• HCA Florida named Brian T. Cook as president of its North Florida Division on Wednesday 
• The division oversees health facilities spanning all areas of the panhandle to the southern border of Orlando, encompassing some of the largest hospitals in the state 
• Cook previously served as CEO of two HCA Florida North Florida Division hospitals before taking over as head of the Far West Division 

HCA Florida Healthcare, one of the state’s largest healthcare systems, named Brian T. Cook as president of the HCA Healthcare North Florida Division and its affiliated sites of care from Pensacola to the south of Orlando.

Cook, who presently heads HCA’s Far West facility division, will oversee a consortium of health centers that include some of the largest and busiest in the state, including HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital.

Prior to his management of the Far West Division, Cook served as chief executive officer at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital in Gainesville and HCA Florida Capital Hospital in Tallahassee.

“Brian is an exceptional healthcare leader who has led the HCA Healthcare Far West Division with integrity and respect for both patients and colleagues,” said current North Florida Division president Richard Hammett. “We’re all looking forward to him returning home and contributing his leadership experience to the North Florida Division.”

In the same announcement, the company stated that it is forming of a new hospital group comprised of preexisting divisions. HCA Healthcare Atlantic Group, to include the company’s HCA Healthcare West Florida, HCA Healthcare East Florida, HCA Healthcare North Florida, HCA Healthcare South Atlantic, and HCA Healthcare MidAmerica divisions will begin operation at the turn of the calendar year.

HCA Florida has been of the fastest-expanding healthcare groups in the country of late, purchasing 22 acres of land this month to build a new hospital in Manatee County hospital.

The facility will initially house 150 beds but is being constructed to be able to expand capacity if healthcare needs necessitate it. The facility will encompass 125,000 square feet and will be focused on preventive care, emergency services, and acute care services, according to the company.

Further, HCA Florida opened a new emergency care facility in Tampa last month as part of the HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital. The center serves as the hospital’s first freestanding emergency room, offering comprehensive emergency response capabilities.

HCA posted third-quarter financial numbers totaling a $1.1 billion net income, with a 5.6 percent increase in same-facility inpatient surgeries and a 2 percent increase in same-facility outpatient surgeries.