UF Health to expand Ocala Neighborhood Hospital
Marion County residents will soon have access to even more of UF Health’s nationally recognized specialty care without leaving the county, bringing additional advanced treatments, expert physicians and greater convenience closer to home.
Construction is expected to begin in September on a new advanced medical services floor at UF Health Ocala Neighborhood Hospital, part of the University of Florida’s academic health system. The 28,300-square-foot space will add an infusion center, comprehensive orthopaedic and sports medicine services and a multispecialty physician office, with current plans to include cancer services and urology. The renovations, slated to be complete next summer, will take place on the third floor and will not impact existing hospital operations on the first two floors.
Since opening in 2024, Ocala Neighborhood Hospital has experienced a significant increase in patient volume, including more than 50% year-over-year growth in emergency room visits. Overall, Ocala has seen a consistent population increase in the past few years, growing by about 10,000 residents from 2020 to 2025.
“The increase in demand for our services in Ocala and Marion County reflects the trust people place in UF Health as a leader in healthcare, and it underscores the need for greater access to the world-class care they expect and deserve,” said Michael Holmes, M.S.A., UF Health senior vice president and Greater Gainesville regional president.
Once the expansion is completed, patients will have access to a “one-stop shop” for orthopaedic care in Ocala, reducing the need to travel outside Marion County. Patients can be evaluated, seen by an orthopaedic surgeon, access radiology and imaging, have surgery, get casts and receive follow-up physical therapy — all in one location. In the past year, UF Health orthopaedic services in Ocala had a 37% increase in demand compared with the previous year.
“We’re excited to bring the same world-class resources to our Ocala patients that they’ve come to expect from UF Health, right in their backyard,” said C. Parker Gibbs Jr., M.D., chair of the UF College of Medicine’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.
The expansion will also bring enhanced access to comprehensive cancer services from the National Cancer Institute-designated UF Health Cancer Institute. For Marion County residents, that means they will be able to receive more specialized cancer care closer to home. Patients will have access to nationally recognized oncology expertise, coordinated multidisciplinary care, advanced treatment options and innovative clinical trials. The new services will reduce the need to travel while ensuring residents receive personalized, patient-centered care from one of the nation’s leading cancer programs.
Ocala has seen a steady increase in patients seeking care, both at the Ocala Neighborhood Hospital and across UF Health’s broader footprint, said John Wood, Ph.D., M.B.A., R.N., chief nursing officer at UF Health Ocala.
“We’re excited to expand services so patients have timely access to even more options near where they live and work, keeping them closer to friends and family throughout their treatment and recovery,” he said. “We’re bringing more services to our patients, so they won’t have to leave the county to get the care they need.”