Ascension is advancing its transformation strategy across its markets, expanding access and investing in updated care environments that better support patients and families.
The focus is on bringing care closer to where people live and work, while designing every space around the experience of patients and their families. Across our markets, this includes new access points for emergency care in growing communities, expanded maternal and neonatal services, and modernized facilities that support both clinical excellence and comfort.
The impact of this work shows up in the moments that matter most. We have designed our new and refreshed care environments to feel more welcoming, intuitive, and responsive, helping reduce stress and support healing from the moment patients arrive. While our physical spaces provide the framework, Ascension’s people serve as the vital anchor, translating these elevated environments into personalized, meaningful experiences at every touch point.
This vision is already coming to life across our markets. Here are a few highlights from 2026 thus far.
Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford | Free Standing Emergency Department
As communities grow, so does the need for high-quality care that is close to home. Ascension Saint Thomas has received state approval to build a new freestanding emergency department in eastern Rutherford County, expanding access to timely, lifesaving care for residents in one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas.
Located within Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & SurgiCenter’s planned development, the $19 million facility is designed to reduce travel time and ease the burden of seeking emergency care. The approximately 11,345-square-foot site will include 10 treatment rooms, two triage rooms, a trauma room, onsite imaging and diagnostics, and a full-service laboratory — ensuring patients can receive the care they need, when and where they need it most. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026.
Ascension Via Christi | West Free Standing Emergency Department
For families in West Wichita, emergency care will soon feel closer. Ascension Via Christi’s new emergency department will shorten the distance between patients and the care they need in urgent moments.
Situated at the northwest corner of West Kellogg and South 119th Street, the 11,250-square-foot facility will serve as a nearby, reliable access point for emergency services in a growing part of the community. When it opens in early 2027, it is expected to care for more than 10,000 patients each year, supported by a team of approximately 40 healthcare professionals. By bringing critical services closer to where people live and spend their time, the facility is designed to reduce delays, ease uncertainty, and deliver care that feels more connected to patients’ everyday lives.
Ascension Seton | Women’s Hospital
The new Ascension Seton Women’s Hospital will support women and families through every stage of the maternal journey – from pregnancy through recovery and the transition home – in a calming, coordinated, and patient-centered environment.
Across the 178-bed facility, spaces have been thoughtfully designed to balance clinical excellence with comfort. Spa-inspired patient rooms, private NICU suites, and low-intervention birth spaces create a more peaceful, supportive setting for rest, recovery, and bonding. Dedicated C-section suites and integrated care areas help ensure that, even in more complex moments, care feels seamless and connected. Subtle design elements, including curated quotes and a heritage wall, pay homage to our history and reflect our longstanding commitment to compassionate care.
Bringing together emergency, inpatient, and specialty services in one location, the hospital is built to reduce stress and uncertainty for patients and their families. With comprehensive women’s health services, including high-risk pregnancy care, a 24/7 women’s emergency department, and advanced neonatal support, the facility reflects a commitment to meeting families where they are with compassionate, personalized care at every step.
Ascension Sacred Heart | Free Standing Emergency Department
For residents of Pace, Florida, accessing emergency care will soon become faster and more convenient. Ascension Sacred Heart is opening a new freestanding emergency department designed to bring high-quality care closer to where people live, work, and spend their time.
Located approximately 14 miles from Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, the new facility helps bridge the distance between patients and urgent care needs. The approximately 11,000-square-foot site will feature two triage areas, a trauma room, 10 treatment spaces, onsite laboratory services, and advanced imaging capabilities, including CT, X-ray, and ultrasound. Employing more than 40 associates, the facility builds on nearly 30 years of service in the Pace community and reflects a continued commitment to making care more accessible, responsive, and centered around patients’ everyday lives.
Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County | NICU Level II
At Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County, the expansion of the Family Birth Place is focused on creating a more supportive, calming environment for newborns and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments. The new Level II NICU will feature eight private rooms designed to promote rest, bonding, and a sense of comfort, helping parents remain close and involved in their baby’s care.
Designed to support infants in the earliest stages of life, the space will care for infants born at 30 weeks or later, or weighing at least 1,250 grams, who need additional monitoring for feeding, temperature regulation, or mild respiratory needs. The approximately 5,000-square-foot expansion reflects a broader commitment to designing spaces that are both clinically advanced and responsive to the emotional needs of families. The expanded NICU is expected to open in summer 2026.
Ascension St. Vincent’s | Jacksonville Southside Free Standing Emergency Department
Ascension St. Vincent’s is expanding emergency care in Jacksonville’s Southside community with a new freestanding emergency department, improving access to high-quality care in a rapidly growing area.
The approximately 10,000-square-foot facility will include a triage area, a critical care room, 10 treatment spaces, onsite laboratory services, and advanced imaging capabilities, including CT and X-ray. More than 40 associates will staff the location.
The emergency department is expected to serve more than 16,000 patients annually and will provide a critical access point for care as the Southside population continues to grow, with a projected increase of 5.9% over the next five years.
These projects represent continued momentum in Ascension’s efforts to invest in the health of the communities it serves — expanding access to care, modernizing facilities and creating environments that support high-quality, compassionate care for every patient.
