Who will own and operate the new hospital?
The new hospital will be owned and operated by Martin Memorial Health Systems (MMHS). MMHS has been providing quality hospital care to area residents since 1939, and is comprised today of two hospitals, three MediCenters, and numerous centers and clinics. The system is a not-for-profit, community-based health care organization that offers preventative, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer care, wellness and rehabilitation services, and much more. Our services provide care for residents throughout the Treasure Coast, including Stuart, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Palm City and Port St. Lucie. Martin Memorial Health Systems has been named one of the top 100 health systems in the country five times.

Martin Memorial Hospital currently operates an outpatient facility in west Port St. Lucie. Why is a hospital needed in the area?
Port St. Lucie has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Florida and the United States for the past five years. As the community has grown, so has the need for a new hospital. Currently, the closest full-service hospital for many residents near the Tradition area of west Port St. Lucie is more than 10 miles away. Our commitment is to bring care to the residents, instead of forcing them to drive excessive distances to receive quality care. The new hospital will offer:

• Full-service, 24-hour emergency department
• Dedicated obstetrics department
• 80 beds
• Mobile imaging services like MRI, PET

Where will the new hospital be located?
Martin Memorial's new hospital will be conveniently located in Tradition, just west of I-95. A hospital in this location will be well-positioned to provide quality health care services in this fast-growing region and, with 20 acres for a hospital campus, there is plenty of space for medical office buildings and other health care related businesses.

Will the new hospital offer maternity and pediatric services?
Yes. The new hospital will be home to a state-of-the-art obstetrics department that offers maternal child services, providing care for expectant parents from pregnancy through delivery.

When will the new hospital be open to serve the community?
The state granted Martin Memorial a certificate of need for an 80-bed hospital in June 2007, but that ruling was appealed by Lawnwood and St. Lucie medical centers, which are both owned by HCA Inc. The State of Florida Division of Administrative hearings heard the case in November 2008 and should have a decision sometime in 2009. However, even if the judge rules in Martin Memorial’s favor, further appeals could delay this project. Given that opposition, the opening of a new hospital might not take place for another eight years. In that time, the projected population for the area could reach 176,000 by 2014, placing an even more significant strain on medical services in west Port St. Lucie.

Will this new hospital create any new jobs in the area?
Martin Memorial expects that the initial phase of the project will create 400 new jobs, and another 400 jobs over the long term.

Are there any other growth opportunities that a new hospital could facilitate?
Yes. The new hospital will bring significant high-tech economic development opportunities to Tradition and west Port St. Lucie. An anticipated 20 acres will be dedicated for a hospital campus that will eventually accommodate medical office buildings and other health care-related businesses.