Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute Inc. sent a notice to state and local officials March 31 saying it is laying off 153 people as it closes six Northeast Florida locations and cuts employment at three others.
In an April 2 statement to Action New Jax, Baptist Health says it is part of a plan for JOI to restructure with a group of its physicians forming an independent practice. Baptist issued the same statement to the Daily Record on April 3.
The letter sent to officials under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act said JOI is closing rehabilitation facilities starting May 30 or within 14 days after that at the following sites:
• 12220 Atlantic Blvd. in Jacksonville
• 1747 Baptist Clay Drive in Fleming Island
• 12961 North Main St. in Jacksonville
• 7740 Point Meadows Drive in Jacksonville
• 14534 Old St. Augustine Road in St. Augustine
• 105 Murabella Parkway in the World Golf Village in St. Augustine
• JOI is also closing a physicians’ office at 13534 Old St. Augustine Road.
JOI is permanently laying off employees at rehabilitation and physicians' offices in three locations:
• 1325 San Marco Blvd. in Jacksonville
• 12276 San Jose Blvd. in Jacksonville
• 203 Fort Wade Road in Ponte Vedra
Those layoffs will be done in two waves, one between May 30 and June 13 and the second between June 30 and July 14.
“All affected employees have been notified of their separation dates and that their separation from employment will be permanent,” JOI said in the letter.
The letter was sent to the Florida Department of Commerce and to Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Chair Krista Joseph and Clay County Board of County Commissioners Chair Betsy Condon.
Action News Jax reported April 2 that Baptist Health is taking over five JOI rehab locations and issued a statement:
“In 2011, Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute (JOI) sold its stock to Baptist Health. A group of JOI physicians signed an agreement to repurchase the stock and return to operating as an independent practice once the transaction closes in approximately 90 days. This buyback option was part of the original agreement and has been planned for some time. JOI and Baptist will continue working together and remain committed to providing the community with excellent orthopedic care, as always,” it said.
“As part of this transition, JOI is planning to restructure, which will result in the closure of several locations and the elimination of certain positions. These decisions were not made lightly, and JOI is committed to helping all impacted employees understand their benefits and providing resources for career continuity to ensure a smooth transition.”
In past seasons, JOI had been the Jacksonville Jaguars’ official orthopedic caregiver through its agreement with Baptist Health as the team’s official health care provider.
For the 2025-26 season, UF Health Jacksonville is the team’s official health care partner, according Jaguars Director of Business Communications Lyndsay Rossman.
The team will retain a partnership with Baptist Health by naming Wolfson Children’s Hospital as the Jaguars’ official children’s hospital, she said.
The change in partners had nothing to do with the JOI restructuring, Rossman said.
The change in health care partners may not mean much to players.
“By law, the team cannot force any of the players to use the services of our partners,” she said.
The Jaguars declined to speak to the length and terms of the new UF Health Jacksonville agreement.
JOI has not responded to Daily Record calls or emails for comment.
This story has been updated with the correct layoff total and comment from the Jaguars.