HCA plans $260M hospital in Chesterfield County

HCA Virginia plans to construct a new $260 million hospital in Chesterfield County, citing the county’s growing population.

In a July filing with the Virginia Department of Health, the health system detailed a plan to build a 60-bed acute care hospital — known as Magnolia Hospital — on an approximately 24-acre property in Moseley, located at 16100, 16300, and 16500 Hull Street Road.

Magnolia Hospital would contain 54 medical/surgical beds, six intensive care unit beds, four general-purpose operating rooms and one MRI scanner. HCA says it anticipates adding approximately 360 full-time workers, including 142 registered nurses, to staff the new facility.

The new HCA hospital would be at a “highly accessible” location at the epicenter of population growth in the county, HCA said in its application to the state health department. In an area of high population growth where traffic congestion can hinder timely access to health care, HCA contends, the new hospital would meaningfully improve health care access for patients.

Gaining more than 30,000 residents since 2020, Chesterfield County has led the state in population growth in recent years. HCA’s application for the hospital noted that the county’s population is approaching 400,000, with continued growth projected into the coming decade.

Shaila Menees, chief development officer of HCA Healthcare‘s capital division, told Virginia Business that the goal of the new hospital is to be as close to people’s homes as possible, thereby reducing the travel time necessary for them to receive health care.

“We are thrilled to be able to put this kind of an asset in this area,” she said. “I think the intent is to meet the community where they are and to provide services that are desirable for those that are in the community today and will be in the community in the future.”

The land for Magnolia Hospital, currently zoned by the county for a mix of agricultural and general business uses, will need to be rezoned to Community Business District. Attorney Andy Condlin of law firm Roth Jackson is representing HCA in its rezoning request.

The health system is under contract to purchase property for the hospital from limited liability company Nunnally Village, depending on whether the site gets zoning approval and a state certificate of public need. The state health commissioner hadn’t yet decided whether to grant HCA’s request for Magnolia Hospital; Menees says it will likely be nine to 12 months before a decision is made.

In addition to helping underserved areas of Chesterfield, Magnolia Hospital will also be an asset for Amelia and Powhatan counties, as the hospital will be located near an expansion of Powhite Parkway planned to open in 2030.

In HCA’s state application, the project received support from Chesterfield County Administrator Joseph Casey, the Powhatan County Fire & Rescue Department and Amelia County.

Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services said that patients are often transported outside of the county’s boundaries due to existing county hospitals being at capacity. “This results in significantly increased patient transport times and keeps ambulances away from their primary service areas longer and unable to respond to the next emergency,” the agency wrote.

Casey wrote, “The need for Magnolia is clear. Placing these resources closer to where patients live and work will incentivize patients to obtain needed care sooner before their medical conditions worsen, which will speed recovery, reduce costs, and result in a healthier and more productive community.”

According to HCA’s application with the state, HCA’s Chippenham Hospital, located just outside the county border in Richmond, was established in 1972, when the county’s population was 86,000. In 1980, Johnston-Willis Hospital relocated from Richmond to Chesterfield to meet the needs of the county’s growing population, which at the time was 141,000. However, the application notes that Chesterfield’s population had grown to 394,825 as of July 2024 and is projected to reach 407,000 by 2030.

The exact timeline for when Magnolia Hospital could open isn’t set in stone, but Menees said it will likely be 43 months following state approval of the certificate of public need, so the new hospital would likely be ready to open in 2029 or 2030.

Part of Nashville-based HCA Healthcare, HCA Virginia operates 14 hospitals, 26 outpatient centers, eight freestanding emergency rooms and is affiliated with more than 3,100 physicians. With more than 300,000 employees, HCA Healthcare has 190 hospitals and approximately 2,400 ambulatory sites of care in 20 states and the United Kingdom. It reported $70.603 billion in 2024 revenue.