A rendering of AtlantiCare’s planned 65,000-square-foot medical arts complex in Atlantic City — Courtesy: AtlantiCare
By Joshua Burd
A regional health care network is planning a $38 million, 65,000-square-foot medical arts complex in Atlantic City, in one of the latest new developments in the iconic resort town.
AtlantiCare announced recently that it intends to expand its footprint in the city with the new facility, which is slated for the corner of Ohio and Atlantic avenues. Located across from the flagship AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, the complex would include spaces for specialty medicine, education and urgent care.
“AtlantiCare is privileged to care for the Atlantic City community,” said Lori Herndon, the organization’s CEO and president. “We are especially excited about expanding our services on Ohio Avenue — where we opened as Atlantic City’s first hospital in a house in 1898.”
The health system, which is a member of the Geisinger network, received preliminary approval last month from the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, or CRDA. The agency is slated to contribute the land and $15 million toward the project, which is still about two years from completion.
If it comes to fruition, the project would advance state and local officials’ plan to use education and health care to spur economic development beyond the city’s gaming industry. Last fall, the city welcomed the debut of the $210 million Gateway project, which includes a new campus for Stockton University and a 72,000-square-foot headquarters for South Jersey Gas.
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AtlantiCare also opened its first urgent care location in the city within the Gateway complex, which sits along Atlantic Avenue just west of Albany Avenue.
About a mile to the east, plans for the new AtlantiCare medical arts facility include:
- Medical education classrooms to expand educational opportunities for graduate medical residents and undergraduate students
- A new location for and expansion of AtlantiCare’s Maternal/Fetal Medicine Program, which is currently located at the William L. Gormley AtlantiCare HealthPlex at 1401 Atlantic Ave. in the city
- An urgent care center to meet the urgent care needs of those who are uninsured and underinsured
- Other AtlantiCare clinical programs and services.
- A floor dedicated to Fresenius Kidney Care Boardwalk, with which AtlantiCare has a joint venture to provide dialysis care. This program annually serves about 200 local and regional residents, as well as visitors.
“This facility — and all those who would work there — would help us continue to ensure our patients and customers have access to the quality care they need and deserve,” Herndon said. “We are grateful the CRDA recognized the value of the care we provide and our need for more space as we grow these vital services. With the CRDA’s preliminary approval, we will initiate planning for the facility.
AtlantiCare said the project still requires additional planning and entitlements, including final approvals from CRDA, before it can break ground.