Why this new hospital’s opening is part of bigger plans in Liberty Twp.

Christ Hospital’s new $62 million medical center on Cox Road opened Monday, but the celebration started on Saturday.

Hundreds of people attended an event to celebrate the new Christ Hospital Medical Center-Liberty Twp. that sits on 17 acres at 6939 Cox Road just off Liberty Way and near the Interstate 75 interchange. The facility includes an emergency room and offers surgical services, including a state-of-the-art family birthing center.

RELATED: New $62M medical center set to open

“This is a huge day for us because this has been in the planning for over three years,” said Christ Hospital President and CEO Mike Keating. “Our vision is to bring care to the community, and this is one step.”

The medical center is Christ Hospital Health Network’s sixth neighborhood outpatient center, and it brings care to the community, he said.

Outside of the hospitals in Cincinnati and Mount Auburn, the 119,616-square-foot facility in Liberty Twp. is the largest built by the health system.

The medical facility is also in line with the vision of Liberty Twp., said Liberty Twp. Trustee Christine Matacic.

MORE: Area reaps gains from medical building boom

”We have a vision that we keep modifying and updating every so often, but when we put together the Cox Road vision, the medical hub was kind of what we looked at for this region,” she said. “So the health care corridor has arrived with the addition of this medical center.”

Now the stage for more growth, Matacic said.

“We’ve created an atmosphere that will attract and retain businesses and develop services that this community needs and wants,” she said.

West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance CEO Joe Hinson recapped some of the statistics Christ Hospital has enjoyed over the years: 18 consecutive years as a top 50 hospital, most preferred health care provider for 21 straight years and No. 24 on Forbes’ list of top 500 employers in the United States.

“Think about who our new neighbor is in our community,” he said. “We’re very proud to have the Christ Hospital here in Liberty Twp.”

About the Author