CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON PALMDALE CLINIC.

Byline: Peggy Hager and Karen Maeshiro Staff Writers

PALMDALE - A groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday officially kicked off construction of Antelope Valley Hospital's east Palmdale medical clinic, billed as the launch of a three-phase plan to build a hospital in Palmdale.

Construction workers have already graded land at 40th Street East and Palmdale Boulevard for the $5.8 million medical clinic, scheduled to be completed in September.

``Look at this as the beginning of re-establishment of access to quality care for the south Antelope Valley,'' said Dr. Don Bean, Antelope Valley Hospital's board vice chairman.

The hospital is offering the clinic's designer and builder, Amelco Construction of Gardena, a $50,000 incentive bonus if it finishes construction ahead of schedule. If the project falls behind schedule, Amelco will pay the hospital $200 for every day beyond the completion date of Sept. 17.

Hospital officials said they didn't want a repeat of the delays and cost overruns experienced during the ongoing construction of a $21 million skilled nursing facility.

The two-story, 30,000-square-foot clinic will offer primary care and ``emergent'' care services - an around-the-clock facility staffed by emergency room physicians seven days a week.

If patients need to be admitted, they will be transported to Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster once they are stabilized. Life-threatening situations will still be sent to Antelope Valley Hospital after being evaluated in the field by emergency personnel.

``This is another great building block in full-service health care that district provides for everyone and will continue to provide as the community grows,'' said Gary Hill, treasurer of the hospital board.

The clinic also will offer women's health services and a nutrition program for low-income families.

Plans call for the eventual completion of a three-story hospital, a doctors office building and a child care center. Plans also include the eventual location of a helicopter pad at the location.

``We're going to keep meeting the needs of the community,'' hospital board Chairman Steve Fox said. ``This is just the beginning.''

Palmdale lost its only hospital in March 1996, when Desert Palms Community Hospital closed. Since then, hospital officials and Palmdale city officials have been looking for a way to provide medical services to residents in south Antelope Valley.

``To attend a groundbreaking is significant.'' said Mayor Jim Ledford. ``I am confident this facility will receive more usage than anticipated.''

The Palmdale City Council in March approved opening negotiations with Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings Inc. to develop a hospital at Palmdale Boulevard and Fifth Street West.

Prospect in April turned down an offer from Antelope Valley Hospital of free land at the 40th Street East site to build a hospital there, saying a site on Palmdale's west side would better serve residents.

The second phase of the medical clinic would bring in diagnostic and treatment services, an outpatient center, and 30 inpatient beds, officials said. Phase three would add an additional 60 to 90 beds.

Hospital officials said they lack the money now to build a full hospital, the estimated cost of which is $90 million.