PCI envisions a state-of-the-art, 180,000 to 200,000-square-foot ambulatory care facility that would consolidate the present five PCI medical office buildings and their ancillary services into a single "medical mall" facility. The building would house PCI clinics & specialty centers, multidisciplinary clinics, a diagnostic laboratory, an imaging center, diagnostic testing services, a pharmacy, a patient and community education center and healthcare screening. The facility will also house healthcare-related tenants and a café.

BBL of Albany, N.Y., has been chosen to design and plan PCI's medical facility and manage its construction. Cedar Rapids area contractors will bid for the project. "BBL is one of the country's top design/build firms specializing in healthcare facilities," says Michael Sundall, PCI's CEO. "They have a great deal of experience in the design/build of medical malls, which was a significant factor in their selection."

"We've been asked if the new building and all of its conveniences will mean more expensive care," says Sundall. "That is absolutely not the case. Our new building will not increase the cost of healthcare, as we are paid in a fixed-payment system through third party payers and PCI already does a remarkable job with managing its costs."

PCI plans to add 15 to 20 new providers over the next 3 to 7 years. "In addition to expanding care options for patients, this also means additional jobs," says Sundall. "Every time a new PCI provider is hired, four more jobs are created within PCI."