Mercy Medical Center officials outline plans for North Liberty clinic

More details still to come on $1.48 million project

Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids
Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. FILE PHOTO

Mercy Medical Center officials have provided some details on their plans for a new clinic in North Liberty.

According to a statement provided by Mercy Medical Center public relations specialist Karen Vander Sanden, the North Liberty clinic, with a first-year cost of $1.48 million, is โ€œaiming to enhance and complement its existing primary care and urgent care clinics.โ€

The new location will support the growth of specialty provider services that the existing MercyCare North Liberty has been experiencing, according to the statement.

โ€œThe primary goal is to provide greater convenience and accessibility to patients as they seek care at Mercy locations beyond Cedar Rapids,โ€ the statement said.

While still in the early planning stages, the new Mercy North Liberty clinic is set to offer a select array of specialty services.

Mercy leaders say research has shown that Johnson County patients prefer having a choice in where they go for health care services.

โ€œMercy is dedicated to providing quality, lower-cost community-based health care options in an independent hospital setting,โ€ the statement said. โ€œThe expansion supports Mercyโ€™s commitment to growth and responsiveness to meet patientsโ€™ needs, while advancing its faith-based mission.โ€

As part of the process, Mercy requested a โ€œdetermination of non-reviewabilityโ€ from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), which was affirmed by the state Health Facilities Council at their meeting Aug. 27.

โ€œIt is crucial for community hospitals like Mercy to continue growing and adapting to what patients want, to support the advancement of our faith-based mission,โ€ said Dr. Timothy Quinn, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center.

Mercy will share more details as the project progresses, according to the statement.