CHI Saint Joseph Health London Central East Ambulatory Care Center

Project Summary

CommonSpirit Health, through CHI Saint Joseph Health, partnered with NexCore Group to transform healthcare delivery in southeast Kentucky.

In London—strategically located between Lexington, KY, and Knoxville, TN—CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group held a strong presence but faced operational inefficiencies, fragmented physician locations, and the challenge of recruiting top providers to outdated facilities.

NexCore’s market analysis confirmed the need for a modern, consolidated medical outpatient building (MOB) to centralize services, expand access, and strengthen CHI’s competitive position in the region. The result: a 61,438-square-foot, multi-specialty facility designed to improve patient experience, streamline physician workflows, and reduce patient outmigration.

The Challenge

The London market presented clear opportunities—and equally clear challenges—that the new MOB needed to address:

• Dispersed Providers: Physicians were operating from multiple outdated, inefficient buildings, creating fragmented care and inconsistent patient experiences.
  
• Physician Recruitment: Attracting and retaining high-quality providers required modern, purpose-built facilities.
  
• Operational Inefficiency: Legacy systems and physical layouts slowed patient throughput and increased administrative burden.
  
• Real Estate Consolidation: Multiple leases and locations increased costs and diluted brand presence.
  
• Service Expansion: The region needed more comprehensive, coordinated outpatient care to meet growing demand.
  
• Competitive Pressures: Improved facilities were essential to retain patients and prevent outmigration to surrounding metro areas.
  

NexCore’s Solution

Leveraging a proven development model from prior CHI collaborations, NexCore delivered a facility designed for both operational excellence and patient-centered care:

• Universal Platform Design: Adapted from other NexCore/CHI projects, enabling flexible use of space across specialties while supporting collaboration.
  
• Physician Engagement: London-based physicians and administrators toured NexCore-developed CHI facilities in Omaha—seeing firsthand the efficiency gains and improved patient satisfaction made possible by the universal platform.
  
• Workflow Optimization: NexCore conducted detailed process mapping to standardize practice workflows, improving consistency from check-in to check-out and reducing opportunities for errors.
  
• Capital Partnership: NexCore structured funding through strategic capital partnerships, securing a long-term lease with CHI while allowing the system to conserve capital for other priorities.
  
• On-Campus Integration: Located on the Saint Joseph Health campus, the MOB brings multiple physician groups back into proximity with the hospital, strengthening care coordination.
  
• Construction Coordination: NexCore ensured seamless operations during construction, including the relocation of the hospital’s helipad to maintain trauma center readiness.
  

Results

Opening in Fall 2020, the CHI Saint Joseph Health London Ambulatory Care Center is now a high-performing hub for outpatient services, delivering measurable benefits:

• Centralized Access: Multiple specialties and diagnostic services now operate under one roof, improving patient convenience and care coordination.
  
• Higher Throughput & Volume: Standardized processes and shared clinical spaces have increased patient volume while reducing wait times.
  
• Physician Collaboration: Co-location of primary and specialty care providers has strengthened communication, referrals, and multidisciplinary care.
  
• Competitive Positioning: The new facility reinforces CHI’s regional presence, helping retain patients and expand its primary service area.
  
• Expanded Service Offering: The MOB provides:
  
  • Primary Care
    
  • General & Vascular Surgery
    
  • Rheumatology
    
  • Urology
    
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
    
  • Cardiology & Pulmonology
    
  • Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
    
  • Imaging & Lab Services
    
  • 3D Mammography
    

Strengthening Care for Southeast Kentucky

This project demonstrates the power of targeted investment, physician engagement, and disciplined development execution.

For CHI Saint Joseph Health, the new London Ambulatory Care Center is more than a building—it’s a strategic platform for growth, a recruiting tool for top physicians, and a commitment to keeping high-quality care close to home for the communities of southeast Kentucky.