Center | Ocala, FL
Join the happiness movement and reserve your spot or sponsor today at:
🔗 https://bit.ly/3WFpnKi
💙 Together, we can inspire change, empower families, and lead the charge against generational poverty.

01/11/2025

Dr. Luis Cadena, an equine veterinarian, recounts his journey from debilitating back pain to recovery after minimally invasive spine surgery at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. His lifelong passion for horses was increasingly overshadowed by excruciating back pain. For years, he lived with a constant ache that he managed with shots and rehab, but the pain finally overwhelmed him while working with a horse, leaving him unable to stand.

An MRI revealed that his vertebrae were failing. At HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, neurological surgeon Dr. Main performed a minimally invasive spine surgery, a procedure that offers smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recovery. Immediately following the procedure, Dr. Cadena experienced a profound relief, waking up for the first time in 10 years completely pain-free.

Dr. Main explains that the minimally invasive approach allows surgeons to precisely target problem areas while minimizing impact on surrounding healthy tissue. This specialized care is designed to help patients regain their quality of life. Today Dr. Cadena is finally free from pain, happily working with horses once more and reflecting on how HCA Florida Ocala Hospital helped him get his life back.

29/10/2025

World Stroke Day

In an instant, Lora Musikantow of Ocala went from having a normal phone conversation with her daughter to experiencing slurred speech, difficulty standing, and an inability to use her left side. As her husband, Elliott, recognized, Lora was having a stroke.

"I noticed the whole left side of her face was sagged. Her eye was drooping. Her mouth was drooping," Elliott recalls. "I said, 'This is a stroke. We have to hurry.'"

Lora's mother had suffered a stroke in 1991 and later passed away from its effects. They were worried Lora may share the same fate.

Their son immediately called 911. Just moments later, Lora arrived at the HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in Marion County, and a nurse put Elliott on the phone with a doctor who explained a proposed course of action and asked for his consent.

Elliott agreed, and within two hours of that fearful 911 call, Dr. Anand Venkatraman had performed an emergency thrombectomy, a procedure by which a clot was removed from Lora's brain with a catheter inserted in her thigh.

Lora was discharged from HCA Florida Ocala Hospital a few days later with no physical deficits related to her stroke. "I was in the hospital for three days and they sent me home because everything was good," Lora says.

"Their preparedness and their systems that they have in place for stokes here made all the difference in the world," Elliott adds.

28/10/2025

Please join us in welcoming Brandy Stuart, FNP-C to HCA Florida Ocala Primary Care in Belleview, Fla.!

Brandy specializes in primary care and treats a variety of conditions, such as annual physicals, allergies, asthma, chronic disease management, immunizations, same-day sick visits, well-woman exams and more.

Brandy welcomes new patients. If you're looking for a primary care provider, contact her office at 352-245-1111.

27/10/2025

Across our larger HCA Healthcare network, we’re here to provide the care you need.

➡️ Emergency rooms: https://bit.ly/49oxGS9
➡️ Doctor’s appointments: https://bit.ly/3L6KUJo

22/10/2025

Our colleagues from HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, and HCA Florida Foxwood Emergency were excited to participate in the Ocala Health and Wellness Expo at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) on Oct. 18.

We wanted Expo visitors, as well as the rest of our community, to know that when an unexpected, severe medical injury or infection strikes, we’re already nearby to serve you—whether that is at the Emergency Departments in our hospitals or our five freestanding emergency rooms, including HCA Florida Foxwood Emergency, located around the Ocala area. To learn more about our ER services, visit https://bit.ly/4o6PDtc.

And we're expanding our network to meet our community's needs. HCA Florida Healthcare has announced plans to open a new $15 million, golf-cart accessible freestanding emergency room in the On Top of the World community at the intersection of State Road 200 and Southwest 99th Street Road. It's expected to open in 2027.

On Oct. 18, our team also provided Expo attendees information about recognizing symptoms of stroke. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is a Comprehensive Stroke Center, meaning we are capable of handling the most complex stroke cases. You can find out more about our stroke program by visiting https://bit.ly/47xOPHP.

If you missed them at WEC, our colleagues will be at the upcoming Oak Run Health Fair, which happens from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 23, at the Palm Grove Ballroom, 6951 SW 115 Street Road, Ocala.

