Primary care provider ChenMed plans more Orlando locations

ChenMed plans to open new Orlando centers this year.

A Miami-based medical company plans to add more primary care sites in Orlando. ChenMed — which focuses on seniors and Medicare Advantage patients — will open three new locations here during the second half of 2021.

The company opened its first three Orlando locations last year under the name Dedicated Senior Medical Centers at 2724 N. Hiawassee Road, 690 S. Goldenrod Road and 4613 S. Orange Blossom Trail.

One of the new locations will open in September in Fairview Shores, Dr. Hermena Cerphy-Firmin, associate chief medical officer for Dedicated Senior Medical Centers in Orlando, told Orlando Business Journal. The other two locations are being finalized for northeast and southeast Orlando in the fourth quarter.

An address for the locations and a cost of buildout was not provided. The company usually leases its locations.

ChenMed's centers usually are 10,000-12,000 square feet and each initially hires 10-15 employees, including primary care doctors.

"In the community, it is common to see some doctors taking care of thousands of patients. Here, we make sure each doctor's panel does not exceed 450 patients," Cerphy-Firmin said.

ChenMed, which has more than 50 locations in eight states, expects to open roughly 26 new care sites in 2021. Other markets where it plans to grow are Miami, Tampa, Detroit, Houston and New Orleans.

That growth comes as greater Orlando's population continues to grow. Roughly 1,500 people move to Central Florida each week, according to the Orlando Economic Partnership, the region's public/private economic development group.

Further, by 2030, one in every five Americans is projected to be age 65 or older, but Central Florida is expected to hit that mark sooner, between 2025-2030. That will put strain the availability of workers and health care services, among other sectors.

By Ryan Lynch – Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal