Ascension St. Vincent's and Southeast Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) have opened a new ambulatory surgery center in St. Augustine, completing a 37,000-square-foot orthopedic and spine campus that gives patients in St. Johns, Putnam and Flagler counties access to comprehensive musculoskeletal care close to home.
The opening is part of Ascension St. Vincent's broader commitment to investing in ambulatory surgery centers and physician partnerships, evolving to meet patients where they are increasingly choosing to seek care. Advances in technology and minimally invasive techniques mean procedures that once required a hospital stay can now be performed in an outpatient setting, and Ascension St. Vincent's is expanding its ASC footprint to meet that shift. For patients, that means less time away from family, easier access and often lower out-of-pocket costs.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to expanding access to high-quality care close to home," said Scott Kashman, president and chief executive officer of Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside and interim market lead for Ascension St. Vincent's. "Together, we're bringing advanced orthopedic services to St. Augustine in a way that puts patients first."
The 18,500-square-foot surgery center at 45 Groover Loop features four operating rooms and 17 pre-operative and post-anesthesia care beds. It joins an expanded SOS clinic and digital imaging center already operating on the same campus — creating a single destination where patients can see a physician, get imaging, have a procedure and recover without traveling to multiple locations.
St. Johns County is among the fastest-growing counties in Florida, and demand for orthopedic and spine services has grown alongside its population. The new ASC was designed to meet that need — staffed by board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons and supported by advanced practice providers who manage the full continuum of care, from initial evaluation and non-surgical treatment through surgery and recovery. The center completed its first 10 surgical cases within days of opening.
SOS has been the leader in musculoskeletal care in Northeast Florida for more than two decades, offering orthopedic surgery, spine care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain management, chiropractic and podiatry, along with physical therapy, regenerative medicine, advanced imaging, durable medical equipment and musculoskeletal urgent care across multiple locations.
