MADISON TOWNSHIP — Richland County is slated to gain a new medical facility.
A new University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center facility will be constructed where the former Big Lots building on 1033 Ashland Road is located, which is on tap for demolition later this month or early August, according to a press release.
Once open, the $17-million medical site will generate additional jobs, including medical office staff, housekeeping and maintenance, according to the release.
“We’re excited about expanding our footprint in the community,” said Karen McNeil, president of UH Samaritan Medical Center. “We welcome any opportunity to improve our patients’ access to healthcare, and when you can capitalize on that while also creating local jobs, it’s a win-win situation for all.”
The two-story building’s first floor will house urgent care, laboratory, radiology, physical therapy and community spaces for educational needs, including screenings. The second floor of the medical facility will feature office suites for specialists and physicians.
A groundbreaking date has not been set. The project is in its preliminary stages of design with CBLH Design, Inc., of Cleveland.
This is the first Richland County location for University Hospitals, but not its first location locally. There is also a UH Samaritan Medical Center, a 55-staffed bed acute care facility, located at 1025 Center St. in Ashland.
Richland County, and Mansfield in particular, has quickly become an intersection for medical care facilities in Ohio. Just 3.6 miles down the road from the upcoming University Hospitals facility is OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, 6.6 miles away is OhioHealth Urgent Care Mansfield, and 6.8 miles away is Avita Health System Ontario.
“This is exciting news for Richland County to have another medical provider making a major investment in our community,” said Jodie Perry, president of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce. “The jobs that will be created will be good-paying jobs, and it will increase access to care in that part of the community, as well, so we think it’s definitely a win-win for the community.”
Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker echoed Perry’s comments, adding “any new businesses in the area benefit everybody in the area.”
“We are an aging community and needing more and more healthcare, so to have a medical provider come in, I think that’s going to be a benefit to everybody,” he said.
