Published: September 22, 2008 12:05 am      

New medical center planned for Ironton

Ironton — Government and health care officials have announced a project that could eventually lead to Ironton once again having its own hospital.

Lawrence County Health Futures LLC, a consortium of health care providers and development leaders, on Wednesday announced plans to construct a family medical center with extended urgent care hours. The $20 million facility will be on Ohio 141, just north of its intersection with U.S. 52.

If the family medical center proves to be economically viable, officials said, it could lead to further development, including construction of a new hospital.

The initial phase of the project “is viewed as the being the next key step in pursuit” of the goal of the return of a hospital to Ironton, according to a news release from St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Huntington-based St. Mary’s is a partner in Lawrence County Health Care Futures. The other entities involved are the Lawrence County Port Authority, the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization, the Lawrence Economic Development Corp. and Clearpoint Development Group LLC.

Ironton and Lawrence County have been without a full-service hospital since River Valley Health Systems closed its doors in 2001. Since the closure, residents have been forced to travel to Ashland, Russell, Huntington and Portsmouth for many of their health care needs.

Lawrence is currently the largest county in Ohio without a hospital.

The 20-acre site selected for the new complex has several homes on it, along with Cooke’s Farm Center. Acquiring the land is expected to require about $2 million, with another $18 million needed to build the family medical center.

The center will “serve as the foundation for additional construction,” which, in addition to a hospital, could also include an imaging center, surgery center and additional specialty clinical space, St. Mary’s said.

Patient support will be key to determining if and when expansion is possible, the hospital said.

Work on the initial phase is expected to begin sometime next year, officials said.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.