UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair has filed a letter of intent with the Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency indicating its intention to file a certificate of need for a freestanding emergency department in Oxford, Alabama.

The proposed project will be a joint venture among the UAB Health System, the City of Oxford and Oxford’s Health Care Authority.

“We approached UAB to fill this need in our community because they represent world-class patient care,” said Oxford Mayor Alton Craft. “Oxford Health Systems CEO Tom Dixon led this effort with the support of the City Council.”

UAB Health System CEO Dawn Bulgarella said, “partnering with UAB connects Oxford and surrounding communities to the health system’s vast care delivery network, which creates economies of scale to reduce costs and gives patients in the region better access to  world-class medical expertise, specialties and resources for an enhanced care model.”

UAB Medicine already operates successful freestanding emergency departments in Gardendale, Hoover and Trussville.