HCA Florida Healthcare has opened a new chapter in emergency care for rapidly growing Marion County by breaking ground on HCA Florida Canopy Oak Emergency, a freestanding emergency room serving communities along the State Road 200 corridor and other areas of western Marion County.
The $15 million, 11,000 square-foot facility will be located at 8231 SW State Road 200, next to the entrance of the On Top of the World community. It will open in spring 2027 and be accessible by golf cart as well as other vehicles.
“We recognized the need to create a new care access point in the southwest part of town, which is one of the fastest growing areas in Marion County,” Isaiah Zirkle, chief executive officer of HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, said during the groundbreaking ceremony on May 27. “The opening of HCA Florida Canopy Oak Emergency will reduce travel time for these residents and ensure they have immediate access to care. We’re grateful to bring this high-quality care to our neighbors in the southwest corridor.”
HCA Florida Canopy Oak Emergency will be a full-service, fully staffed emergency room, employing 45 full-time healthcare professionals, including emergency physicians, nurses and other clinicians ready to serve the community with the same capabilities as the emergency departments at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.
The facility will feature 11 emergency exam rooms, CT scan, general X-ray, on-site laboratory services, and will be capable of caring for patients of all ages, including children.
“It’s obvious that the secret’s out, and Marion County is the place to be, and it seems like the State Road 200 area is where everybody is coming. So as our community continues to grow, access to quality emergency care is more important than ever. This new facility will help meet that need,” said Marion County Commission Vice Chairman Matt McClain. “Today’s groundbreaking is about more than just the building. It’s about making sure that when someone experiences a medical emergency, help is nearby and ready when they need it most. HCA Florida Healthcare’s efforts are making lasting difference in the lives of our residents.”
“This is a great day to celebrate this investment in our community, and especially this part of our community,” noted Matt McCormick, president and chief executive officer of the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership. “HCA Florida Healthcare continues to invest in the health and well-being of Marion County, and it shows. You are one of the main reasons why this is such a great place to be, and why people and businesses want to be part of this community.”
“I am extremely proud to be here as we break ground on this new emergency care facility. It’s really great to be part of this team and watch how we have revolutionized healthcare,” said Dr. Richard Petrik, assistant chief medical officer for HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital. “We’ve taken the hospital emergency room and brought it to your community, so that you have easier access to emergency care.”
Upon completion, HCA Florida Canopy Oak Emergency will be the sixth freestanding emergency room that HCA Florida Healthcare has opened in Marion and Sumter counties.
Since 2020, HCA Florida Healthcare, which operates the largest hospital system in the state, has increased access and care for our community with the following projects:
- 36 new beds in the neurological intensive care unit at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.
- Expanded cardiology catheterization laboratories at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.
- A 52-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.
- 36 new beds in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.
- Renovated and expanded HCA Florida Ocala Hospital’s emergency department with 13 new beds.
- Four new operating rooms at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.
- 24 new medical-surgical beds at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.
HCA Florida Healthcare also announced in April a nearly $200 million expansion of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. That project will add 16 new beds to the main ICU and two new 26-bed medical/surgical/telemetry units to support expanded surgical services, in addition to other improvements on the campus.