St. Louis-based Ascension continues to build out its freestanding emergency department network with a new opening in Jacksonville, Fla.
Ascension St. Vincent’s is expanding emergency care access in Jacksonville., with the opening of a new freestanding ED on the city’s Southside. The facility aims to improve access to emergency services in a growing area with high rates of cardiovascular-related deaths, the health system said in a May 4 system news release.
“Opening this new freestanding ER allows us to meet the needs of this community by reducing barriers to care and giving patients more options when every minute matters,” Cory Darling, president and CEO of St. Vincent’s Southside, said.
The 10,000-square-foot emergency department will be staffed by more than 40 associates and is expected to treat over 16,000 patients annually. The site includes a triage area, a critical care room, 10 treatment spaces, on-site lab services and CT and X-ray imaging.
Freestanding EDs have emerged as a popular growth strategy for major health systems, as organizations look to expand market reach and meet rising demand in growing communities.
Ascension already operates two freestanding EDs in Jacksonville and has continued to invest in these types of facilities in several key markets. In April, Pensacola, Fla.-based Ascension Sacred Heart opened its fourth freestanding ED in the region. The system also plans to build a new freestanding ED and outpatient campus in Fairview, Tenn.
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