CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio — OhioHealth announced today its plans to build a sizable outpatient medical campus in Pickaway and Fairfield counties, a move aimed at expanding access to essential healthcare services in the surrounding region.
The new facility, spanning 40,000 square feet, will play a pivotal role in OhioHealth’s mission to offer primary care, emergency care, and specialty services to residents in Canal Winchester, southeast Franklin County, northwest Fairfield County, and northeast Pickaway County.
Speaking about the strategic decision, Michael Ezzie, MD, President of the OhioHealth Physician Group and the project’s executive sponsor, highlighted the importance of providing healthcare services close to where people live and work. “This new center will provide greater access to a wide range of healthcare services for the residents of Canal Winchester, which we are very excited about,” said Dr. Ezzie.
The partnership between OhioHealth and the City of Canal Winchester has been highly anticipated. Mike Ebert, Mayor of Canal Winchester, expressed the city’s enthusiasm for collaborating on the planning and construction of the medical complex. He emphasized that the investment will not only serve as a convenient healthcare destination for the growing community but will also create healthcare career opportunities for local residents.
In preparation for the project, OhioHealth acquired 6.76 acres of land along Waterloo Street, near the Waterloo Crossing Shopping Center, back in April. The health system aims to begin construction this fall and welcome patients to the new campus in early 2025.
Although the plans are still in their early stages, the facility is expected to comprise a 10,000 square-foot freestanding emergency department and a 30,000 square-foot medical office building. The office building will accommodate primary care, sports medicine, women’s and reproductive care, and other specialty services. OhioHealth also mentioned the possibility of adding more services over time. Overall, the investment in the Canal Winchester project is estimated to reach $31 million.
Steven Davies, Senior Director of Physician Practice Operations and the project’s accountable executive, stressed that OhioHealth’s expansion decisions are always based on the community’s needs and capabilities. “We have cared for the residents of Canal Winchester for many years, and we are excited to have the opportunity to make it easier for them to receive the convenient, high quality, and cost-effective care they have come to expect at OhioHealth,” said Davies.
The forthcoming medical campus promises to be a valuable addition to the healthcare landscape in the region, ensuring improved access to crucial medical services for residents of Canal Winchester and surrounding areas.