Orlando Health held a ribbon cutting Thursday for a new eight-exam room adult primary care center in Vero Beach located at 3745 11th Circle Suite 101. The facility can see 40 patients a day and has room to grow, according to Aaron Bridges, assistant vice president of Orlando Health. The center will be led by husband-and-wife physicians Dr. Meron Kristos and Dr. Gabitto, who met during residency at the former St. Vincent's hospital in New York City.
Both doctors said primary care access is limited in Indian River County and throughout Florida. According to the Cleveland Clinic, Indian River is designated a health professional shortage area and medically underserved area. Dr. Kristos said the shortage leads to longer wait times for patients, with people waiting months to see a doctor. Christine Stenback, who has lived in Indian River County nearly three decades, said she experienced this problem when she moved here with her daughter. At that time, there was a small number of primary care physicians and not really any specialists, so her family had to travel to Fort Lauderdale for medical care. Orlando Health staff hope the new facility can help reduce long wait times and provide patients with quicker access to establish care.