UC Davis Health has opened the 48X Complex, a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center that’s one of the largest in the nation.
Located at the intersection of 48th and X Streets a few blocks from UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, the four-story, 268,000-square-foot facility addresses the growing demand for same-day or overnight surgical services. The $589 million modern surgical center reflects a shift toward more convenient, same-day procedures that help patients recover without the need for a hospital stay.
“The 48X Complex represents a bold step forward in how we approach health care delivery,” said Michael Condrin, M.B.A., interim CEO for UC Davis Health. “With the growing demand for outpatient surgery, the desire for more convenient and personalized care and the rise of minimally invasive procedures, we’re advancing the way care is provided — ensuring the highest-quality care for patients throughout Northern California, the Central Valley and beyond.”
Enhancing surgical capacity and patient experience
The 48X Complex is designed to expand the capacity for adult same-day surgery at UC Davis Medical Center. This project delivers a leading-edge health care facility designed to deliver excellent care, support recovery, and provide important health services in one place. It combines modern treatment spaces with essential support areas to serve both patients and staff.
Once fully operational, the new facility will be one of the largest outpatient surgery centers in the country, based on the number of operating and procedure rooms. The first phase welcomed patients this July. It includes the extended recovery unit, retail and compounding pharmacies, radiology and imaging, and several operating rooms. By relocating outpatient surgeries to this dedicated center, UC Davis Health aims to reduce wait times for elective procedures and enhance the overall patient experience.
Other clinics, such as orthopaedics, urology, neurosurgery and transplant will open on upper floors beginning in January 2026. This integrated approach ensures that patients receive coordinated and efficient care under one roof. There are also public areas for visitors and families.
Some 48X key features:
- 14 operating rooms for surgeries
- 59 recovery bays for before and after procedures
- 14 private recovery rooms for patients staying up to 23 hours
- 96 exam rooms for check-ups and medical visits
- 19 clinical treatment rooms for specific procedures
- Integration of advanced technology, such as robot-ready operating rooms and a comprehensive suite of imaging technologies
Expanding both outpatient and critical care capabilities
Until now, UC Davis Health’s main hospital pavilion has hosted both emergency and elective surgeries in the same location. With the opening of 48X Complex, elective surgeries have their own facility, and the hospital itself will be able to focus on more, higher-acuity cases.
The outpatient center will still handle complex surgeries, with the planned ability to have more than a dozen patients every night staying up to 23 hours. That allows the health system to straddle the zone between what used to be an inpatient procedure and what could now be an outpatient procedure.
“48X allows us to serve patients whose most precious resource is their time,” said UC Davis Health’s Department of Surgery Chair Diana L. Farmer, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S. “You can have outpatient surgery — same-day surgery or overnight surgery — and then get back to your regular activities without having to stay in the hospital. It’s patient-friendly and tailored for efficiency with the most advanced technology.”
48X is expected to increase UC Davis Health’s outpatient surgeries by more than 5,000 per year, totaling nearly 15,000 annually. Relocating outpatient surgeries allows the main hospital Pavilion, Same Day Surgery Center and University Tower at UC Davis Medical Center to backfill a similar amount of new inpatient surgeries per year.
“48X will help to right-size where inpatient procedures are done and where outpatients are done. It’s an opportunity for the community to have this brand-new building, where we can serve our outpatients safely and with the same quality,” said Perioperative Services Outpatient Administrator Alena Shelton, who oversees daily 48X operations with colleague and Perioperative Operations Medical Director Robin Aldwinckle, M.D. “But it’s twofold. We’re providing more access for outpatient surgery in the Sacramento region and we’re creating more space in the main hospital to take care of those critically ill patients. We’re able to move two things forward at once with the opening of 48X.”
