A $21 million, eight-bed "micro hospital" is expected to open on Jacksonville's Southside by the end of the year.
Jacksonville ER & Hospital — at 12625 Beach Blvd. off Beach and Kernan boulevards — will provide emergency care, inpatient stays, diagnostic imaging and clinical laboratory testing for both adult and pediatric patients, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including holidays.
Additional services, including surgical care, are expected to be introduced after Northeast Florida's latest hospitalopens during the fourth quarter of 2026.
Jacksonville ER & Hospital was founded by board-certified emergency physicians "with a shared vision of delivering exceptional patient-centered care" and will be run in partnership with Houston-based Nutex Health
Inc., according to the company.
They declined to provide the project cost, but earlier news reports said the city issued Nutex a $21 million permit in 2024. Nutex is a a health management and operations company with micro-hospitals, specialty hospitals and outpatient departments across the country.
"As we prepare to open our micro-hospital doors, I am filled with excitement and pride for the opportunity to serve the families, businesses and visitors who make up our community," Chief Nursing Officer Deborah Hickman said. "We are committed to delivering concierge-level emergency, inpatient and outpatient care."
A micro-hospital is a fully licensed hospital that provides many of the same core services as a traditional acute care hospital, but with a smaller footprint, minimal wait times and more doctor-patient time, according to Nutex.
The model "emphasizes accessibility, efficiency and a concierge-level patient experience," Nutex said.
The number of staff on site depends on patient demand, but the company expects to employ about 50 team members, including full-time, part-time medical professionals and as needed nurses.
"The project represents a significant investment in local healthcare infrastructure and is designed to help meet the growing demand for high-quality, convenient medical care for residents and families throughout the area," Nutex said. "The facility builds upon the success of Nutex Health's hospitals in other communities and brings a patient-centered care model to Jacksonville, focused on providing … healthcare closer to home."
Beth Reese Cravey has been a reporter for The Florida Times-Union for 45 years, currently specializing in nonprofits and health. She can be reached at bcravey@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: New 'micro hospital' coming to Jacksonville's Southside by end of year
