Ascension St. Vincent’s expands emergency care access on Jacksonville's Southside through new freestanding ER

Ascension St. Vincent's is expanding emergency care in Jacksonville's Southside community by opening a new freestanding emergency room at the intersection of Kernan and Beach Boulevards.

"Our responsibility at St. Vincent's is to ensure high-quality, compassionate care is accessible and rooted in the communities we serve," said Cory Darling, president & CEO of St. Vincent's Southside. "Opening this new freestanding ER allows us to meet the needs of this community by reducing barriers to care and giving patients more options when every minute matters."

Over 40 associates will staff the new 10,000-square-foot ER and offer a range of services, including a triage area, a critical care room, 10 treatment spaces, on-site lab services and advanced CT and X-ray technology. More than 16,000 patients are expected to receive care annually at the site.

St. Vincent's is committed to growing alongside our community. This location will provide a much-needed access point for care in expanding neighborhoods. Over the next five years, St. Vincent's expects the population to increase by 5.9% in the Southside service area, a promising sign for the future. More importantly, this new facility brings Mission-driven healthcare to more patients across Northeast Florida.

According to state health data, the neighborhoods surrounding Beach and Kernan face some of Florida's highest death rates from heart attacks and strokes.

"As a health system, our responsibility to our community extends beyond the walls of our hospitals," said Scott Kashman, interim market lead for Ascension St. Vincent's. "By expanding access to emergency services in Northeast Florida, we're ensuring families have more options and the confidence that high-quality care is always within reach."

The ER facility will be operated by Ascension St. Vincent's Southside. In the event a patient needs a higher level of care on the main campus, St. Vincent's can coordinate transportation and schedule follow-up appointments with providers.

St. Vincent's operates two other freestanding ERs in Jacksonville's Arlington and Westside communities, highlighting the hospital's commitment to caring for the Northeast Florida community.