Christ Hospital will construct the 125,000-square-foot medical center east of the I-75/Ohio 129 intersection, and expects to open it by the end of 2017.
“It’s just another opportunity for us to provide exceptional care in a community where people live,” DiPilla said.
Once open, Christ will join other new developments at the same highway exit, such as outdoor sporting goods retailer Cabela's Inc., which will open an 82,000-square-foot store off Liberty Way in West Chester Twp. in August; and the approximately $350 million Liberty Center retail, dining, residential and office complex in Liberty Twp., which is scheduled to open more than 1 million-square-feet off Liberty Way in October.
“I think with having The Christ Hospital Medical Center - Liberty Township being announced today, that it will spur on a lot more development in our area, it takes into consideration the vision we have for our community and the residents and the businesses around us. I think we will see some more interesting developments coming,” said Christine Matacic, a township trustee.
"I think we're going to see a lot more happening around this area, around the I-75/Liberty Center area, and Liberty Way, because of everything that's coming at this point," Matacic said, citing ongoing expansions at Cincinnati Children's Liberty Campus and the Liberty Center development.
Earlier this year, a Christ Hospital spokeswoman confirmed the network was making a significant commitment in Butler County, but what would be built at the property and the service offerings were not formally revealed until now.
The medical center will include a freestanding emergency room and helicopter landing pad, extended stay patient rooms and surgical, physical therapy, cardiology, radiology, urology and other services on about 17 acres, according to Christ.
A grand total for the cost of the investment has yet to be named as the center’s design and service offerings have also yet to be finalized.
Christ Hospital was attracted to the Liberty Twp. location because of its easy highway access, close proximity to other retail and health care services, and the growing community where many of the system’s patients already live, DiPilla said.
Construction of a new medical facility with Interstate 75 visibility could significantly raise Christ Hospital's profile in the northern suburbs, where it would compete with other nonprofit hospital networks from both Cincinnati and Dayton, including Cincinnati Children's and West Chester Hospital, which is part of the UC Health system.
“The Christ Hospital services patients from 14 counties, and we have a significant number of patients who have moved or are living in Liberty Twp.,” DiPilla said. “I would expect all those hospitals that have moved there have the same desires.”
Also on Tuesday, Dayton Children's Hospital announced plans to expand outpatient services at its Springboro campus in Warren County.
The growth of ambulatory and outpatient centers reflects efforts by hospital systems across Greater Cincinnati to reach out to the population, said Tanya Brownrigg, director of health care services in the Cincinnati-Dayton market for commercial real estate firm DTZ.
“As the population grows, the medical community is doing its best to take care of the population,” Brownrigg said. “Throughout the nation we’re seeing expansion into the communities to provide more convenient access to care.”
“Nationally, there’s a trend to provide greater access, better outcomes for lower cost,” Brownrigg said.
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