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Ocala Health released details on an expansion project at Summerfield ER.

This $5 million project will add eight emergency room bays, bringing the total to 19 emergency rooms at the freestanding Summerfield ER location. This project will add an additional 5,100 square feet onto the existing facility. Construction is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

"We are committed to creating an exceptional patient experience and at Summerfield ER, we saw an opportunity to expand this facility so we can continue to provide patients with a more convenient, higher level of quality care," said Chad Christianson, CEO, Ocala Health.

This announcement comes during the addition of multiple access points and expansions across Ocala Health. Ocala Regional Medical Center is currently expanding and renovating its emergency department along with a recent announcement of a $31 million expansion in which 34 beds will be added to the facility. This project is expected to begin in July.

Plans were also announced in May of a $27 million expansion at West Marion Community Hospital in which a second cath lab will be added along with a dedicated 10-bed, prepost cath lab recovery unit as well as two large operating suites, bringing the total to 10 operating suites.

Ocala Health has also recently announced plans to build a third freestanding emergency department off 466A in Wildwood. Ocala Health's second freestanding emergency department, Maricamp ER will open in August of this year.