5,000-square-foot expansion begins at Ascension’s Clay County campus (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) –Delivery of Ascension St. Vincent’s second Northeast Florida NICU is expected by the end of 2026.
The project, an expansion at the health system’s Clay County campus, will add 5,000 square feet at 1670 St. Vincents Way in Middleburg. (Rendering above)
“Investing in women’s and children’s health is one of the most important aspects of care,” said Bryan Walrath, president and CEO of St. Vincent’s Clay County. “Healthy beginnings create stronger families and stronger communities, and this Level II NICU ensures that more babies in Clay County have the opportunity to get the best possible start in life.”
The Jacksonville-headquartered health system’s only other Level II NICU is found at St. Vincent’s Southside.
In 2023, 12% of births in Clay County were preterm, according to the system — higher than both the Florida rate of 10.7% and the national average — spurring it to add more space.
At its core, the expansion will offer more intensive care for sick and premature infants. The additional square footage will include eight Level II NICU beds in private rooms, allowing for caring for newborns who require close monitoring and require additional support.
It rises in a particularly fast-growing area.
The UF Bureau of Economic and Business Research projected Clay County’s population would grow close to 19% over the decade, from approximately 212,500 residents in 2020 to about 252,500 in 2030.
“We’re committed to increasing access to high-quality services for mothers and babies throughout Northeast Florida,” St. Vincent’s Interim Market Lead Scott Kashman said. “This expansion will provide the next level of care that new and expecting families in Clay County deserve.”
Rendering courtesy of St. Vincent’s Ascension