Tucson, AZ – Northwest Medical Center, an affiliate of Community Health Systems, headquartered in Franklin, TN, plans to open the first freestanding emergency department in metro Tucson, giving residents in Vail access to nearby emergency services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The emergency room will serve patients who experience medical emergencies in the southeast submarket of  Tucson. This regional, freestanding emergency center will be located at 10146 East Old Vail Road in Vail.

The 11,500-square-foot build-to-suit will be in the Houghton Town Center at the intersection of Houghton and Old Vail Roads. Northwest Medical Center is investing $7.2 million in the new leased facility. More than 30 new jobs will be created to serve patients at the new center, including registered nurses and lab, imaging, admitting and environmental services staff. Board-certified emergency physicians, registered nurses and other patient care providers will staff the center.

Dr. Jim Hassen, medical director for the Emergency Department at Northwest Medical Center, said, “Our team of emergency physicians is looking forward to being part of this exciting new venture. This facility will be a first in Tucson and we are pleased to be able to offer high quality emergency care at another convenient location.”

Northwest Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Kevin Stockton said, “Northwest Emergency Center at Vail will provide faster access to emergency care for people living in the Rita Ranch and Vail areas. We have been serving more than just ‘Northwest’ Tucson for many years and this is another example of our commitment to expand healthcare in the greater metropolitan area.”

Like any hospital emergency department, the new Northwest Emergency Center will be equipped to treat patients with illnesses and injuries that require a higher level of care than urgent care facilities offer. The freestanding emergency department will have 12 private patient rooms with radiology and lab services on-site. Many emergency services will be effectively managed at this freestanding emergency department without the need for transfer to a traditional hospital setting.

“We are thrilled to bring Northwest Medical to Houghton Town Center,” said Shannon Murphy, Director of Sales and Marketing, Diamond Ventures, the developer of Houghton Town Center. “Southeast Tucson is growing rapidly, so providing services like emergency care that are lacking in this submarket is an important part of our strategic plan for this community center.”

More than 30 new jobs will be created to serve patients at the new center, including registered nurses and lab, imaging, admitting and environmental services staff.

Rick Kleiner MBA, Principal and Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR and Jim Eaton with Geis Realty Group, Inc. of Philadelphia, PA represented Community Health System’s affiliate Northwest Medical Center in the negotiating the built-to-suit. Construction is scheduled to begin in January and is expected to be completed by late 2015.

To learn more Kleiner can be reached at 520.546.2745.

Tucson, AZ – Revenue Cycle Center dba Shared Services Center (SSC) Tucson, a provider of business office support services and an affiliate of Northwest Medical Center and Oro Valley Hospital in southern Arizona, is expanding into 60,405-square-feet at 6223 S Palo Verde Road in Tucson. The flex industrial building had been previously occupied by Raytheon and fully built out as office space.

SSC will create 200 new jobs with the expansion and bring its total to nearly 300 employees responsible for business services including the processing of medical insurance claims, billing, appeals, insurance collection and customer service. Currently SSC is located at Northwest Medical Center with more than 85 employees. The new location will begin operations on November 1, 2014.

“Arizona’s high-skills talent pool continues to be a magnet for companies in multiple growth industry sectors,” said Sandra Watson, president and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority. “Our state’s robust healthcare and biotechnology ecosystem is a platform for employers in related service areas to build their workforce, innovate and advance their business long term.”

Tim Healy and Bob DeLaney of CBRE Tucson represented the landlord and Rick Kleiner MBA, Principal and Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR and Jim Eaton with Geis Realty Group, Inc. of Philadelphia, PA represented Community Health System’s affiliate Northwest Medical Center.

“This significant expansion will support the growth of Northwest Medical Center and Oro Valley Hospital,” Kleiner said. “Community Health Systems, Inc. headquartered in Franklin, TN is one of the nation’s leading operators of general acute care hospitals.”

The organization’s affiliates own, operate or lease 207 hospitals in 29 states with approximately 31,100 licensed beds. Northwest Medical Center is a 300-bed hospital offering a full range of healthcare services including Emergency services, accredited chest pain and heart failure programs, neurology and neurosurgery, outpatient imaging, a nationally accredited surgical weight loss program, total joint program, spine program and stroke center.

Kevin Stockton, CEO, Northwest Medical Center said, “Our hospital is dedicated to serving the Tucson area with compassionate care, and we are able to expand our commitment to this community by creating high quality jobs. We are fortunate to have a diverse and talented workforce in our region so these jobs can be filled locally.”

“Tucson is a vibrant community with a growing national reputation for attracting quality employers,” said Mayor Jonathan Rothschild. The relationship we’ve already built with this project will continue and we stand ready to assist for many years to come.”

Ward 5 Councilman Richard Fimbres had this to say, “We’re excited by the opening of a new business and 200 new good paying jobs in Ward 5. The City needs to continue to encourage as much business growth as possible.”

“We’re experiencing momentum as the Tucson region advances its economic growth, post-recession,” said Joe Snell, president & CEO, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO). “We appreciate the commitment that Shared Services Center Tucson is demonstrating by significantly growing jobs in southern Arizona.”

TREO’s assistance with incentive funding helped to make the SSC expansion possible.

SSC has already begun filling open positions, including management and business support positions. Interested applicants may apply by visiting the careers page at https://www.northwestmedicalcenter.com Median salary is $15-$17/hour. The project includes $5 million in capital investment, generating a $96 million economic impact.

To learn more Kleiner can be reached at 520.546.2745. DeLaney can be contacted at 520.323.5171 and Healy is at 520.323.5119. To speak with TREO call 520.243.1900 or visit www.treoaz.org.