Construction starts on new $9M medical facility in Urbana

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A Marysville medical group has begun construction on a $9 million health care facility in Urbana that city leaders say will offer more options to residents and decrease the need to travel for treatment.

Memorial Health’s outpatient medical center will be located at 1958 E. U.S. 36 and will house urgent care, lab testing services, rotating physician specialists, expanded primary care and more.

The company has had a presence in Champaign County for five years, CEO Chip Hubbs said, but has outgrown its current space.

RELATED: Urbana clinic expands to meet growing community need

“We’ve wanted to bring additional physicians into the local community and just don’t have the ability, facility-wise, to do that,” he said.

The Memorial Health facility will create 12 new permanent jobs and retain 17 jobs in Urbana. It will also create about 50 construction jobs.

“We want to be here,” Hubbs said. “We’re really excited about it.”

The new 30,000-square-foot facility will be completed in about a year, he said, and will be more convenient for Champaign County residents.

RELATED: Springfield health center CEO wants to better community health

“About 20 percent of our business in Marysville actually comes from Champaign County,” Hubbs said. “It just seemed silly to have those folks traveling 30 to 35 minutes when we could bring the services that they come to us for here to the local community.”

Memorial Health isn’t the first medical group to expand in Urbana recently.

Mary Rutan Hospital, based in Bellefontaine, moved its Urbana clinic to a larger building in July in order to offer more services.

READ MORE: Champaign County names new health commissioner

And Community Mercy Health Partners, the company that operates Springfield Regional Medical Center, completed a $235,000 renovation to add a new Chronic Care Clinic in a previously vacant wing at Mercy Memorial Hospital in Urbana.

“They’re coming here because our people are in need,” Urbana Mayor Bill Bean said.

Many people have to travel to Columbus or Dayton for medical services, he said, and these companies can offer the services nearby.

SPECIAL REPORT: Healthy Springfield

“There’s an opportunity for health care to come here and prosper,” he said.

The spike in need for medical services also might be due to an aging population, the Springfield News-Sun previously reported.

Memorial Health will lease the building from developer and owner Hplex solutions.

The facility will also offer x-ray imaging, physical and occupational therapy, and assistance with chronic conditions and how to manage prescribed medications.

About the Author