Southeast Missouri Hospital is considering construction of a professional medical building.

The hospital recently purchased property on Broadway near Pizza Hut to be used for expansion, said James W. Wente, Southeast administrator.

"Southeast Missouri Hospital is in the final phase of a feasibility study to determine physician interest in a professional building," Wente said. "We are progressing with the study and hope to have the data to make an informed decision before the end of 1997."

Wente said the hospital is looking at ways to continue to develop.

"That development and continued growth of the medical staff are the major factors influencing our board's interest in evaluating the possibility of a professional building," Wente said.

The hospital has completed a five-year development plan that included construction of a four-story, 105,000-square-foot clinical services building, a parking garage and expansion of the hospital lobby.

Across town, St. Francis Medical Center is building a 98,000-square-foot medical office building near its emergency room entrance. The office building should be completed in January. A three-level parking garage next to it is complete.

About 70 percent of the available square footage of the medical office is committed. A specialty group practice, a new medical group, a dentist, and a newly-formed cardiac surgery group have decided to lease space in the building.