SARATOGA SPRINGS — With western Utah County growing drastically, health-care options are increasing.

Intermountain Healthcare officials broke ground Wednesday for a new, larger clinic in Saratoga Springs located along state Route 73 just west of the intersection at Redwood Road. The health-care organization has an Instacare and family practice clinic in Saratoga Springs, but with the growth and demand, IH decided to expand.

Dr. Glenn Tefteller, a physician at the current facility, said when the doors first opened in April 2005 he treated five patients on the first day. He said it now averages about 30 patients a day, and the small building just doesn't have enough room.

"It's time for us to move on," he said. "I'm grateful Intermountain decided to grow."

Tefteller also said he hoped the clinic would expand as the need grows.

Saratoga Springs, Lehi and Eagle Mountain are growing rapidly, and residents from all three cities use the services provided by IH. Saratoga Springs Mayor Tim Parker said the city and IH have had a good working relationship, and Parker promised to "build the population to justify the expenditures."

Parker thanked the organization for working with the city to design a building up to the city architectural board's approval and for working the facility into the new development. The new clinic will be located just west of the Wal-Mart being built.

The 9,000-square-foot clinic will have 18 rooms, an in-house X-ray and basic lab services. The X-ray will allow for same-day results for patients, said Scott Roberson, group operations manager for the Intermountain Medical Group in Utah County. Construction will be done in a way that the clinic can expand as the need grows. The clinic also will have several pediatricians beginning in the next few years, he said.

Construction should be finished and the clinic opened in April 2009, Roberson said. The clinic will be open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

IH wants to provide quality health care for all areas of the community in Utah, said Dr. Linda Leckman, medical director of Intermountain Medical Group. She said the medical group has 600 physicians throughout the state who "focus on working together to make sure (to provide) health care of the highest quality at the best possible price."

She added that IH wants to be able to give appropriate health care to all individuals.

"I'm excited about the new facility and the quality of care given here," she said.

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