John Moore, President, Orlando Health

August 2026 —Invest: sat down with John Moore, president of Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, to discuss how the system is expanding specialty care across Tampa Bay while navigating industry uncertainty and rapid change. “We will stay focused on meeting the needs created by continued growth across the Tampa Bay market,” Moore said.

When you look back over the past year, what changes impacted Orlando Health, and in what ways?

We saw more uncertainty in the healthcare market over the past year as the country continues to work through leadership transitions and shifting priorities. That uncertainty has shown up nationally and locally, and it has reinforced the need to plan thoughtfully for what is next.

At the same time, we experienced significant growth. That includes physical expansion as well as broadening our service lines by bringing more physicians into the region. We expect that growth to continue as we move forward, and we are staying focused on building the capabilities and capacity our communities need.

What early impact are you seeing from Institute Square on volumes, referrals, and patient experience?

We recently completed the opening of Institute Square. It is a meaningful step forward for the region, and the early focus is on improving access and making specialty care more coordinated and more convenient for patients.

One of the highlights is expanded cancer care in St. Petersburg. It is a comprehensive approach, from medical oncology to radiation oncology to surgical oncology, all in one location. The intent is to bring those specialties together so patients can move through their care in a more connected way, supported by physicians who collaborate closely and make the experience as personal as possible.

What are the key components of Institute Square that you are most excited about?

First is the cancer care expansion, particularly the ability to deliver a comprehensive set of services in one place. That coordination matters, and it supports both quality and the patient experience.

Second, we have fully opened the new Jewett Orthopedic Institute location at Institute Square. Jewett Orthopedic Institute is the oldest provider of orthopedic care in the state of Florida. It is based in Orlando, and it has expanded into the Tampa Bay region. In addition to St. Petersburg, the institute now offers services in Tampa and north of Tampa in Wesley Chapel.

Third is the opening of our Women’s Institute. That is an important step in focusing on women’s care and the specialties that support women’s unique needs throughout their healthcare journey and throughout their lives.

What growth milestones are coming next for Orlando Health in the region?

We continue to grow across the region, and another major milestone is the opening of our hospital in Wesley Chapel, the Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital.

Opening a new hospital is a significant undertaking, and we wanted to make sure it was ready to serve the community effectively from day one, with the right services, the right team, and the right culture in place.

What are you doing differently in Tampa Bay to recruit, retain, and support clinical talent across hospital and outpatient settings?

Workforce development and access remain challenges in healthcare, both nationally and here in our region. That said, we have seen great success in recruitment and retention in Tampa Bay.

A lot of that comes back to culture. Orlando Health stands for something, and we work hard to make sure our team members feel supported and valued as they move through their careers. We also look for people who align with our culture, because culture is not a slogan. It is how the organization operates every day, and it shapes the experience of both team members and patients.

Starting a new hospital requires substantial recruitment, and we have been intentional about finding individuals who match our culture. We have seen good synergy there, and we truly have not had major challenges recruiting or retaining our workforce.

Care models are evolving fast. As Orlando Health expands clinically integrated and value-based models, how are you applying those approaches in West Florida?

Healthcare delivery is being redesigned in many ways, and today it is almost impossible to have this conversation without artificial intelligence being part of it. Artificial intelligence is increasingly a component of how we think about care redesign and how we support clinicians and patients.

We look to keep it personal and focused on you, and whatever technology we use to provide care, we want to be sure it does not compromise the relationship between caregivers and patients and their families.

Every system is balancing financial pressures and rising demand. Where are you finding the biggest operational challenges, and where do you see opportunity?

We are facing inflationary pressures just like many industries. The cost of goods continues to rise, and in healthcare that affects construction, equipment purchases, and commodity purchases. Those increases create real challenges in how we operate.

At the same time, a large portion of our business does not see reimbursement increases that keep pace with inflation. That reality puts pressure on efficiency, and it requires us to look carefully at how we deliver care. The opportunity is in redesigning processes so we maintain the highest quality while also operating in an efficient manner.

How are you prioritizing community engagement and investment across Tampa Bay?

We stay very connected with our community, and that is a foundation of our culture at Orlando Health. The communities we serve are central to our mission, and you cannot fulfill that mission without being present, listening, and staying connected.

That connection helps us stay tuned in to needs that can shift over time. We continually assess what the needs are and look for ways to address those needs.

How do you measure whether your efforts are translating into real outcomes for patients?

Quality is a major focus, and it is one of the clearest ways to measure performance and outcomes for patients. We are proud to once again have a Leapfrog A grade, with Leapfrog being one of the larger organizations that grades hospitals on patient safety.

That recognition matters because it reflects sustained work by teams across the organization. It is about consistency, accountability, and the daily discipline required to keep patients safe and deliver high-quality care.

As Tampa Bay’s population and employer base expand, what role do you see Orlando Health playing as both a care provider and an economic anchor?

The Tampa Bay region, like many parts of Florida, continues to grow exponentially. It is remarkable to see the pace of that growth across different parts of the region.

With that growth comes a greater need for healthcare, and our responsibility is to understand where growth is happening, what kind of growth it is, and what the demographics tell us about future demand. That allows us to plan appropriately so we can provide the right type of care and the right level of care for the communities we serve as needs change.

Looking ahead to the next two to three years, what are your key goals and priorities?

We will stay focused on meeting the needs created by continued growth across the Tampa Bay market, but we also cannot take our eye off the need to harness technology to deliver care that is both efficient and effective.

We need to keep it personal. Maintaining the connection between patients, families, and caregivers remains essential. And above all, our goal is always to provide the highest quality care possible.