• University of Florida Health Jacksonville received a construction permit from the city of Jacksonville this week that will allow the university to complete its facility expansion 
• The building, expected to be completed in 2024, will have 120 beds across six floors dedicated to physical therapy, auxiliary services, and acute care 
• UF Health is expanding further, recently receiving $80 million in state funding to revamp its trauma center in Jacksonville

University of Florida (UF) Health procured a building permit from the city of Jacksonville this week, as first reported by Jacksonville Daily Record. The permit allows for completing a six-story health facility with 120 beds as part of an expansion to the university’s North Jacksonville campus.

The expansion is expected to be completed in 2024. In March, UF Health announced that the building’s construction would start in April with the first phase of site-related work, with an expected early 2024 completion date.

Two floors will be reserved above the main floor for individuals who require urgent physical therapy. One patient level will be primarily used for auxiliary services, with two more patient floors being used for acute care.

“The success of this campus is a result of the dedication of the people who work here and great support from the community,” said David R. Nelson, M.D., senior vice president for health affairs at the University of Florida and president of UF Health. “We are committed to providing high-quality care that’s convenient for patients and we look forward to meeting the growing needs of residents here and throughout Florida.”

In 2015, UF Health North opened the first section of its campus, a medical office building with four floors of doctor’s offices, a 24-hour emergency room, outpatient surgery suites, imaging, and other diagnostic services.

Phase two, a 92-bed inpatient tower with five floors and all-private patient rooms, was completed in May 2017. There are two 24-bed floors dedicated to general medical inpatients, two 24-bed floors for intensive care, a 20-bed unit for labor and delivery and other women’s services, a 24-bed floor for intensive care, and one floor for administrative services.

“UF Health North has become an integral part of this community since it opened seven years ago, and this expansion is another example of our dedication to the health and well-being of the people who live and work in this area,” said Russ Armistead, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville.

In further expansion, UF Health Jacksonville in April was awarded $80 million in order to replace its current trauma center, which has been criticized for being outdated and overpopulated. The center will be named after the recently deceased Dr. Leon Haley, Jr.

The new trauma center will serve as the only level one trauma in northeast Florida; Presently, the closest level one trauma centers reside in Gainesville and Savannah, Georgia. The new facility will additionally provide upwards of 5,000 new jobs in the Jacksonville area.

“This is a big investment, but I think it’s a warranted investment,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “This project will provide better access to emergency health services for the Jacksonville community as well as high-quality care. UF’s emergency department draws patients from across the area … and with the new trauma center, we can expect to see 125,000 a year. This level one trauma facility will benefit not only the Jacksonville community but also the surrounding communities who need access to emergency care.”

Last year, UF Health Jacksonville was named as one of the best hospitals in America by Health Grades, receiving almost 700,000 ambulatory visits, over 100,000 emergency room visits, and more than 400,000 trauma treatments.