Ocala Health will expand access to emergency care in southeast Marion County with the opening of a freestanding emergency department on Maricamp Road near the intersection of Maricamp Road and SE 25th Avenue, located adjacent to First Baptist Church. Construction is expected to begin in late 2018 and the facility is expected to open late 2019.

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.

"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," says Chad Christianson, Ocala Health CEO. "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.