A groundbreaking will be held Friday for an $8 million addition to John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.
It will relocate urgent care to the south side of the VA and more than triple the space used for this program, according to officials. The groundbreaking will be held at 1 p.m., with light refreshments served.
This project represents the first addition to the main building since its construction in 1951.
The new urgent care will provide easier access for patients, and afford greater privacy, said Dr. Patricia Hall, medical center director.
The nearly 10,000-square-foot addition will replace an approximately 1,300-square-foot urgent care, which is currently located on the north side of the facility. It will give the VA five new exam rooms, a decontamination area, a procedure room, a women's exam room and other medical areas, said Hall.
"The next year will be one of progress and modernization at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center," Hall said in a press release. "In addition to the new urgent care, we will also be expanding our lobby to provide a more comfortable space for veterans, and construction projects are planned for a new education building and an updated (and relocated to urgent care) MRI as well."
Plans are underway to deal with any challenges involving parking during construction, according to officials. Veteran parking will be given priority, they said. Construction is expteced to be complete in early 2020.
The contractor for this project is ESA South of Florida, which has an office in Poplar Bluff.
Representatives from Congressman Jason Smith's office, the city of Poplar Bluff, the Southern Missouri Community Veterans Engagement Board and the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce are expected to attend Friday's event.