ChenMed Dedicated Senior Medical Centers is renovating the former Walgreens store in Arlington now that the city issued a construction permit Sept. 2 for the $1.05 million project.
CBJ Construction Inc. of Dania Beach is the contractor for the almost 15,000-square-foot project at 1220 University Blvd. N. It is performing interior demolition already under a permit issued July 20 at a cost of $31,500.
ChenMed.com is a primary care-led group practice that serves low- to moderate-income patients with an average age of 72 through the Medicare Advantage program.
The medical company said June 8 that it will add two locations to the three it opened in Jacksonville in 2018.
ChenMed expects to open the next two late this year in Arlington and at 8000 Lem Turner Road in Northwest Jacksonville.
In Lem Turner Plaza, the city issued an interior demolition permit July 20 for 14,414 square feet of space at a cost of $18,950.
“We are happy with the hypergrowth that we have undergone in the past few years, even during the pandemic,” said Dr. Hermena Cerphy-Firmin, regional chief medical officer for Dedicated Senior Medical Centers in Jacksonville, Lakeland and Orlando.
She said ChenMed is expanding in Duval County and possibly in neighboring counties.
The Miami-based company has grown to more than 75 locations in 11 states since it started more than 35 years ago and expects to have 90 centers in 12 states by year-end.
Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are offered by Medicare-approved private companies that must follow rules set by Medicare.
Cerphy-Firmin said ChenMed works with more than 20 plans nationwide.
Services include specialist medical care providers, pharmaceutical services, preventive health care counseling and management of chronic conditions.
ChenMed provides shuttle transportation for seniors who need it through courtesy vans and Uber Health.
ChenMed’s first three Duval County medical centers are at 3059 Edgewood Ave. W. in Northwest Jacksonville; 6841 Blanding Blvd. in Southwest Jacksonville; and at 9422 Arlington Expressway in the Regency area.
ChenMed estimates it employs more than 80 people in Jacksonville and expects more than 100 with the new locations.
