JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Those who live on the Westside now have another option when it comes to getting emergency medical care.
Park West, which is a freestanding emergency room, expanded Thursday. The ER is an extension of Orange Park Medical Center at 103rd Street near Jammes Road.
"Within three months of being open, so we can manage the volume that we had here, we knocked down a wall," said Jennifer Mick, director of emergency services. "This used to be a managers office; now it's a procedure room where we can see patients."
Park West became Jacksonville's busiest freestanding ER, serving more than 130 patients a day. With demand growing, it expanded by more than 3,000 square feet.
The ER offers around-the-clock, on-site imaging and radiology services, and patients have full access to all specialists located at Orange Park Medical Center.
The hospital added nine more rooms, doubling the number of patients they can serve at one time at the hospital that's in an area locals said is underserved when it comes to medical care.
"I think as word got out to the neighborhood of how fast we work here and the services we provide, we've seen an increase in patients," Registered Nurse Deborah Bellino said.
Mikalla Littles makes a lot of trips to the hospital and said it's more convenient for her to get to Park West, which is not far from where she lives.
"At one point, I didn't have transportation, so it was easier to catch the bus and come right here," Littles said. "It's great peace of mind, especially when I get sick in the middle of the night."
From a cardiac arrest to a simple toothache, nurses said they can now treat patients more efficiently 24-7.