October 23, 2026 – Oviedo Medical Center, part of HCA Florida Healthcare, has reached a significant milestone in cardiovascular care, completing its first interventional cardiology procedure and officially launching a new service that brings advanced heart care closer to home for area residents.
The procedure marks the latest advancement in heart and vascular treatment options offered at the Oviedo hospital since it opened 10 years ago. The addition represents an important expansion of the hospital’s cardiovascular program and its continued commitment to growing alongside the community it serves.
“This is a tremendous milestone for our hospital and the Oviedo community,” said Cameron Howard, CEO. “We are proud to take this next step in the evolution of care in Oviedo. Bringing interventional cardiology here means our patients can access more advanced cardiovascular services in the community they call home.”
Interventional cardiology uses minimally invasive, catheter-based techniques to diagnose and treat certain heart and vascular conditions such as narrowed or blocked arteries. With the launch of the new program, patients in Oviedo and surrounding communities now have local access to specialized cardiac procedures that previously may have required travel to another facility.
The inaugural procedure was performed by Dr. Caleb Mercado on a 78-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease, alongside a multidisciplinary team of nurses, technologists and other cardiovascular specialists. The patient underwent a balloon angioplasty to the circumflex artery due to an 80% blockage of the artery. He is recovering well.
“Today represents much more than the completion of our first procedures,” said Dr. Bob Shaver, Chief Medical Officer. “It represents expanded access to specialized heart care for this community. Our team has worked diligently to build a program focused on clinical excellence, safety and an exceptional experience for every patient and family we serve.”
The milestone is especially meaningful as Oviedo Medical Center celebrates 10 years in Oviedo. Since opening, the hospital has continued to expand its services, technology and clinical expertise to meet the needs of the growing community.
The addition of interventional cardiology builds upon that commitment and strengthens the continuum of cardiovascular care available locally.
“For a decade, this community has trusted us with its care, and we have continued to listen, grow and invest in the services our patients need,” said Howard. “Launching interventional cardiology is an exciting next chapter, and one that will have a meaningful impact on heart care in Oviedo for years to come. This milestone is the result of more than a year of hard work, planning and collaboration among our physicians and staff. I want to personally thank every team member whose dedication and commitment helped make this program a reality for our community.”
HCA Florida Healthcare provides patients access to specialists and advanced services through Florida’s largest cardiovascular network, offering a full range of heart, lung and vascular care. Cardiovascular and stroke care teams work together to identify patients at risk, support early intervention and help prevent complications. Learn more about cardiovascular care and find a cardiologist at HCAFloridaHealthcare.com/specialties/cardiology. For more information about services available at Oviedo Medical Center, visit hcafloridahealthcare.com/locations/oviedo-medical-center.
About Oviedo Medical Center
Oviedo Medical Center, the state-of-the-art 96-bed acute care hospital, provides a full range of healthcare services to east Seminole County and surrounding communities. Services include medical and surgical inpatient units, robotic surgery, intensive care, medical cardiology, telemetry, cardiac catheterization, inpatient and outpatient surgery, women’s services including labor and delivery, cardiopulmonary services, comprehensive diagnostic imaging and 24/7 emergency care. Oviedo Medical Center is designed with the patient in mind with personalized care, all private rooms and the newest medical technology available.
Oviedo Medical Center is located at the intersection of Red Bug Lake Road and State Road 426, adjacent to State Road 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay). Oviedo Medical Center offers three 24/7/365 freestanding emergency rooms in Central Florida: HCA Florida Baldwin Park Emergency, HCA Florida Alafaya Emergency and HCA Florida Maitland Emergency.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is one of Florida’s leading healthcare networks. Its 11,200 physicians and 80,000 colleagues work together to deliver evidence-based, collaborative care through nearly 12.8 million patient encounters annually. With more than 670 connected care sites—including hospitals, physician practices, urgent care centers and freestanding emergency rooms—across the state, HCA Florida Healthcare helps expand access to the specialized care patients need. HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals are annually recognized for excellence in patient experience and clinical outcomes, including three facilities ranked in the top 2% nationally for overall clinical excellence. A leader in healthcare education, HCA Florida Healthcare supports the next generation of healthcare workers through its 153 graduate medical education programs across 29 hospitals. In 2025, the network provided more than $1.1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.5 million to community organizations across the state. Visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
