University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics’ Iowa River Landing location has plans for expansion based on outgrowing the clinic space in the first year of operations. Since opening in October 2012, visits to UI Healthcare Iowa River Landing have steadily increased from 6,000 a month during its first month open to 9,500 in August 2013 as presented in a recent report to the Iowa Board of Regents. In fact, last month saw a new daily record of 691 visits.
In response to this rising use, plans are underway to expand into the additional levels of the UI Healthcare Iowa River Landing on floors 4 and 5. The expansion kicks of with the development of five procedure suites and the associated support facilities on level five. The expansion will also increase the number of clinic exam rooms by up to 40 on levels 4 and 5. Both of these expansions utilize existing unfinished “shell space.”
A significant portion of the procedures to be performed in this new space will be colonoscopies, an endoscopic procedure directed towards the early diagnosis and prevention of colorectal cancer. Colonoscopies have provided a significant source of visits to the IRL facility over the past year. Other procedures to be performed in the new unit will include upper gastroenterology and urology procedures. The new procedure rooms will be designed with the flexibility to accommodate outpatient procedures that may be performed at this location in the future by Cardiology, Urology, Ophthalmology and Gynecology.
“Being just one year out from opening in October of 2012 and needing more space for Internal Medicine, Urology (Peds/Adult), Cardiology and OB/Gyn is a reflection of the teamwork and patient care delivered by the staff and providers at UI Healthcare Iowa River Landing,” said Steve Woodward, Administrator UI Healthcare Iowa River Landing. “Patients visiting the clinic for the first time comment on the patient care received, ease of parking, building layout and patient flow. I am very proud of the team and the clinic atmosphere that we have developed in the first year of operation.”
In addition to the procedure rooms, the project will provide areas for patient reception and waiting, preparation, and recovery. The project will also include the installation of a second service elevator to meet the additional transport needs of staff, supplies and equipment for the new procedure suite and future services to be located on level five.
The new phase at UIHC Iowa River Landing is expected to start in the first quarter of 2014 and will be completed in the first/second quarter of 2015. The clinic will be in continuous operation during the expansion, which will primarily occur after hours when the clinic is not in operation.
For more information, please contact Steve Woodward at Steven-Woodward@uiowa.edu.