Work continues on a free-standing HCA Healthcare emergency center in Nassau County.
The 11,000-square-foot facility in Yulee is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025.
It is at 462541 Florida 200 east of Interstate 95 and about a mile southwest of the Wildlight master-planned community.
The estimated total project cost is $32 million, said Tammy Razmic, HCA Florida Healthcare chief operating officer.
The center is on a 55.28-acre site HCA Healthcare bought from the county in July 2019 for $15.8 million.
HCA Healthcare is scheduled to break ground on the facility May 10.
Construction began in February.
Birmingham, Alabama-based Hoar Construction is the contractor.
Brentwood, Tennessee-based TMPartners PLLC is the architect. Nashville-based Catalyst Design Group is the civil engineer.
Site plans show 10 exam rooms and spaces for CT scans and radiology.
The center will have 65 parking spaces.
The plan shows two parcels on the property set aside for future developments.
Razmic said HCA Healthcare chose to expand in Yulee because of the county’s overall growth, including at Wildlight and farther west in Callahan, as well as the need for more health care options away from the beaches.
HCAFloridaHealthcare.com says it does not currently offer emergency care within 20 miles of the planned center.
“Nassau County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Florida, and as HCA Healthcare being the largest health care provider in the state, we recognize the need to bring health care to a significantly growing community and especially in the town of Yulee,” Razmic said.
“We can take care of the entire range of complaints for which patients seek emergency care,” said Dr. Frederick Jenkins, HCA Florida emergency department medical director. “We’re a true emergency department.”
Razmic said HCA Healthcare hopes to draw from the county’s workforce to staff the facility.
“We’re grateful for the partnership and we welcome them with open arms,” said Paul Schwend, chair of the Nassau County Economic Development Board. “They see our growth and it’s a tip of that hat to everything happening in Nassau County.”