Whitman Medical Group PS, which operates a clinic adjoining Whitman Hospital & Medical Center, in Colfax, Wash., says it expects to select Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, to start work this month on a 3,000-square-foot addition to the clinic.

Garco is the low bidder for the project, with a bid of $642,000, says Nathan Hymas, the clinic's administrator. NAC/Architecture, of Spokane, designed the project.

The clinic occupies a 9,500-square-foot single-story building it leases from the hospital at the southeast edge of Colfax, Hymas says. Six physicians, four nurse practitioners, and 50 employees in all work at the clinic.

Whitman Medical Group plans to add two nurse practitioners or physician's assistants to the practice by this fall and might add a physician next year, Hymas says.

The clinic connects to the southwest side of the hospital via an enclosed walkway. "We'll knock out the hallway and create rooms between us and the hospital," he says.

The addition, which is expected to be completed by next spring, will include 11 exam rooms and three offices, he says. The clinic currently has 24 exam rooms.

Separately, Garco is in the midst of the second of two phases of a $14 million expansion and renovation of the hospital. That project will provide space to house respiratory therapy, pharmacy, business, and medical-records departments, as well as a cafeteria and dining facility. Construction is projected to be completed in late summer.

The first phase of the hospital project, which was completed late last year, included construction of a 25-bed floor with 19 private patient rooms, two labor and delivery rooms, and radiology, laboratory, emergency, and therapy centers.