INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — On Thursday, Orlando Health held a ribbon-cutting for its new eight-exam-room adult primary healthcare center in Vero Beach. Staff told WPTV they hope this new facility can reduce long wait times and address primary care shortages in Indian River County.
WATCH BELOW: 'The Vero Beach need really stood out,' Dr. Meron Kristos tells WPTV's Tyler Hatfield
Aaron Bridges, assistant vice president of Orlando Health, told WPTV the facility can take 40 patients a day and has the opportunity to grow.
The new health care center will be led by husband-and-wife physicians Dr. Roberto Gabitto and Dr. Meron Kristos.
"We've met in residency at the former St. Vincent's hospital in New York City," said Gabitto.
Both Gabitto and Kristos said primary care access is limited in Indian River County and throughout Florida.
"One of the biggest things we've heard about Florida was a need for primary care doctors," said Kristos. "But the Vero Beach need really stood out."
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Indian River is designated a health professional shortage area and medically underserved area.
Kristos notes this shortage could lead to longer wait times for patients.
"People are waiting months and months," said Kristos.
It's an issue neighbor Christine Stenback said she’s experienced since moving to Indian River County nearly three decades ago.
"When I moved here with my daughter, it was a problem. Even then, there was a small number of primary care physicians, not really any specialists at that time," said Stenback. "We retained our doctors in Fort Lauderdale, and we would have to travel back for her; she needed specialists, and we would travel back for me, and that's never really changed."
Kristos hopes this new facility can help with reducing wait times for neighbors and provide more access to quality health care.
"We're able to provide a quick timeframe to see us to get established, and then when something pops up, you have somebody to go see," said Kristos.
The Orlando Health Physician Associates- Adult Medicine is located at 3745 11th Circle, Suite 101, in Vero Beach.
