The doctor will see you now — in a dazzling new office
A medical office boom is underway in South Florida, driven by patients’ desire for convenience and an aging population that needs more healthcare services. The surge in new healthcare construction across all three South Florida counties will allow patients to see doctors or specialists close to home, or on the same campus where they might undergo a medical procedure. It means visits to offices with modern technology, advanced air filtration, electrical wiring for robotic surgery tools, and spaces that are much more inviting. [Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel]
‘Demand is growing:’ Florida lab ramps up stem-cell production
Inside a pristine laboratory at GBI Biomanufacturing in Plantation, stem-cell production ramps up, producing regenerative medicine with the potential to repair a torn rotator cuff, deep skin tear or an arthritic knee. The escalation comes as the outlook for stem-cell therapies in Florida grows, driven by a new law that widens the path for doctors to use them to manage pain or treat orthopedic injuries and wounds. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
No measles cases in Florida over most recent week of reporting
No measles cases were reported in Florida over the most recent reporting period, according to the state Department of Health. Florida remained at 150 cases for the year as of the week ending May 9. That’s reflective of a continuing slowdown in infections after outbreaks earlier this year. Collier County, which experienced a large outbreak this year linked to Ave Maria University, has now gone four weeks without a new case and remains at 107 total infections. [Source: WUSF]
Florida is the only state removing children from low-cost health insurance
Florida’s KidCare is a Medicaid expansion program for children whose families earn too much money to qualify for traditional Medicaid but do not earn enough money to buy private or marketplace insurance. Florida officials challenged a federal rule that requires keeping children enrolled in affordable health insurance — and Florida is the only state taking children off its program because of missed payments. State officials removed about 43,000 children from December 2024 to November 2025. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
'Who takes care of me?' Florida nurses talk about underappreciation
This past week was National Nurses Week, when hospitals and other healthcare facilities promote all the good nurses do. Many provided gifts of company clothing or meals and sweets. But speaking to nurses one-on-one, many do not feel appreciated as they say more and more is being asked of them. There are a lot of reasons, from low pay to dealing with high patient-to-nurse ratios and understaffing. [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› There’s a new high school coming for Miami-Dade students interested in healthcare
In an effort to address South Florida’s growing shortage of healthcare workers, Miami Dade College and Jackson Health System signed a binding agreement Monday to launch a new high school aimed at preparing students for careers in medicine and healthcare. Set to open in August 2027 in Miami’s Health District, the Health Science Collegiate Academy will create a direct pathway for students interested in nursing, healthcare administration, allied health and other high-demand medical fields.
› It took years to get a lipedema diagnosis — she built an app to help
It started with joint pain. Then, lumps of hardened tissue began forming in her thighs. For years, Aisha Durham visited doctors in Tampa Bay seeking a diagnosis that would explain the aching in her legs and the bumpy fat that she couldn’t get rid of. Time and again, Durham was told her ailments were a product of her lifestyle. One doctor began treating her for lupus — a disease she didn’t have. In 2023, she came across a video of a medical researcher giving a talk about an underdiagnosed and often misunderstood condition called lipedema.
› Central Florida medical professionals focus on mental health, burnout support
Young medical professionals gathered at Leu Gardens in Orange County for an event hosted by the Physicians Society of Central Florida to recognize excellence and provide real-world feedback from experienced doctors. Dr. Ryan Hall, a board-certified psychiatrist from Lake Mary, shared his journey and insights into the importance of health and well-being during medical training.
› Jacksonville University cleared to build-out medical simulation center
The city issued a permit May 14 for Jacksonville University to spend $3.68 million for Danis Construction LLC to build-out a new educational facility on the third floor of the College of Healthcare Sciences building. PQH Group Design Inc., of Jacksonville, is the architect. The 21,000-square-foot simulation center project will include examination rooms, a nurses’ station, mock hospital rooms, debriefing and control rooms, classroom space, an anatomy lab and interactive multipurpose space.