We hope to see you there!

21/10/2025

On Oct. 23, colleagues from the HCA Florida Ocala Hospital trauma center will provide lifesaving STOP THE BLEED® training to 75 officials with Marion County Public Schools, including deans, the Safe Schools Department, and other district personnel.

Uncontrolled bleeding from a traumatic injury is the primary cause of preventable death for people of all ages, according to the American College of Surgeons. Learning how to stabilize and treat a bleeding victim could help save a life. “Depending on the severity of the wound, someone who suffers an injury causing uncontrolled bleeding can die within three to five minutes. Meanwhile, the national average for emergency medical response is seven to 10 minutes. That means bystanders often are the only ones available to provide aid immediately after a traumatic injury,” noted Dr. Richard Petrik, interim chief medical officer for HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital. “People who are properly trained in the techniques of STOP THE BLEED can render critical, lifesaving assistance that gives these victims a fighting chance until first responders arrive.”

“The safety of our students is always our top priority,” said interim Marion County Public Schools Superintendent Danielle Brewer, Ed.D. “Participating in these trainings helps our administrators take proactive steps to ensure we respond swiftly and effectively in an emergency, especially with lifesaving skills that can make all the difference in those critical moments before first responders arrive.”

Assisting HCA Florida Ocala Hospital with this training are our valued community partners: the Florida Department of Health in Marion County, which will supply the STOP THE BLEED® kits for the training, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, which is hosting the session at the Emergency Operations Center in Ocala.

“STOP THE BLEED creates informed action which helps reduce preventable deaths and build community resiliency,” said Mark Lander, administrator at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County (DOH-Marion). “DOH-Marion is glad to support Marion County Public Schools by providing 58 STOP THE BLEED cabinets and kits.”

“Enhancing safety in our county is accomplished in different ways. Training like ‘STOP THE BLEED’ is a positive way to train folks for medical emergencies,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. “Any way that we can find to potentially save a life, we are going to do it. The value of a single life is immeasurable. My hope is that this small investment of time and training pays great dividends in public safety.”

STOP THE BLEED® training focuses on three techniques: applying pressure to the wound, packing open wounds, and applying a tourniquet. Training these officials in STOP THE BLEED® builds on an initiative that the HCA Florida Ocala Hospital trauma center launched for the school system earlier this year. In May, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital Injury Prevention Coordinator Amy O'Brien led a team of hospital colleagues and volunteers in coaching 640 health science students from five Marion County high schools in STOP THE BLEED®.

O’Brien also teaches STOP THE BLEED® classes at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital for members of the public. Those classes will resume in 2026. Anyone interested in learning more about those classes or scheduling a STOP THE BLEED® session may contact O’Brien at 352-401-1043.

20/10/2025

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there was a nearly 27% decline in drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2024. These positive strides are promising, but there's still important work ahead.

In 2024, HCA Florida Healthcare joined local law enforcement at collection sites across the state to collect and properly dispose of more than 3,500 pounds of unused or expired medications as part of HCA Healthcare's Crush the Crisis initiative. In total, an estimated 21,000 pounds of medication, or an estimated 14.5 million doses, were reclaimed.

Help HCA Healthcare by removing unneeded medications and prescription drugs from your home. Join us on Saturday, October 25, 2025, by safely and anonymously dropping off your unused and unwanted medications at HCA Healthcare facilities across the country.

Together, we can create safer, healthier communities. Learn more: https://bit.ly/48FKcwn.

19/10/2025

We at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, and HCA Florida Summerfield Emergency were thrilled to meet folks who attended the health fair at Spruce Creek Golf & Country Club on Friday.

Our displays featured team members from our Oncology, Cardiovascular, Emergency, Nutrition, and Provider Relations departments. We hope attendees we met on Friday left well informed about the services and capabilities of our hospitals and freestanding emergency rooms. Thanks for coming out.

If you were unable to make it to Spruce Creek, we will have colleagues at the upcoming Oak Run Health Fair, slated for 9 am to 2 pm, Oct. 23, at the Palm Grove Ballroom, 6951 SW 115 Street Road, Ocala.

We hope to see you there!

18/10/2025

None of your frights should involve injuries or illness. Planning ahead is a scary smart way to make sure your festivities are safe for everyone.

