ORANGE PARK – A gastroenterology service provider announced a new Orange Park clinic to be constructed by early next year. Borland Groover said an advanced endoscopy clinic on Wells Road would likely be opening in early 2023.

This is the company’s fourth clinic in the northeast Florida region. Borland Groover CEO Kyle Etzkorn said growing the company’s footprint in the area gave them the chance to serve more residents.

“Community and quality care are top priorities and part of our core value system,” Etzkorn said. “… We are excited to expand and offer leading gastroenterology care to Clay County residents.”

The five procedure rooms have advanced endoscopy equipment for procedures such as colonoscopies. The clinic’s specialists can treat common digestive health issues, colorectal cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, acid reflux or liver disease, according to a press release.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, the field covers a swath of vital organs and other parts like the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum. It also is responsible for the pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.

It’s expected that colo-rectal cancer will cause more than 52,000 deaths in 2022. However, the disease’s death rate is decreasing and colorectal polyps are being caught by improved screening processes and extracted before they develop into cancer.

Ultimately due to improved treatments, there are now more than 1.5 million survivors of colorectal cancer in the country, the organization said. Though from 2008 to 2017 colorectal cancer deaths from people younger than 55 increased annually by 1%.

Jackie Kennedy has been Chief Operating Officer for Borland Groover’s ancillary division since November of 2020. She oversees anesthesia, imaging, infusion, pathology and ambulatory surgery center operations.

She said colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer in men and women. On average, 1 in 20 people will have the disease. However, the procedures to detect cancer are routine and should be taken seriously.

“We encourage patients 45 and above to talk to your doctor,” Kennedy said. “It’s preventable if caught early.”

Outpatient surgery centers can provide lower costs or can be easier to get to rather than traditional routes, she said.

“I think it’s important for patients to understand that,” Kennedy said.

The practice has three locations in Jacksonville. Several industries and entities have to expand to keep up with Clay County’s rapid growth and Kennedy said healthcare has to keep up also. The building has 29,000 square feet. The first floor will be an ambulatory surgery center with five procedure rooms. The second floor will house 29 medical exam rooms.

Borland Groover expects to add 50 competitive jobs to the area.

“We can provide top-tier expertise directly to Clay County residents,” Kennedy said. “We’re excited to come in and add some state-of-the-art facilities.”