The Baptist Health Emergency Care Center proposed for Miami Lakes Business Park West has cleared one hurdle: The town council unanimously approved the site plan on April 12.
“I think this will be a much needed and a very important amenity for our residents,” Vice Mayor Jeffrey Rodriguez said.
Next steps include obtaining building permits. Baptist will build a single-story, 19,800 square foot facility on 2.45 acres of land leased from The Graham Companies.
When completed, possibly in 2024, emergency physicians and nurses, respiratory and imaging techs will care for patients with life-threatening conditions such as abdominal pain, cardiac arrest, severe bleeding and strokes. Patients who are stabilized would be released or transferred to a hospital.
The site at the corner of Northwest 77th Court and Northwest 149th Street is across the street from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station 64.
Miami Lakes Town Manager Edward Pidermann said the new facility will keep fire rescue EMTs nearby. They won’t have to take patients to hospitals that are farther away, which would make the ambulance unavailable for patients in Miami Lakes.
“Here you’re going to have a 2-or-3 minute transport time and the moment they transfer the patient to [the new facility in town], that unit is already back in service,” Pidermann said.