Medical mall concept bold, promising

Physicians' Clinic of Iowa wants to build the medical version of a retail shopping mall. The concept, modeled after a successful version in Huntington, W.Va., is designed not only to be financially profitable but also provide a cutting-edge model for better delivery of health care.

It's a proposal we believe would be in the community's best interest to support. Although there are some challenges to work through, we support PCI's preference to build in an area the City Council already has designated as a medical district.

PCI, created by a merger of seven medical groups in 1997, operates out of five separate offices. CEO Mike Sundall says that coordination and efficiency of medical care suffer.

Westdale Mall, green space near The Eastern Iowa Airport, as well as sites between the city's two hospitals were studied as possible locations for housing PCI's offices under one roof. The preferred site for the $44 million project is a two-block area between 10th and 12th streets SE, along Second Avenue SE.

There are caveats. One in particular has raised opposition: PCI wants to close the two-block stretch of Second Avenue SE. That would force traffic changes on a downtown feeder route and affect others.

Building in this location also would cost $8 million more than on green space. PCI hopes the city will OK tax incremental financing (TIF), earmarking new tax revenue generated by the facility to cover the gap.

While the full impact of closing a section of Second Avenue SE isn't known because traffic studies aren't finished, we believe the benefits of PCI's project would greatly outweigh traffic problems:

l There, the medical mall would anchor the medical district, part of the long-range vision for the downtown.

l Patients get coordinated care in one facility.

l PCI says the mall would help control health care costs by reducing duplication of some services and other overhead.

l PCI, which pays about $350,000 in property taxes per year now, would pay more than $1 million once the mall is built.

l The development likely would attract other medical groups and talent to PCI and elsewhere in the district, as well as spur non-medical business growth for restaurants and shops.

PCI acknowledges it could build on its preferred site even if the city doesn't agree to close Second Avenue. However, building skywalks or underground tunnels would add greatly to the cost and reduce some conveniences for patients.

At least seven buildings must be demolished or moved to make way for the project. We hope those with useful life and/or historical value could be saved.

The medical mall is a bold project requiring some change. It won't come without some pain. But we're convinced it's good for the medical and economic health of our community and region.