In an effort to consolidate its specialty practices and grow with the Gainesville population, UF&Shands broke ground Monday on its newest care center, UF&Shands at Springhill.
The $35.5 million facility, to be located at Northwest 39th Avenue and Northwest 89th Boulevard, just off of Exit 390 on Interstate 75, is expected to be completed by January 2013.
The four-story, 11,600-square-foot Springhill center will incorporate specialty practices including neurology, cardiology, dermatology, psychiatry and women's health.
The majority of these practices will be moved from their original locations to the Springhill location as their current leases expire.
The facility will provide services including X-rays, mammograms, ultrasounds and clinical lab testing.
David Guzick, president of the UF&Shands Health System, said this project is the next step in the system's strategic plan to develop primary care facilities based on population trends.
The most recent example of this was the beginning of construction on the UF&Shands Family Medicine at Main.
Northwest Alachua County is one of the fastest growing areas in the county, he said.
"We're trying to serve the needs of the community as best we can," he said. "By congregating specialty practices on a couple of specific campuses, it may help streamline the process for patients."
Tim Goldfarb, Shands Heatlhcare CEO; Michael Good, M.D., dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine; David Guzick, M.D., senior vice president for health affairs and president of the UF&Shands Health System; Lee Pinkoson, Alachua County Commission Chair; and Marvin A. Dewar, M.D., J.D., CEO and chief medical office of University of Florida Physicians ceremonially toss dirt at the ground breaking ceremony for the UF&Shands at Springhill campus.
