Reid Health planning new Connersville campus
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Richmond-based Reid Health is growing its footprint in Fayette County. The health system on Friday announced plans for a more than $100 million investment to establish a new campus in Connersville that will replace the former Fayette Regional Health System facility it acquired in 2019.
Reid says the decision was made to build a new campus due to the age of the current facility, which dates back more than 100 years, as well as deferred maintenance due to the previous operator’s financial issues.
Fayette Regional Health System declared bankruptcy in late 2018, which led to Reid Health acquiring the majority of the assets in Connersville. The move allowed the facility to remain in operation without disruption.
Reid Health CEO Craig Kinyon, a former CFO for Fayette Regional, says the new campus is part of a commitment to expand services in Connersville.
“It’s going to give the region access to top-level, state-of-the-art care tailored to the needs of Fayette County,” Kinyon said in written remarks. “This facility will provide patients with a place to receive a very high level of service in an outpatient setting without having to travel. We believe this investment will be a source of pride in the community for decades to come.”
The new campus will be constructed at the former Kmart property at 2500 Park Road, which the health system acquired in early 2021.
The project will feature a two-story, 177,000-square-foot facility that includes 400 parking spaces and an on-site helipad, which Reid says will be the county’s first in 30 years to be located adjacent to emergency services.
The facility will include a new emergency department, radiology and lab services, and a mix of primary and specialty care options such as cardiology, OB/GYN, and oncology, among many others.
One thing the facility will not have is inpatient hospital beds. The health system says the financial difficulties experienced by Fayette Regional, combined with the facility’s proximity to Reid Hospital in Richmond, led to the decision.
“We’re not providing inpatient care because we can transition the patients to Richmond in fewer than 30 minutes and have all the subspecialists and specialists there for their care,” Kinyon said. “To duplicate that in Connersville would not be financially sustainable, and it’s our responsibility to build a healthcare facility that can meet the needs of the community for years to come.”
Since taking the current facility over in 2019, Reid Health has added 180 jobs in Connersville. That number is expected to grow even further with the new campus.
“I’m excited Reid Health is honoring their commitment to Connersville with access to high-quality healthcare,” said Connersville Mayor Chad Frank. “Growth is happening, and the future is bright for Connersville. I’m pleased Reid Health recognizes this and has decided to move forward with us in our growth.”
Reid Health plans to break ground on the new campus on Oct. 19. Construction is expected to be complete in 2024.
Kinyon says he hopes the project will lead to additional development in the city.
“We hope this project gives the community another big reason for companies to locate jobs in the Fayette/Connersville region. Hopefully, this will be a catalyst that will incubate other ideas within the community and be something that can serve as a springboard. We very much hope that’s part of this project, that there’s a good positive momentum that comes from this.”
Kinyon says once the new campus is operational, the current Virgnia Avenue facility will be demolished with the hope of the property being redeveloped.