Hospital groups present proposals for Health Central's future

Four hospital corporations sent representatives to Ocoee on Tuesday, courting one of the last independent hospitals in Central Florida.

The proposals included offers to buy the hospital outright — and give millions of dollars to Health Central's foundation — or create partnerships that would bring everything from cancer centers to a new assisted-living facility to the hospital.

At stake is a 171-bed hospital in West Orange County, a nursing home, 94 acres of land in Ocoee and an additional 80 acres at Horizons West, a planned community nearby where many of the suitors envision expanding medical services.