HCA Florida West Marion Hospital Celebrates Opening of New Operating Rooms
Expansion adds four new operating rooms, 25 jobs
Ocala, FL – HCA Florida West Marion Hospital today announced the opening of its new, larger operating suite, the first in a series of projects to expand treatment areas within the hospital’s new patient tower.
The $15.3 million project adds four new operating rooms to HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, significantly increasing the facility’s surgical capacity. The hospital, along with HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, was recently recognized as No. 1 in the state for orthopedic surgery, spine surgery and vascular surgery and No. 2 in the state for joint replacement and surgical care.
With the additional surgical capacity, surgeons at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital will be able to treat patients more quickly.
“A year ago, we at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital broke ground on a new $120 million expansion. We did so because we recognized the impending impact of future growth and because we recognized a need to create access for patients north and west of Ocala, ensuring they don’t have to travel for exceptional care,” said Isaiah Zirkle, chief executive officer for HCA Florida West Marion Hospital. “Today we see the first fruits of that project — four brand new operating rooms.”
Dr. James Duke, a member of the hospital’s Board of Trustees, said, “The population growth in Marion County of the past 20 years requires our community’s medical establishment and infrastructure to evolve and grow along with it. The addition of these operating rooms reflects that need.”
Marion County Commission Vice Chairman Carl Zalak added, “It’s clear the expansion of HCA Florida West Marion Hospital that was launched one year ago is a necessary project for a community in need of new healthcare services and increased access.”
“This addition of four operating rooms ensures patients at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital can receive top quality surgical care without leaving the community and in a timely manner, getting them back to their lives and the people they love sooner,” Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano observed. “The motto of both HCA Florida West Marion Hospital and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is ‘We Show Up,’ and our city is fortunate that they show up when we as community members have a need for exceptional healthcare.”
Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership Vice President of Partner Engagement Jess Schultz noted, “HCA Florida West Marion Hospital and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital are vital economic engines that drive the growth and prosperity of our community — in terms of jobs created, capital investment, opportunities to recruit and train new workers, and offering above-median wages. This investment into HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, including the addition of these four new operating rooms, shows that HCA Healthcare sees incredible value in the future of our community.”
HCA Florida West Marion Hospital broke ground on the overall $120 million expansion project in February 2024. In addition to the four new operating rooms announced today, the project includes:
- 25 additional medical surgical beds
- 16 additional inpatient rehabilitation beds
- A second-floor shell that allows for future expansion
- Four elevators (two each for patients and staff)
- An additional 247 parking spaces on the hospital’s campus
- Relocation and update of the hospital’s engineering plant
Combined, HCA Florida West Marion Hospital and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital form the largest hospital system in Marion County, providing a total of 545 beds.
Healthgrades, the No. 1 online site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital, recently named both hospitals to its list of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2025. The achievement reflects the hospitals’ unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care and puts the facilities in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance.
This recognition marks the third year in a row the hospitals have been included among Healthgrades’ annual list of America’s Best Hospitals. Additionally, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital received several other recent recognitions from Healthgrades, including being among the nation’s 50 best hospitals for vascular surgery and surgical care and among the 100 best hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery, joint replacement, spine surgery, and prostate surgeries.