Join us for a fun and festive evening of costumes, candy, and community connection at your local emergency department on Friday, October 24 from 5 PM - 8 PM! Our Trunk or Treat event located at HCA Florida Foxwood Emergency is a safe, family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween while getting to know the healthcare heroes who serve you year-round.

Enjoy decorated trunks, treats for all ages, and a chance to learn more about emergency services and safety tips—because caring for our community goes beyond the ER doors! RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4nYCaDN

Get tips on pumpkin carving, costume choices and more – all to help ensure your spooky season is free from unexpected health horrors: https://bit.ly/42MzXTi

17/10/2025

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital has earned distinguished three-star ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. The hospital also earned a separate three-star designation for its inpatient care and outcomes for all STS-analyzed procedures. In addition to isolated coronary artery bypass grafting, these include isolated aortic valve replacement; aortic valve replacement with heart bypass; mitral valve repair or replacement; mitral valve surgery with heart bypass; multiple heart valve surgery; and multiple valve surgery with heart bypass.

The dual three-star ratings, which denote the highest category of quality, place HCA Florida Ocala Hospital among the elite hospitals for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is also the only hospital in Marion County with three-star ratings in each of these categories.

“These three-star ratings by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons underscore HCA Florida Ocala Hospital’s commitment to our patients who trust us for heart surgery,” said Bryan Bush, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. “We are dedicated to ensuring patients’ safety and to successful outcomes for these procedures, and these ratings clearly indicate that members of our community can rely on our team for the highest quality of cardiac care.”

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs across the U.S. and Canada. The star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures performed by an STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participant.

This is the fifth consecutive year that the Society of Thoracic Surgeons has awarded its prestigious three-star rating to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital enhanced its recognition from the STS this year by garnering a second three-star rating.

“The Society of Thoracic Surgeons leads the effort in quality improvement by maintaining one of the most penetrant clinical databases in cardiothoracic surgery that employs high-fidelity risk models to provide risk-adjusted outcomes to individual participants,” said Ram Kumar Subramanyan, MD, PhD, chairman of the STS Council on Quality and Research. “STS thanks participants for voluntarily submitting data to the databases, demonstrating their commitment to improving healthcare delivery. Voluntary public reporting of outcomes by individual participants provides patients and their families with meaningful information to help them make informed decisions about healthcare.”

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital’s nationally recognized comprehensive cardiac services include diagnostic heart screening, both surgical and nonsurgical treatments and cardiac rehabilitation. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4nWnhBH.

17/10/2025

Many people may not realize it, but at both HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, one of the busiest hubs of activity is our kitchens.

During National Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week, we at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital salute the efforts of our Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) teams who work tirelessly each day to feed delicious and nutritious meals to our patients, visitors, and colleagues.

For some context, over the past 12 months our FNS units combined have prepared more than 900,000 meals.

At HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, that number includes 246,375 meals for patients, 225,366 meals for cafeteria guests, and more than 46,000 for our physicians. At HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, the FNS team has prepared 205,860 patient meals, 151,346 for cafeteria guests, and more than 30,000 for our physicians.

We appreciate these FNS professionals who show up every day at both of our hospitals to promote positive health, to augment our healing environment, and to boost the overall care experience at each facility.

17/10/2025

Today is – a reminder to take care of yourself and encourage someone you love to do the same.

Here’s how you can take action:

📱 Schedule a with us at https://bit.ly/498SjBM or by calling 866-463-7002. Across our broader HCA Healthcare network, caregivers perform approximately 1.5 million mammograms each year, helping people take proactive steps toward early detection.

🩷 Share this post to help spread awareness and encourage others to prioritize their health too.

16/10/2025

Minor cuts and scrapes are common but knowing where to go for care can make all the difference in healing properly and avoiding complications.

Visit urgent care for wounds that may need stitches but have controlled bleeding, or when you're unsure if it's more serious. Go to the ER if bleeding won't stop, the cut is deep or contaminated, or you can see muscle or bone.

Not sure where to go? Our free, 24/7 Consult-A-Nurse® line is here to help. Call 844-70-NURSE (844-706-8773) anytime to speak with a licensed nurse for trusted advice.

