ST. LUCIE COUNTY– HCA East Florida, a division of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), announced that it is embarking on a major capital investment initiative that will invest approximately $650 million in healthcare facilities in Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties. This initiative includes building new facilities and expanding and improving existing healthcare facilities within the East Florida market over the next three years. The capital investments underscore the company’s commitment to the region, which includes 14 hospitals and multiple healthcare facilities.

“We in HCA East Florida continue to commit to investments in quality comprehensive healthcare services for our community,” said Michael G. Joseph, HCA East Florida President and CEO. “We are the largest provider of healthcare in our area. Our patient volumes have grown over the past few years and created capacity constraints in many of our facilities. These investments will allow us to better serve our communities, respond to the growing demand for healthcare services and provide the highest level patient care experience.”

Highlights of the capital investment projects in East Florida include the following projects.

A new hospital will be built on the campus of Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Davie, Florida. This hospital is HCA’s single largest investment at $219 million. Construction should begin later this year. HCA East Florida already operates a free-standing emergency room facility on the NSU campus.

JFK Medical Center in Atlantis/Palm Beach, a 472-bed facility, will receive $108 million to add a three-story bed tower, expand the emergency room, complete patient unit renovations and expand and upgrade its parking facilities.

Westside Regional Medical Center in Plantation, a 224-bed facility, will receive $56 million to expand its patient beds and provide much needed private rooms.

Kendall Regional Medical Center, a 417-bed facility, will receive $90 million to add a new parking garage and a new four-story tower, which will house additional operating rooms, ICU beds, and pediatric beds.

Aventura Hospital & Medical Center, a 407-bed facility, will receive $61 million to build a new patient tower, a parking garage, and expand its emergency room.

Northwest Medical Center in Margate, a 228-bed facility, will receive $66 million to build two new floors that will increase patient beds and ICU capacity plus add a 6-level 322-space parking garage.

Mercy Hospital in Miami, a 488 bed facility, will receive $26 million for enhancements to patient rooms, and additional remodeling and upgrading of the facility.

Two new free-standing emergency rooms facilities will be developed. One will be located in Doral, Florida, and the other one in the Town & Country area of Kendall, Florida. Together they will cost approximately $20 million.

HCA East Florida is the largest health system from the Treasure Coast to Miami Dade County and encompasses 14 affiliated hospitals, in addition to multiple ambulatory surgery centers and imaging centers, physician practices, four free-standing emergency care facilities, a supply chain center and an integrated regional laboratory. HCA East Florida employs more than 16,500 individuals and has more than 6,000 physicians on staff with an economic impact well over $2 billion. HCA East Florida Hospitals provide $290 million in healthcare services to those unable to pay for their care and has the largest emergency room network and operates the most trauma centers in the service area.

The 14 HCA East Florida hospitals are Northwest Medical Center, Plantation General Hospital, University Hospital & Medical Center, Westside Regional Medical Center, Aventura Hospital & Medical Center, Kendall Regional Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, Sister Emmanuel Hospital, JFK Medical Center, JFK North Campus, (formerly West Palm Hospital), Palms West Hospital, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center, Raulerson Hospital and St. Lucie Medical Center.

HCA East Florida is an affiliate of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). For more information, visit HCAEastFlorida.com.

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