• HCA Healthcare Florida purchased 22 acres of land to build a new hospital facility in Manatee County, according to a community developer
• The hospital will be constructed to initially hold 150 beds, but can be expanded to accommodate a higher patient capacity
• The facility will house an emergency room and acute care departments, spanning 125,000 in total
• Manatee County officials unanimously approved the construction in May

HCA Florida purchased 22 acres of land to build a new hospital in Manatee County, according to community developer Neal Land and Neighborhoods.

The hospital is planned to be the anchor facility for the health and wellness-focused North River Ranch Village Center, which is still in the conceptual stage of planning.

The North River Ranch Village Center is zoned, in part, for a 150-bed or greater hospital with an emergency room and acute care services. The HCA hospital and buildings housing 125,000 square feet of medical offices will be focused on preventive care and will reside next to other retail businesses at the Village Center.

“The addition of a full-service medical center fills a safety and health-oriented void in northern Manatee County, especially since residents currently must drive 30 to 45 minutes or more to access an acute care facility. HCA Florida Healthcare at North River Ranch is another reason for families and active adults who live here to love where they live,” said Neal Land and Neighborhoods president John A. Neal.

Manatee County officials unanimously approved the construction of the hospital in May, citing the hundreds of jobs that will be provided through its facilities.

“The plans and design were well-received by those in attendance, and we are seeing the excitement from residents on what this means for them and for the community,” continued Neal. “People realize this is more than just a hospital, it’s a comprehensive center that will give them access to preventative care and a multitude of diversified medical and wellness services located on the campus.”

It was recently announced that the new State College of Florida Parrish campus, which is still under construction, will host a new nursing program. The close proximity between the college and the planned HCA facility will allow for the establishment of a medical and educational hub for training and employment purposes.

HCA recently posted third-quarter financial numbers, reporting a $1.1 billion net income, also seeing a 5.6 percent increase in same-facility inpatient surgeries and a 2 percent increase in same-facility outpatient surgeries.