FAQ: North Liberty campus

With UI Health Care’s North Liberty campus opening April 28, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with the new campus, its features and services, and what this new location will mean for patients, the community, and the state. 

More information about the North Liberty campus is available here.

Check out these frequently asked questions about the North Liberty campus: 

Overview

What services will be available at the North Liberty campus?

The North Liberty campus will be home to the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, which includes UI Sports Medicine, a large physical therapy/rehab gym, and the Orthopedic Injury Walk-In Clinic.  

The campus will also include an emergency department, retail pharmacy with a 24-hour drive-thru service, advanced diagnostic imaging, plus durable medical equipment, clinical lab services, a cafeteria, and other amenities. 

Why do we need the North Liberty campus? What purpose will it serve?

Demand for UI Health Care patient care services continues to grow. More Iowans need our care and expertise—particularly in orthopedics and emergency medicine. Patients also welcome the opportunity to get a prescription filled and/or have imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT, etc.) done without needing to drive/park/navigate at the university campus. In short, they want greater access and greater convenience. 

The North Liberty campus is one part of a solution to increase access and make it easier for patients to get the care they need, with parking that is close to the building and wayfinding that is clear and easy to follow. 

Plus, moving orthopedics and rehabilitation services to North Liberty creates new space/opportunities to expand services (and create greater convenience) at the university campus. 

How many employees will work at the North Liberty campus? Are we still hiring employees for North Liberty? How do people apply?

Approximately 1,000 employees will work at North Liberty—Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation faculty, staff, and resident and fellow physicians as well as nurses, pharmacists and pharmacy techs, surgical techs, imaging techs, Environmental Services staff, Food and Nutrition Services staff, and others. 

Career opportunities are available at the North Liberty campus. More information is available here.

Orthopedics and rehabilitation

Which orthopedics and rehabilitation services will be available at North Liberty?

The North Liberty campus will offer a full range of orthopedic and rehabilitation/PT services. 

Orthopedic surgery/inpatient care and outpatient clinics: 

  • Arthroplasty (joint replacement)—elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle
  • Bone health
  • Trauma and fractures
  • Sports medicine  
  • Pediatric orthopedics
  • Sports medicine
  • Orthopedic Oncology
  • Orthopedic Injury Walk-in Clinic 
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Work injury and recovery
  • Surgery and non-operative treatment of the:
    • Shoulder and elbow
    • Hand and wrist
    • Spine
    • Hip and knee
    • Foot and ankle

Non-surgical procedures:

  • Regenerative medicine
  • Ultrasound-guided injections
  • EMG (electromyography)
  • Bone health injections and infusions 

Physical Therapy: 

  • Physical therapy with indoor/outdoor rehab spaces 

What is the Orthopedic Injury Walk-In Clinic? When is the clinic open?

The Orthopedic Injury Walk-In Clinic is for patients with acute orthopedic injuries that have occurred within the previous seven days—such as nondisplaced fractures, muscle strains, and knee or other joint injuries. 

Hours for the Orthopedic Injury Walk-In Clinic: 

  • 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday (last patient appointment set for 7 p.m.) 
  • 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday (last patient appointment set for 4 p.m.) 
  • 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (last patient appointment set for 1 p.m.) 

Will pediatric orthopedic surgeries be performed at the North Liberty campus? What about pediatric orthopedics outpatient clinic appointments?

Some pediatric patients, ages 12 and older, may have orthopedic surgeries at North Liberty. Patients younger than age 12 will continue to have surgery at Stead Family Children’s Hospital. 

All pediatric orthopedics outpatient clinic appointments, except for clubfoot treatments, will be held at the North Liberty campus. The clubfoot service will remain at the Pediatric Specialty Clinic at the university campus. 

What is the size/scope of the inpatient unit?

The unit offers general and intermediate level acute inpatient care, short-stay recovery care, and observation services for orthopedic patients. It has 36 beds, 12 of which feature enhanced monitoring capabilities. There is also shelled space for 12 additional beds in the future. 

All rooms are private and designed to accommodate family members. 

What will happen to the existing UI Sports Medicine facility on Prairie Meadows Drive?

We will maintain a minimal presence of primary care sports providers at this location—mainly as an entry point for Hawkeye student athletes. Services will focus on care for athletes, limited point-of-care and diagnostic imaging, and limited physical therapy services. 

Will any orthopedic services continue to be available at university campus?

