Rick Cook, the Wichita developer who put the project together, said the two-story office building would have an area of 35,000 to 38,000 square feet. He said construction should start within 30 days.

“The plan is to follow this building with a specialty hospital,” Cook said, adding that plans for the surgical suites hadn’t been completed. He said the land also could include retail development in the future.

“There’s just so many possibilities here,” Cook said.

Cook said the building, which is in the east end of Galena, could create a greater connection between Galena and Joplin.

“It could be the catalyst to get that going very easily,” Cook said. “It could be the catalyst that lights the fire.”

Ipsen said the Galena medical office would employ around 50 to 60 people, some of whom would transfer from the Joplin location. He said though no procedures would be performed in the medical building initially, all the doctors in the group have privileges at the Joplin hospitals, where surgeries or other procedures would continue to be performed.

Another doctor in the group, Timothy Ogden, said the building location is ideal and repeated the idea about less restrictive malpractice laws in Kansas.

“It’s got good visibility,” Ogden said. “It’s just a good location for our patients.”

Oglesby said mining maps have been reviewed to ensure that the location is not undermined, as is the case with many locations in Galena.

Other physicians who are part of Orthopaedic Specialists of the Four States are Jonathan Grantham, Paul Toma, Terry Schwab and Robert Stringer. Ipsen said Dr. Mark McNemar, of Columbus, would join the group within the next year or two. Joe Caputo is the administrator and business manager.

To learn more

Orthopaedic Specialists of the Four States is online at www.ortho4states.com.