by MARK ST.J. COUHIG

Sequim Gazette

Olympic Medical Center will spend $737,000 on a construction project to finish the interior of the Medical Services Building, 844 N. Fifth Ave., in Sequim.

At its Wednesday, Dec. 21, meeting, the OMC board awarded the contract to PHC Construction, LLC, a Bainbridge Island-based firm.

The company will “build-out” 4,500 square feet of currently unfinished space for use by medical professionals and office staff.

The work will provide room for additional neurologists, cardiologists and other medical professionals, as well as office staff.

PHC’s bid was the lowest of 12 submitted. At $737,000, it is $248,000 less than the $985,000 cap approved by the board when the project was put out to bid.

That brought smiles to the faces of the board members. OMC CEO Eric Lewis told the board, “We thought a good bid would be in the $900,000 range. The process was very competitive and I was really happy with the bid.”

Lewis said the construction will allow the medical system to “add quite a few physicians to our Sequim campus.” He said the work is particularly important in light of OMC’s recently approved “tertiary affiliation” agreement with Swedish Medical Center.

Two neurologists now being recruited by Swedish likely will be among the first occupants of the completed space.

Scott Bower, plant operations and construction manager for OMC, said the board requested three bids. The first priority is the completion of 2,633 square feet of space to expand the Olympic Medical Physicians Specialty Clinic. The work will add two procedures rooms and six exam rooms.

The board also asked for bids to complete the space for a new cardiology clinic. PHC will build-out 1,224 square feet of vacant space on the building’s second floor for that purpose. The new clinic will adjoin the existing cardiology department.

PHC also will complete an additional 933 square feet of space to provide more room for clerical staff or to serve as a “one-doctor” clinic.

Rhonda Curry, assistant administrator for strategic development for OMC, said when the building was first built the decision was made to save the money until the space could be properly utilized. “It was a matter of stewardship,” she said.

Lewis said he anticipates the work will be completed by April 2012.

Reach Mark Couhig at mcouhig@sequimgazette.com.