Great River Health Systems has announced plans to build a new urgent care clinic in Keokuk. The West Burlington-based health care provider said the new nearly $7 million facility will help it address a growing number of patients.
Great River is purchasing about three acres of land along Main Street from the city of Keokuk for $250,000. The land is between Sonic and the Hampton Inn, behind the new Hibbett Sports store.
John Mercer, Facility Manager for GRHS, said the new facility will be about five times as large as Great River’s current clinic near Keokuk Area Hospital.
The new facility will provide urgent care from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. It will also provide specialized services such as cardiology, orthopedics, urology, mental health care, ophthalmology, and podiatry.
“There will also be a portion of the building dedicated to rehabilitation services, x-ray, and lab,” according to the development agreement proposed by Great River. “This multi-function facility will require us to increase our current local staffing from 12 full time employees to 30 full time employees. These positions will be filled with local people who fit the qualifications and needs of our business expansion."
Mercer said in addition to the nearly $6 million construction price tag, the new facility will include about $1 million in new equipment.
The Keokuk City Council this month approved the sale of the land. Great River’s development proposal calls for construction to get underway around Oct. 1, 2017 and be completed in August, 2018.
“The goal is to serve customers in Keokuk and all surrounding areas including Illinois and Missouri,” said the company in the proposal. “If a particular service cannot be provided at this facility, we will work collaboratively to provide that service at Great River Medical Center Main Campus located in West Burlington, Iowa. This would allow a continuum of care for our valued customers.”
The land purchase follows GRHS’ announcement last month that it acquired Hometown Medical Care, a primary-care clinic in West Point, Iowa, and that it is considering purchasing land in Fort Madison for a health care clinic.
Blessing Health Systems and Fort Madison Community Hospital already operate the Keokuk Medical Center in downtown Keokuk.
