Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) is adding another county to its service area with the construction of a healthcare campus — including a hospital — in Bay County.

The St. Joe Company donated an 87-acre parcel, which will be developed jointly with the Florida State University College of Medicine in Panama City Beach, located near the developer’s Latitude Margaritaville Watersound “55 and better” community where 3,500 homes are planned in the initial phase. 

In summer 2024, TMH is opening an 80,000-square-foot medical office building that will be home to TMH Physician Partners - Primary Care, an urgent care center, an ambulatory surgery center and cardiology services. Future development plans include an emergency center and a 100-bed inpatient facility set to open in 2027, offering services such as gastroenterology, orthopedics, urology, gynecology, cardiology and general surgery, among others. 

“We are excited to work with St. Joe and FSU on this monumental project,” said TMH President and CEO Mark O’Bryant. “Together, we have the opportunity to create an outstanding training and research platform for the people of Northwest Florida.”

FSU intends to utilize the campus for research opportunities focused on successful aging and senior living technology as well as residency programs and educational rotations for its medical students and students from FSU Panama City. 

Orthopedic surgeon Andrew Wong, MD, has been involved in the planning as a board member of TMH.

“Since they’re building a 55-and-older community from the ground up you can put in some of the things we’re projecting for the future,” said Dr. Wong. “For example, I was told each of the homes will be wired for telehealth; that way you can talk to your doctor from home. The cool thing is TMH gets to work with them envisioning what the delivery of healthcare looks like in the future.”  

While St. Joe has partnered with large healthcare companies for medical services for its communities in the past, the developer was convinced to choose TMH because decision making would occur locally with the area’s specific needs in mind. “I want to help to create and sustain a delivery system where decision-making is tied to the region and the population we serve,” O’Bryant said.

This article first appeared in a 75th Anniversary historical piece by Rosanne Dunkelberger, "The Story of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare," published in 2023. It is reprinted with permission from TMH.