The closure of ShorePoint Health in Punta Gorda after hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 left Charlotte County residents with reduced access to emergency and critical care. AdventHealth officials said a new state-of-the-art emergency department will help close that gap.
The freestanding facility is planned for the southeast corner of Jones Loop Road and Mac Ever Street near Interstate 75. It will provide 24-hour emergency services, advanced technology and whole-person care for families throughout the county.
A construction timeline has not been set, but many residents say the project cannot come soon enough. At recent city and county meetings, they expressed concern that hundreds of new homes are being approved even as the county remains one hospital short.
ShorePoint Health closed in October 2024 after severe flooding, forcing patients to travel farther for emergency treatment. AdventHealth announced in December it would purchase ShorePoint’s assets, including the shuttered Punta Gorda hospital. The deal was finalized in March.
ShorePoint Health in Punta Gorda closed in 2024 after flooding from hurricanes Helene and Milton, leaving Charlotte County with fewer emergency care options. AdventHealth plans to build a new facility to help fill the gap.
Community members questioned whether a new hospital would be built on the original site of the 208-bed facility. AdventHealth clarified last week that the new project will be located elsewhere in the city.
“We want families in Punta Gorda and surrounding areas to feel confident that help is close by in an emergency,” said Adam Johnson, president and CEO of AdventHealth Port Charlotte. “This new emergency department is the first step in a long-term commitment to bringing more health care services back home to this community.”
The facility will be overseen by AdventHealth Port Charlotte, formerly ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte, which operates a full-service hospital and other care sites across the county. Officials said the project will be built in phases, beginning with emergency care. A full-service hospital and medical office space could follow based on community needs.
Design details, including the size and architecture, remain in planning stages. A company spokesperson said AdventHealth had planned to announce the project later but moved up the timeline after details emerged in county discussions and on social media.
AdventHealth leaders said they continue to work with city officials and residents to ensure the project addresses community needs. While the timing remains uncertain, they emphasized the new facility represents the start of a long-term health care expansion for Punta Gorda.
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