Two major health systems broke ground on freestanding emergency departments the week of Jan. 26, expanding their emergency care access footprint in the state.
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare broke ground on Fort Myers, Fla.-based HCA Florida Alico Emergency Jan. 28. It is expected to open this fall.
The $21.5 million, 11,000-square-foot, freestanding ED will operate as an extension of HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital. It comprises 11 emergency exam rooms, an ambulance bay, onsite laboratory services, and imaging capabilities like X-ray, CT and ultrasound, according to a news release shared with Becker’s.
“Finding care close to home is critical, especially in an emergency,” Harry Walk, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer at HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital, said in the release. “This facility will ensure patients in South Fort Myers have access to hospital‑level emergency services when minutes matter most.”
An HCA spokesperson told Becker’s in early January that the system operates 71 freestanding ERs in Florida, with plans to add 10 more in the first quarter of 2026.
Rockledge, Fla.-based Health First broke ground Jan. 28 on an approximately $22 million freestanding emergency department in Rockledge, the first in Brevard County (Fla.) and for Health First.
The 12-bed, 13,500-square-foot, freestanding ED will also comprise lab and imaging services such as CT, X-ray and ultrasound, a three-bay, low-acuity treatment area, a full generator backup and a Category 4-rated structure.
It will be staffed 24/7 and will create around 45 to 50 full time jobs, a Health First spokesperson confirmed with Becker’s.
“Health First has long planned for the creation of freestanding ERs in Brevard County as the population is projected to grow steadily into the next decade,” the system said in a news release shared with Becker’s. “However, based on the evolving needs of the community, particularly given the swift closure of Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital in April 2025, Health First has fast-tracked long-planned efforts to expand access to emergency care across Brevard County.”
Health First is also planning to build a second freestanding ED in the south end of Brevard County. However, the timing and location are still being decided.
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