- November 22, 2024
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With the continued growth of Flagler County, AdventHealth on Jan. 19 announced that it would build a new 100-bed hospital on Palm Coast Parkway, between Belle Terre Parkway and U.S. 1, near Bridgehaven Drive.
The new hospital, called AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway, represents a $100 million investment in Flagler County, a press release stated. Construction is set to begin in September, and the hospital is planned to open in 2022. Four hundred to 700 new jobs will be created.
“We look forward to bringing our world-class services closer to home for more people in this growing region,” David Ottati, president/CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida Division-North, said in the press release. (Ottati is also the former administrator of the current 99-bed hospital in Palm Coast, on State Road 100 near Interstate 95.)
Ottati continued: “COVID-19 has shown us the importance of strong health care infrastructure and, while these plans were in motion before the onset of the pandemic, our recent experience underscores the need for fast access to quality health care.”
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland sees the expansion in the context of so many other health-care announcements in the past several months: the University of North Florida's MedNexus and Jacksonville University's campus in Town Center, as well as Flagler Health's investment in Palm Coast, not to mention Daytona State College's expanding nursing program.
She called AdventHealth's investment one of the largest ever seen in the city.
"AdventHealth has been an incredible strategic partner throughout the development of this medical technology hub," she said. "They have assisted with us many times on calls, talking about career opportunities. So, we are very fortunate to have them already in our community, but this will allow for greater access to health care for our residents, as well as educational and career opportunities."
Health care is quickly becoming the community's most important economic development driver, she said.
“There’s no doubt that we absolutely need additional medical services in the county, and I’m really super thrilled that they’re stepping up to the plate with a $100 million investment,” said Donald O’Brien, Flagler County Commission chairman. He said the added jobs are also worth celebrating.
"It plays perfectly right into how I see us developing, with medical, education and technology all coming together," O'Brien added. "I think that’s a winning formula for us."
AdventHealth has been considering this move for two years, according to Ron Jimenez, CEO of AdventHealth Palm Coast. He said a new facility will be attractive to physicians, and having two hospitals in Flagler County could help physicians arrange their office time to see more patients.
According to the announcement, AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway will include about the same services as the State Road 100 hospital:
As with the State Road 100 facility, there is more room to grow. The press release states that the Palm Coast Parkway hospital is on a 10-acre site that could accommodate a 30,000-square-foot medical office building in the future.
“The ability to get to an emergency department in minutes can mean the difference between life or death for our patients,” Dr. Paul Mucciolo, chief of staff at AdventHealth Palm Coast, said in the press release. “I’m thrilled that even more families will be just a few minutes’ drive from our world-class care.”
AdventHealth provided nearly $15 million in "community benefit" in Flagler County, according to the press release. Those efforts include a recent donation of $50,000 to Flagler Cares.
“We are delighted to strengthen our presence in this community with a second world-class hospital and look forward to deepening the relationships we’ve built with our partners here,” Jimenez said in the press release.
