Expanding Emergency Care

39 Ave ER
Located at 8475 NW 39th Ave., the full-service emergency department develops the reach of UF Health Shands Hospital.

In an emergency situation, every second counts.

With the substantial population growth predicted for northwest Gainesville and the surrounding area, UF Health Shands Hospital leaders wanted to find a way for patients in need of immediate care to drive fewer miles, to be admitted for treatment faster and to receive the most advanced care.

Gainesville’s newest full-service emergency department, the new UF Health Shands Emergency Center – Springhill, fits the bill perfectly.

The renovated 8,500-square-foot building opened in July and began serving patients in August. Entirely staffed by board-certified and board-eligible UF Health emergency medicine physicians and experienced emergency medicine nurses, the center houses 10 treatment spaces for patients, an onsite lab and diagnostic radiology services, including X-ray and CT imaging systems.

“We’re excited to expand our emergency medical services even further into the community,” said Ed Jimenez, UF Health chief operating officer and senior vice president. “Our E.R. teams are the best at what they do, and this emergency center makes it easier for people in northwest Gainesville, Alachua and beyond to get the absolute best emergency care possible — faster than if they had to come farther into town.”

The freestanding emergency center, which is designed to treat patients in a streamlined manner with minimal wait times compared to hospital-based emergency services, is fully equipped and staffed to serve up to 25,000 patients annually. Many of the conditions treated – like respiratory distress, abdominal pain, allergic reaction, food poisoning, orthopaedic injuries and fractures, lacerations and minor burns – require treatment beyond the capabilities of a typical urgent care center.

Any patients in need of further treatment, surgery or inpatient hospitalization ― including patients with major trauma or acute heart attack or stroke ― are stabilized and transported to UF Health Shands Hospital through the ShandsCair ambulance permanently stationed there.

“Expanding our world-class emergency care beyond the main medical campus is part of our overall strategic approach,” said Dr. David S. Guzick, senior vice president for health affairs and president of UF Health. “We’re continually finding ways to improve our patients’ access to the trusted experts and valued services they seek at UF Health Shands Hospital.”