Learn how to tell when a cut needs medical attention: https://bit.ly/4oJ45rl.

16/10/2025

Have a health question but not sure where to turn? Our Consult-A-Nurse® line is here to help—anytime, day or night.

At HCA Florida Healthcare, we show up for your health. With more than 650 affiliated sites of care, our network of hospitals, physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms ensures access wherever you are. Together, our 84,000 colleagues and 11,100 physicians remain committed to advancing the standard of care.

Whether it’s a minor concern or something more serious, you can speak directly with licensed, experienced nurses who provide trusted, professional guidance when you need it most.

Call HCA Florida Healthcare's Consult-A-Nurse® line at 844-70-NURSE (844-706-8773) for answers, advice and peace of mind.

15/10/2025

Anxiety can feel overwhelming not only emotionally but also physically. When symptoms such as chest tightness, a racing heart, or shortness of breath feel different or more intense than usual, it's safest to get checked out.

From heart and vascular care to mental health support, our emergency care colleagues throughout Florida are prepared to assist when anxiety becomes more than just stress.

If you are not sure where to turn, our free, 24/7 Consult-A-Nurse® line is here to help. Call 844-70-NURSE (844-706-8773) anytime to speak with a licensed nurse for trusted advice.

Learn more about when to seek care and how to manage anxiety: https://www.hcafloridahealthcare.com/healthy-living/blog/can-i-go-to-the-er-for-anxiety.

15/10/2025

When seconds matter, HCA Florida Healthcare is here with care you can trust.

During a 5K race in Ocala, Darryl McGinnes went into cardiac arrest near the finish line. Bystanders performed CPR until he arrived at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital​, where Dr. Bryan Bush and the cardiac team performed a life-saving quadruple bypass.

“Everything that day was a miracle,” Darryl says. “I couldn’t have asked for better care.”

Now, he’s back on his feet and ready to run again.

As the state’s largest cardiovascular network, we make it easy for our patients to connect to heart, lung and vascular specialists close to home.

Concerned about your heart health? Call 833-544-5031 to connect with a cardiologist in the HCA Florida Healthcare network.

14/10/2025

Do you have cold hands or tingly feet?

These could be symptoms of a blood clot or poor circulation. According to Dr. David Woodard, a cardiologist with HCA Florida Healthcare "Clots can become dangerous if they develop where they shouldn’t. In those cases, they may slow or block blood flow, leading to poor circulation or serious complications such as stroke."

Poor circulation and blood clots both deserve attention — because your body is trying to tell you something important.

Explore the signs and symptoms of blood clots, as well as the connection between blood clots and poor circulation, on our blog: https://bit.ly/4793Tu2.

14/10/2025

14/10/2025

If you're pregnant, it’s never too early to start thinking about what you want for your labor and delivery experience.

We understand that every labor and delivery experience is unique. Whether you're looking for holistic birthing assistance or the latest technology and the assurance of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), we're committed to providing you with the specialized care you want when you need it.

Learn how we help expectant moms become confident moms through tours, classes and events at your local hospital: https://bit.ly/478LUnu.

13/10/2025

Fighting off a stubborn cold? 😷 You might have heard that a good sweat can ease your illness – but is it true? Before you bundle up or head to the sauna, get the facts about which types of treatment may work best to help you recover: https://bit.ly/4h9rEXC.

11/10/2025

“Too often, patients try to push through the pain, but ignoring it can make things worse," said Dr. Michael Mashura, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with HCA Florida Mercy Hospital. "The best approach is also the simplest: rest.”

Overuse of the muscles and tissues in your lower legs can lead to painful shin splints. Learn the symptoms and how to treat them on our blog: https://bit.ly/3IFPNID.

10/10/2025

Today is World Mental Health Day, a global initiative to raise awareness about the importance of mental health.

Mental health challenges are universal and can affect anyone, regardless of background or circumstance. This day serves as a reminder to foster compassion, break the stigma and advocate for stronger support systems.

For those seeking help, HCA Florida Healthcare offers a range of mental health services to support your journey to wellness. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4h1x8U8.

Whether through professional counseling, peer support, or moments of self-care, each of us plays a role in creating a space where mental health is a priority. Together, we can build a world where everyone feels seen, heard and supported.