ORMC seeks permit for $19 million expansion

Ocala Regional Medical Center is shown in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

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Posted May 20, 2021 | By Carlos Medina, carlos@ocalagazette.com

Ocala Regional Medical Center is planning a $19 million project to add a third floor to a portion of the hospital near downtown Ocala, according to an application filed with the City of Ocala.

The hospital, operated by Ocala Health and part of HCA Healthcare, filed the construction permit application on April 30 with the Ocala Growth Management Department.

The document details a plan to build a more than 25,000-square-foot addition and add 35 new beds, including 10 for neurological intensive care, 10 for neurological intermediate care and 15 for medical/surgical needs.

Representatives with Ocala Health did not immediately respond for comment about the plans.

The project would be the latest multimillion addition to ORMC, a level 2 trauma center.

In December, the hospital celebrated the completion of a $31 million expansion at ORMC that added nearly 29,000 square feet dedicated to cardiovascular care. That project included an additional 36 beds, including 10 for cardiovascular intensive care, 10 for cardiovascular step-down patients and 16 for patients getting cardiac procedures.

That followed the April 2019 unveiling of upgrades to its emergency department, along with another new floor adding 34 beds. That new floor was dedicated to stroke patients and was part of the hospital’s designation as a comprehensive stroke center from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. The designation means the hospital can provide advanced diagnostics, certain types of neurological surgery, rehabilitation and more.

As part of the recently completed 2020 cardiovascular expansion, a second floor was added to the area that now houses the intensive care unit.

If the latest expansion is approved, the hospital would grow to 323 beds.

Ocala Health also operates West Marion Community Hospital on State Road 200. That facility has also seen numerous expansions over the years. The latest is a $33 million project that will add more than 40,600 square feet for an inpatient rehabilitation center. The project will add 36 new beds to West Marion, bringing the total to 222 inpatient beds at that facility.

The project also includes the expansion of the emergency department, which will add six new treatment beds and a new emergency room entrance. The project, which broke ground in March, is scheduled to be completed in August 2022.

Ocala Health also operates three freestanding emergency centers, including Maricamp ER, 2897 SE Maricamp Rd., Summerfield ER, 14193 U.S. Highway 441 and Trailwinds Village ER in Sumter County.