Iowa City VA Health Care System to Start Construction on New Women’s Clinic
To keep up with the demand of the fastest-growing Veteran population, Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS) is expanding its main campus hospital.
The current clinic served over 4,900 Women Veterans in FY24. The number of Women Veterans seeking care is projected to grow by 160% over the next ten years, requiring more safe space to receive the highest level of health care they deserve. Moving the clinic to the new building would give Women Veterans larger, more modern spaces, and appropriate separation from other areas leading to more privacy and increased efficiency and satisfaction for Veteran patients and staff.
The newly constructed building will become the new home of the Women’s Health Clinic and additional specialty care services. Construction will be adding 27,500 square feet and two extra floors to the already existing building located on the southwest side of the hospital property. With a better-utilized layout, the Women’s Clinic will consist of four new exam rooms, each with its own private bathroom, a welcoming waiting room with an area for small children, and a procedure room for Ultrasound-guided IUD placement, Colposcopy, and Endocervical Biopsy. The exam rooms in the new clinic have been designed to align with the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model. The PACT model provides Veterans with primary care that is patient-centered, data-driven, continuously improving, team-based, accessible, timely, comprehensive, coordinated, and provides continuity of care over time.
“Providing essential health care and well-being services to our Women Veterans remains our highest priority,” Women’s Clinic Manager, Bonnie Konkowski said. “Our new space will greatly enhance our patient’s experience.”
The clinic will also include controlled access to clinical areas, space for telehealth, and private spaces for Mental Health and Social Work needs. The new multipurpose room will hold Veteran events such as the Women’s Clinic annual baby shower and breast Cancer Awareness events, as well as other groups and well-being activities. Other services offered in the new space include comprehensive women’s and gender-diverse primary and preventative care, gynecology, and urgent care.
“I am thankful to our Executive Leadership as they continue to recognize and prioritize Women Veterans Health,” said Konkowski.
Valhalla Engineering designed this building, which Covenant Construction built. Iowa City VA Health Care System leaders, ICVAHCS women's health clinic staff, ICVAHCS engineering, and the construction and design teams commemorated the start of construction on January 7, 2025, with a brief groundbreaking ceremony. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2026.