The Jacksonville City Council is set to meet tomorrow to deliberate on the future of a proposed freestanding emergency room at Jacksonville State University (JSU). The discussion will take place during the council’s Monday night work session, preceding the regular meeting at 6 p.m.
The Jax State Board of Trustees has already approved a resolution to enter into a Letter of Intent with The Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston’s Regional Medical Center (RMC) and DSF Development Company. This agreement paves the way for a new facility on JSU’s main campus, which will include a freestanding emergency department and a new RMC/Jax State Health Center. The facility is planned for over 2.5 acres along Highway 21 North, next to the future City of Jacksonville Fire Station.
The proposed project aims to relocate the health center to the campus’s core, improving accessibility for students, faculty, and staff. It will also feature a new freestanding emergency department offering 24-hour, 365-day services, complete with treatment rooms, diagnostic imaging, ambulance access, a helicopter landing zone, and onsite parking.
Construction of the facility is expected to take approximately 20 to 22 months, with completion anticipated in spring 2028, pending final approvals and regulatory processes.
The city council already approved a resolution allowing the mayor to negotiate with RMC as part of the deal. The city has agreed to commit up to $1.2 million for medical equipment for the facility, should everything align for the ER’s construction.