USA Health officials broke ground Tuesday on a free-standing surgery facility and a physician office building on the Mapp Family campus just outside of Fairhope.
The state Certificate of Need Review Board approved plans for the center in June.
Plans for the physician office building call for primary care for adults and children, with specialty care in neurology, cardiology, gastroenterology and urology, as well as imaging services. Wellness facilities, such as a demonstration kitchen to teach healthy eating, are also part of the plan.
The surgery center will be equipped for procedures such as total joint replacements, orthopedics, urology and more. “I have seen first-hand the impact that academic medicine can have on people,” Louis Mapp said. “We are honored to be a part of bringing that level of care to this part of our region.”
USA Health calculates that half the population of Baldwin County lives within 15 minutes of the Fairhope site, while any trip to USA health facilities in Mobile County involves a trip across the often-crowded Bayway or Causeway.
“Collaborating with community physicians, providers from USA Health will bring their specialized expertise to meet the healthcare needs of the people in the region,” said Owen Bailey, chief executive officer of USA Health. “As the only academic healthcare system in the region, USA Health continues to expand relationships with community providers and other partners, as we strive to provide increased access to the care that people need and deserve.”
“The Mapp Family Campus will be another important location for educating and training the next generation of healthcare providers,” said Dr. John Marymont, vice president for medical affairs at the University of South Alabama and dean of the College of Medicine. “Having this additional site will help USA Health try to alleviate some of the healthcare provider shortages we are facing.
Concord Healthcare Development is project manager for the $30 million project and Brasfield & Gorrie LLC is the general contractor. Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects is the architectural firm for the program.