Opening day nears for new Glen Ellyn clinic

The DuPage Medical Group's new Glen Ellyn Clinic will be ready to open next month -- on time and within budget.

"We're excited because the patients are going to get a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility in Glen Ellyn," said Ed Carne, the medical group's chief executive officer.

The roughly $21 million building tentatively is scheduled to open March 10.

With the new building constructed, the project soon will focus on the demolition of the old building to make room for a new parking lot.

A second parking lot along Western Avenue was completed as part of the project's first phase.

The project is expected to be completed by July.

The new clinic is considered the medical group's primary facility.

In April 2006, Glen Ellyn village board members approved the medical group's plan to replace an existing 71,000-square-foot structure with a new, 92,000-square-foot building, despite traffic concerns raised by some Western Avenue residents.

Village President Vicky Hase, who has supported the project from the beginning, said she was surprised at how quickly the construction moved along.

"It's great to see a new, state-of-the-art medical facility in downtown Glen Ellyn," she said. "They did this in a very timely fashion."

The new facility has upgraded diagnostic testing facilities with comprehensive exams geared for women, including digital mammography and an ultrasound suite.

The clinic also has expanded physical therapy space. The first floor contains retail space and an optical shop.

The medical staff will be increased by about 145 employees.

Staff levels will be increased on a gradual basis as the need presents itself, said Mary Goldsher, the medical group's executive director of administrative services. Some staff may come from other existing facilities.

Hase said the clinic will contribute to downtown foot traffic.

"There will be more employees brought into the downtown on a daily basis," she said. "And with patients traveling to the downtown, hopefully, that would increase the activity in our downtown."