By Dan Hounsell

The University of California Irvine (UCI) recently received approval for its plans to build a $1 billion hospital campus that will house a 144-bed acute care facility, ambulatory care center and cancer center, according to Becker’s Hospital Review.

The new hospital will be home to children's health specialties, a 24-hour emergency department, wellness programs, clinical research and acute care. The hospital will also focus on clinical programs, such as oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and digestive health.

The facility will join the UCI Health Center for Advanced Care, a $221 million facility slated to break ground this year, to form the UCI Medical Center Irvine Newport.

UC Irvine expects to complete the advanced care facility late next year, the ambulatory care center in 2023, and the hospital in 2025.