New Freestanding Emergency Room and Urgent Care Facility

Centra partners with Intuitive Health to bring first hybrid emergency room and urgent care facility to the greater Lynchburg region

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Centra has partnered with Intuitive Health to bring a new healthcare model to the region that combines emergency and urgent care services in one convenient location. The facility will be accessible from Timberlake Road and Logans Lane near the U.S. 501 interchange and is designed to expand access to care while easing demand on Centra’s Lynchburg General Hospital Emergency Department. Click the link below to get an example of what this facility will look like: https://centrahealth.canto.com/b/RU75R 

The hybrid model will redirect lower‑acuity emergency and urgent care cases to the new facility, in order to help improve patient flow and reduce wait times at Lynchburg General’s emergency department. Centra expects the additional capacity to enhance the overall experience for both patients and care teams across its system.

“This partnership reflects Centra’s continued investment in modernizing how care is delivered so we can better serve our community today and into the future,” said Richard Tugman, president and CEO of Centra. “By bringing urgent care and emergency services together in a single, purpose‑built facility, we’re making it easier for patients to access the right level of care when they need it, while helping reduce common frustrations such as long wait times.”

Intuitive Health partners with more than 20 health systems nationwide and has a proven record of developing and operating free‑standing emergency departments that offer hybrid urgent care billing. The new facility will combine emergency and urgent care services under one roof, eliminating the need for patients to decide where to seek care. All patients will be evaluated by a provider, who will determine whether treatment is best delivered through urgent care or emergency services.

As hospital emergency rooms face increasing demand and extended wait times, this modern facility addresses a critical community need by expanding access to care during evenings, weekends, and peak illness seasons. It will be fully equipped to treat emergency conditions, and patients requiring a higher level of care will be transported to a hospital with advanced capabilities, such as Lynchburg General Hospital. The center also will offer 24/7 laboratory services and a radiology suite with X‑ray, ultrasound and CT imaging, allowing timely diagnosis and treatment without a visit to a traditional hospital emergency department.

“This partnership delivers true convenience and helps ensure patients have a positive, stress‑free healthcare experience,” said Thom Hermann, CEO of Intuitive Health. “We are honored to partner with Centra to bring our care model to communities across central and southern Virginia.”

The partnership supports Centra’s broader, multi‑year strategy to modernize facilities and meet evolving emergency care needs. In September, Centra broke ground on a new six‑story, 266,200‑square‑foot tower at Lynchburg General Hospital that will include an expanded emergency department, surgical and perioperative services, and updated women’s and children’s care units. Centra also is investing $5 million to renovate and expand the emergency department at Southside Community Hospital, adding capacity, behavioral health resources and fast‑track services.

Under the partnership, Intuitive Health will guide facility design and construction and provide day‑to‑day administrative support. Centra will staff the facility with physicians and clinical team members. The center will operate as an outpatient department of Lynchburg General Hospital.

While a final opening date has not yet been set, Centra and Intuitive Health expect to begin construction by the end of the year, with the facility opening following a typical 12 18-month construction timeline.

To learn more, visit www.CentraHealth.com