The University of Florida and Jupiter Medical Center will partner to build a hospital in the Avenir community in Palm Beach Gardens.
This is the first facility to be developed by UF Health and the nonprofit hospital, which signed a letter of intent to work together in June. UF has been expanding its presence in Palm Beach County this year, having taken over the operations of the Scripps Research Institute and announcing plans for a graduate campus in West Palm Beach.
“With the exponential population growth in Palm Beach County and surrounding areas comes the need for innovative and diverse health care offerings,” said Dr. David R. Nelson, senior VP for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health. “The neighborhood hospital is the perfect opportunity to increase community health care access in the region by bringing world-class doctors, state-of-the-art facilities and transformational technology closer to home.”
Totaling 53,000 square feet in two stories, Jupiter Medical Center | UF Health Neighborhood Hospital would feature a 24-hour emergency room, 20 inpatient beds, operating rooms, a diagnostic laboratory, imaging services and medical offices.
Palm Beach Gardens-based Sina Cos. would build the facility. It’s slated to open in 2024.
“The Jupiter Medical Center | UF Health Neighborhood Hospital at the Health Park at Avenir is an example of our strong commitment to expanding access to health care for our growing community,” said Dr. Amit Rastogi, president and CEO of Jupiter Medical Center. “This new, state-of-the-art facility will provide the latest in leading-edge medicine, right where patients want their care — close to home.”
Rastogi said he’s been considering a hospital in that area for two years, before the partnership with UF came about. There are over 30,000 residents there who live more than 15 miles from emergency services, he said.
Avenir is a 4,752-acre master-planned community under development along Northlake Boulevard on the west side of Palm Beach Gardens. It will ultimately have 3,900 homes.
While a 20-bed hospital is a good starting point, there is room to grow the campus if the need arises, Rastogi said. The first phase will create about 100 jobs.
There are no plans for UF Health to staff the hospital, Rastogi said. JMC will work with UF Health for research and academic training, so physicians and nurses will train in both the Avenir hospital and on JMC’s main campus, he said.
“Most trainees end up staying in the area where they receive training,” Rastogi said. “This will create a pipeline of health care workers.”
Rastogi said JMC is considering other neighborhood healthcare facilities with UF Health in Palm Beach County. It’s also boosted its main campus with the construction of an expanded emergency department and a surgical facility, with plans for a 100-bed tower in the works, he added.
Originally published on October 4, 2022 by South Florida Business Journal. To view the original article click here.