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OCALA - Area residents, local officials and business leaders were present as Ocala Health leadership broke ground today on the site of the new Maricamp ER, a new freestanding ER on Maricamp Road adjacent to First Baptist Church.

The new, 24/7 full service freestanding emergency department will feature 12 emergency room beds and will be capable of caring for all ages, including pediatrics. The 10,820-square-foot, one-story facility will front Maricamp Road and will be accessible from SE 30th Avenue. The freestanding ER is expected to serve more than 11,500 patients a year. The $13 million project will employ approximately 30 full-time healthcare professionals.

"The Maricamp ER facility represents our latest step to expand health care into the community," said Chad Christianson, CEO, Ocala Health. "While continuing to expand our Ocala Regional and West Marion campuses, we saw an opportunity to bring emergency care closer to our southeast Ocala residents. We believe this freestanding emergency room will provide our patients a more convenient, higher level experience for emergent care. We will continue to expand healthcare services where needed for our growing community."

This will be Ocala Health's second freestanding emergency department. Ocala Health opened its first freestanding emergency department in Summerfield (Summerfield ER) in October 2016.

About Ocala Health

Ocala Health encompasses Ocala Regional Medical Center, a 222-bed facility located in the heart of Ocala, and West Marion Community Hospital, a 138-bed hospital located in west Marion County, and Summerfield ER, a freestanding emergency department located in southern Marion County. Ocala Health has the only Commission on Cancer approved cancer center in Marion County. The hospitals offer a host of other quality and award winning services including orthopedic care and joint replacement, robotic surgery, cardiac and vascular services including open heart surgery and interventional procedures, emergency, neurological and rehabilitation services, and bariatric surgery. Ocala Regional Medical Center is also a Level II Trauma Center. Ocala Health's outpatient facilities include Family Care Specialists, a primary care network of six locations throughout Marion County; Advanced Imaging Centers; a freestanding Wound and Hyperbaric Center; a Senior Wellness Community Center; and two surgical and physician specialty practices.