New Baptist North Medical Campus opens its doors

Includes Baptist Health for adults, Wolfson Children's Emergency Center for kids

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new free-standing Baptist North Medical Campus open its doors Wednesday on Jacksonville's Northside.

The Baptist North Medical Campus was designed to meet the growing needs of families in the underserved area. 

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The hospital has a total of 16 emergency suites staffed 24 hours, seven days a week. It also houses two emergency centers -- Baptist Health for adults and Wolfson Children's Emergency Center, which focuses on pediatric care. 

There's also a separate waiting room for children where they can color or look at interactive artwork. The theme of the room is "Discover Oceans" and it is designed to make young ones feel a little more comfortable when they're at the hospital. 

"We have a pediatric flair to a regular community emergency department. We have the added benefit of having specially-trained pediatric medicine staff that are available to take care of those emergencies," said Dr. Anthony Pohlgeers, the emergency medicine director at Wolfson Children's Hospital. 

Some of the doctors and nurses transferred from Wolfson Children's Hospital, so they already have experience when it comes to sick kids, like 7-year-old Octavia Young, who is very familiar with the nurses there. 

Octavia was born with sickle-cell and recently has been experiencing complex seizures. She was rushed to the new Baptist North Medical Campus Wednesday after having a seizure. 

"They're so good with children. I have no complaints. They have taken excellent care of her since she was born," said Lashaun Young, the mother of Octavia. 

In an emergency like the one Wednesday, she can now get her daughter to a doctor at Baptist North much faster, since it's close to their home. 

"It was like 'wow,' finally somewhere close and I don't have to drive all around Jacksonville for an emergency room for my child. I am so glad they built it down here," Young said. 

Octavia agreed.

"I'll be safe and happy," Octavia said.

In February 2017, Baptist North Medical Campus will also open the second phase of the campus, which includes a new YMCA, physician's offices and a Healthy Living Center in a three-story medical building.