Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital treated more than 500,000 patients in 2025, expanded its cancer and neurology services, invested nearly $27 million in facility improvements and raised almost $12 million in community donations.
On top of that, hospital operations continue to move toward the break-even point financially after accumulating roughly $250 million in losses since 2019.
That news was part of a largely positive update presented to the county Health District on Oct. 15 by the hospital’s vice president and chief medical officer, Dr. Richard Rothman.
Each May, Cleveland Clinic gives the Indian River County Hospital District a written report on how the previous calendar year ended financially, and on any big problems or developments at the hospital. Then in October the administrator gives an in-person report with a back-and-forth question-and-answer period with district trustees.
Previous years’ reports were not so rosy as Cleveland Clinic took over the hospital the year before a global pandemic, followed by supply chain slowdowns, labor shortages and rampant inflation.
Three successive hospital leaders have been digging their way out ever since.
“Coming out of the pandemic, the healthcare in the county faced a number of challenges,” Rothman told the district’s board of trustees last week.
“Cost of care continues to rise. The number of professional workers coming in to serve a growing population didn’t meet the demands of the community. Vulnerable services, care for patients with mental illness, maternity care, in our aging population — also challenged.”
Rothman thanked the hospital district for helping Cleveland Clinic emerge from the pandemic era intact. “And I’m proud to say it’s a sustainable healthcare system,” he said.
From 2019 to today, Cleveland Clinic increased its workforce from 1,900 to 2,700, which includes the Vero headquarters of Hospital at Home, which serves the entire Cleveland Clinic Florida system.
“The scope of healthcare services offered and contemplated hasn’t decreased. It’s actually grown,” Rothman said. “The hospital maintained or expanded all of our services in 2025, and we continue to focus on expansion and advancing services across numerous specialties.”
The Behavioral Health Center shifted its focus this year to meet the growing needs of people with dementia and chronic neurodivergent conditions, and to ease the transition of people with mental health issues drastically reducing the number of first or subsequent hospitalizations.
“More and more patients seek out the Cleveland Clinic for mental healthcare,” Rothman said.
“Mental illness continues to impact many members of our community. Mental illness does not discriminate based on age, and resources continue to dwindle. I thank the district members for their partnership. In supporting the Cleveland Clinic in reimagining how we deliver mental healthcare. People are living a better life because of the Behavioral Health Center.”
The new labor and delivery unit, renovated with $7 million that came mostly from philanthropy, is beginning to attract more expectant moms and babies with two to three infants born each day in Vero.
“With your support, we’ve been able to stand up a sustainable care delivery model for mothers and babies, with quality rankings that match amongst the best maternity services in the country,” Rothman said.
Trustee Paul Westcott held up a photo of his new baby granddaughter who was born at Indian River Hospital and thanked Rothman for the care his family members received over the past year. “You guys did great,” he said, noting that the progress Rothman has made in the past two years has been “tremendous.”
Rothman noted nationwide recognition this past year with a long-awaited Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of A for Spring 2026, a top 10 ranking in U.S. News and World Report, and a five-star hospital rating by Forbes magazine.
Trustee Dr. Chuck Mackett also pointed out that Indian River Hospital just got a glowing report from the Joint Commission which accredits hospitals. “I wanted to commend Dr. Rothman and his team for the outstanding work that you’ve done in the last two years. Not only the financial turnaround, but the quality achievements that you noted in your report,” Mackett said. “This past year’s Joint Commission survey, I believe the results were the best in the history of the hospital. And I, and I think you ought to be very proud of that.”
Keeping local residents in Vero Beach for cancer care has been a focus for Rothman over the past year. Excellent cancer care begins with the best quality diagnostic tools and doctors, and Rothman said his hospital has upped its game in those areas. “We grew our team, with more than 10 care and support specialists today, and that number continues to grow,” he said.
“We continue to upgrade our imaging centers with advanced technologies like advanced MRI machines for detection of prostate cancer. Many of these machines, such as our 3D mammography devices, now have AI capabilities to improve early detection of nodules in the breast,” he said. “Our goal is to prevent disease and intervene early, so not to let it progress.
The Scully-Welsh Cancer Center continues to expand, he said, with more infusion suites for chemo, and cancer medication is not only going to those who can afford it. In 2019, 102 indigent patients received chemotherapy and in 2025 that number was 260. The number of indigent patients who received radiation therapy grew from 80 to 336 in the same six years.
“As we think about innovative treatment plans for patients, we understand that cancer care is more than just chemotherapy infusions,” Rothmam said. “We also advance our offerings for complex head and neck surgery, prostate cancer, diagnostic technology and new robotic systems.”
The robotics, he said, drastically cut patients’ recovery and hospital time.
“Today we’re able to perform minimally invasive spine surgery with small incisions. Patients are going home the next day,” he said.
“With all of this, we also recognize the pressures that community members and patients feel. The cost of healthcare continues to rise. The cost of living continues to increase. We’re committed to continuing to work with the community and the district to ensure that we create a sustainable model for care delivery,” Rothman said.
In 2025 Cleveland Clinic had $17.8 million in indigent care write-offs, $4.4 million of which was offset by funding from taxpayers through the Hospital District for prenatal care, maternity, and behavioral health.
While the emergency department renovations wind down, the next big capital projects for Cleveland Clinic are a three-phase $90 million power plant for the hospital campus, and free-standing emergency departments planned for Oslo Road and Sebastian.
Rothman said the hospital is rounding the corner in terms of finances after a quarter billion dollars in losses in Vero since 2019.
“In 2024, it may have been difficult to imagine that the Cleveland Clinic would be giving back to the community. Over the last year, we have committed millions of dollars. to support organizations across Indian River County, everything ranging from community sports in our schools to resources to support seniors, but importantly, to prevent food deprivation,” Rothman said. “We’re excited to continue to partner in the county and couldn’t be prouder of our team.”
Before taking questions, Rothman concluded, “Thank you guys for the support and especially the residents who support the Indian River Hospital District. We’re invested in healthcare here in the community, and I hope that our performance continues to demonstrate that.”
