OXFORD, Ala. (WBMA) — UAB Medicine and the City of Oxford are moving forward with plans to bring a new freestanding emergency department to Calhoun County, a project leaders say will expand access to care across East Alabama.

UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair has filed a letter of intent with the Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency, signaling plans to seek a certificate of need for the proposed facility.

The project would be a joint venture between the UAB Health System, the City of Oxford and the city’s health care authority, Oxford Health Systems.

City leaders say the proposal comes as rapid growth in Oxford has outpaced existing health care infrastructure.

Oxford Mayor Alton Craft said the city sought out UAB to meet increasing demand for emergency services.

“We approached UAB to fill this need in our community because we know they represent world-class patient care, consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation,” Craft said in a news release. “This project is only the beginning of health care transformation in our region.”

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Craft said the city created its health care authority specifically to pursue partnerships that expand access to high-quality care and called the agreement with UAB “the foundation” for future growth.

Leaders with UAB say proximity to care plays a major role in overall health outcomes.

“This project expands care options for Oxford and surrounding communities,” said Dawn Bulgarella, CEO of the UAB Health System in the announcement. “It will enhance access and support continued improvement of health outcomes across the region, which is a top priority of the UAB health system.”

Bulgarella said the partnership would connect patients in Oxford and nearby communities to UAB’s broader network of specialists and resources, while also helping reduce costs through economies of scale.

UAB Medicine already operates freestanding emergency departments in Gardendale, Hoover and Trussville.

“Our other freestanding emergency departments have been game-changers for their communities,” Bulgarella said. “We hope to make this one a reality in partnership with the City of Oxford soon.”

Craft credited Tom Dixon, CEO of Oxford Health Systems, with helping lead the effort, along with support from the Oxford City Council and the health care authority board.

Oxford Health Systems was created in 2020 by the city council to help recruit and expand health care services.

“It simply cannot be overstated when it comes to the potential benefits of this partnership to improve and protect the health and wellness of our citizens,” Dixon said. “This agreement is the perfect example of the transformational impact we had in mind when the Health Care Authority was created.”

Dixon added that city leaders specifically sought out UAB because of its reputation for quality care.

“There is no other hospital or health system, none, that can bring to Oxford the kind of quality care and operational excellence that UAB can,” he said.

Officials say additional details, including the location of the proposed facility and a timeline for construction, will be announced at a later date.