Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan., and Joplin, Mo.-based Mercy Medical Center are teaming up to build a new 13,500-square-foot, $4.2 million primary care facility on Via Christi's Pittsburg campus, according to The Morning Sun.
Construction could start as early as May with a possible opening in temporary quarters this fall, Via Christi Senior Administrator in Pittsburg Randy Cason said during the announcement Monday, according to the report. The new facility is expected to open by mid-2017.
Four primary care physicians and support staff will be the initial tenets of the new facility, though up to nine physicians could eventually practice there, Mr. Cason said.
The cost for the facility will be underwritten with an investment from both MercyMedicalCenter and Via Christi Hospital. The partnership includes a 51 percent share for Via Christi and a 49 percent share for Mercy, according to the report.
"We decided that collaborating rather than competing would help and assist in this particular area," said Mr. Cason, according to the report. "Over the last several years we've continued to have shortage of primary care physicians both here in Pittsburg and southeast Kansas."