MERIDIAN, Idaho — Work on a major medical complex is underway in Ada County.
Saltzer Medical Group held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday at the Ten Mile Crossing in Meridian.
"We can again make Idaho where you have the most affordable and accessible healthcare,” Gov. Brad Little said at the ceremony.
That is the goal for Saltzer's new complex, which will consist of two four-story buildings totaling about 270,000 square feet. The medical group said this new center will allow them to provide healthcare at a lower cost.
"Try to keep costs down, and then pass that cost along to our patients and families,” said Tommy Ahlquist, CEO of Ball Ventures Ahlquist, the project's developer.
The 24-hour urgent care that will be constructed with this new facility is a key part of that solution, according to Saltzer CEO Dr. John Kaiser.
"That'll be a significantly lower cost than you'll be paying in an ER setting because of the services they have to provide,” he said.
In an effort to avoid sticker shock, the group also plans to be transparent about medical costs before the patient receives the services.
"We want to be able to show to patients what is the cost and what is this care actually going to cost,” Kaiser said. “And have it available to them at the start, and as you go through the process.”
This new complex will offer a wide range of services - from lab work and pharmacy services to ambulatory surgery and much more.
It is scheduled to be open in fall of 2020.
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