By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

GALENA, Kan. — Orthopaedic Specialists of the Four States plans to open its new medical office building in Galena in about a year.

Future plans include a specialty hospital with surgical suites.

The group includes seven independent physicians who have privileges at both Joplin, Mo., hospitals. Orthopaedic Specialists of the Four States currently is located in Joplin at 1111 McIntosh Circle, Suite B. Dr. Brian Ipsen said that with the addition of two doctors, the group has outgrown its Joplin location.

The malpractice insurance environment in Kansas made Galena an attractive location, the doctors said.

Dr. Christopher Banwart, a member of the physicians group, said the doctors would save 50 percent on malpractice insurance by being based in Kansas.

“Kansas affords an open and friendly environment for doctors,” Banwart told a crowd gathered for a ground-breaking ceremony. “This is a beautiful location. It’s not that far for our patients.”

Bob Tomlinson, assistant Kansas insurance commissioner, said the 50 percent savings figure is accurate.

“That is principally because of the malpractice tort experience in Kansas and Missouri,” Tomlinson said. He said there are fewer malpractice lawsuits and the cap on awards is $100,000 lower in Kansas than Missouri. He said before Missouri lowered its cap on malpractice awards to $350,000, there was a mass exodus of doctors from Missouri to Kansas in the Kansas City area.

Ipsen and other doctors said they have patients from throughout the region.

The community on Wednesday celebrated the planned $4 million to $5 million medical office building. The ceremony featured the doctors involved, local officials and music from the Galena High School choir and band. Galena Mayor Dale Oglesby said the development may be the biggest thing to happen in town since its mining heyday.

“Our whole city is just electrified about what’s going on here,” Oglesby said.

Banwart said the office building is a significant undertaking for the doctors.

“It’s bringing health care to the next level,” he said. “We have a vision for where we want to be.”