Florida lawmakers announce $4.5 million investment to expand high-risk maternity care in Jacksonville

Today, Florida Senator Tracie Davis and Representative Wyman Duggan announced $4.5 million in state funding to support the expansion of labor and delivery services at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, the flagship hospital of Baptist Health and the region’s only Level IV Regional Perinatal Health Care Center.

The investment is part of a larger multi-phase expansion to meet the growing demand for advanced maternal and infant care in Northeast Florida, where high-risk pregnancies are expected to rise by 14.5% over the next decade. Recent labor and delivery unit closures in the area have compounded the need for these services.

“We are grateful to Senator Davis and Representative Duggan for their leadership and commitment to improving health outcomes for mothers and babies in our region,” said Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “This funding allows us to expand our capacity to care for the most medically complex pregnancies and deliver the highest level of obstetrical care. It’s a powerful step forward in our mission to ensure every mother and baby has access to the care they need, without having to leave their community.”

In addition to doubling the hospital’s labor and delivery capacity from 12 to 24 rooms, the phased expansion will introduce new facilities including:

• An eight-bed OB triage/emergency room for 24/7 urgent care
• State-of-the-art operating suites for immediate surgical intervention
• A dedicated antepartum unit for the highest risk mothers in need of continuous monitoring

“This investment represents a commitment to building a future where every mother, regardless of risk level, can deliver safely and with confidence,” said Nicole B. Thomas, MHA, FACHE, hospital president of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. “Beyond expanding physical space, we’re expanding our ability to respond to urgent complications, offer advanced maternal-fetal care and deliver highly specialized services for mothers and babies who need it most. Baptist Health is proud to be part of a community and a state that prioritize maternal health.”

The total cost of the phased expansion is $25.8 million, with additional support from private philanthropy and Baptist Health Foundation donors. Phase 1 was completed in 2024, while Phase 2 is scheduled for completion in August 2025 and Phase 3 is expected to follow in August 2026.

This initiative reflects Baptist Health's larger commitment to supporting mothers and babies through every stage of care, from high-risk pregnancy to neonatal recovery. That continuum is strengthened by Wolfson Children’s Hospital, home to the only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Northeast Florida and the Level IV NICU transport center for all North Florida. Through direct integration with labor and delivery services, families have immediate access to the highest level of neonatal care available in the region, ensuring that even the most medically fragile newborns receive expert treatment without delay.