The Orthopedic South Clinic at the university campus will offer podiatry care. The Orthopedic South Clinic will also offer physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry), primarily for patients with neurological conditions. As noted in an earlier question, clubfoot treatments will remain at the Pediatric Specialty Clinic at the university campus. 

Emergency department

I’ve heard that the emergency department at North Liberty is a Level 4 trauma center? How does this Level 4 differ from the Level 1 trauma center at the university campus or the Level 3 trauma center at the downtown campus?

While the three emergency department locations have distinct levels of trauma care, patients will be able to walk into any emergency room and get the immediate care they need.  

Trauma center levels refer to the trauma care available at the physical location. Our university campus is a Level 1 trauma center for adult and pediatric patients, while our downtown campus is a Level 3 and North Liberty is a Level 4. The main difference between Level 3 and Level 4 is the presence of an on-call general surgeon at a Level 3 trauma center. All levels have the expertise and trained staff to stabilize trauma patients prior to transfer to higher levels of care, if needed. 

How do patients decide which emergency department is right for them?

In an emergency, the best emergency department is the nearest one. All patients with any condition can be treated at any of the three UI Health Care campuses. Patients may also check current wait times at all three facilities at Emergency Medicine | University of Iowa Health Care 

What do we expect ED volumes/wait times to be?

It’s hard to predict what volumes or wait times will be. Given the growing population in North Liberty and Tiffin, the emergency department at the North Liberty campus will increase access for these communities (as well as Coralville and surrounding areas) and provide emergency medicine closer to home.  

How will transfers from the North Liberty campus to other UI Health Care campuses be handled?

Patients will receive the care they need when they walk into any of our emergency department locations. In some cases, patients who require a higher level of care will be transferred to the university or downtown campus locations once they have been stabilized. Patients with non-orthopedic medical conditions will not be admitted to the inpatient unit at the North Liberty campus. 

Pharmacy

Do I need to be an orthopedics patient at the North Liberty campus (or a UI Health Care patient, in general) to get my prescriptions filled at the North Liberty campus pharmacy?

Any patient—regardless of whether they are a UI Health Care patient—may request to have their prescriptions filled at the North Liberty campus. Check with your insurance provider to make sure the pharmacy at the North Liberty campus is approved/part of your prescription drug plan. 

What are the hours for the retail pharmacy inside the building?

The retail pharmacy is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.  

What about the drive-thru pharmacy?

The drive-thru service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year—a real convenience for patients needing to pick up a prescription at any time of the day or night. 

Are there other pharmacy services in the area available 24 hours a day?

The Discharge Pharmacy on the university campus is open 24/7. This is the only other around-the-clock pharmacy in the area.  

Imaging

What are the imaging capabilities at the North Liberty campus?

  • Ten X-ray machines 
  • Three MRI machines (two 1.5 Tesla and one 3 Tesla) 
  • Two CT (computed tomography) machines. One of these is a photon-counting CT, the highest-quality CT technology available. UI Health Care is one of the first in the country to have this technology. 
  • One weight-bearing CT in the musculoskeletal imaging area and one in the Biomechanics Research and Gait Lab facilities 
  • Two EOS systems—one in the musculoskeletal imaging area and one on the Level 4 clinic area. EOS is a standing 2D/3D X-ray machine that is used for full-body images. 
  • Three ultrasound machines in the musculoskeletal imaging area and seven in the orthopedic clinic areas 
  • One fluoroscopy machine in the musculoskeletal imaging area and one mini-C arm on the Level 5 clinic area. Fluoroscopy uses X-rays to create real-time video showing how organs, muscles, and bones move 
  • DEXA (measures bone density to diagnose osteoporosis) 

All these imaging capabilities are available for all orthopedic inpatients, orthopedic outpatient clinic patients, and emergency department patients. Imaging with anesthesia will be available for emergency department and orthopedic inpatients. Outpatient imaging needing anesthesia will not be available at the North Liberty campus. 

Are imaging services and clinical lab services at North Liberty strictly for orthopedics patients?

Any patient, including non-UI Health Care patients, needing a scan or a lab draw may request to have this done at the North Liberty campus. While the North Liberty campus is focused on orthopedics and rehabilitation, imaging and clinical lab services are available to the entire community. 

General

What are some of the facts about the building itself?

  • 469,000-square-foot facility 
  • 60-acre campus (provides room for future growth/expansion) 
  • A three-level hospital (emergency dept., orthopedic surgery, pre-operative and post-operative care areas, inpatient beds) 
  • A five-level medical office building (PT gym; ortho outpatient clinics; research, teaching and conference space; faculty/staff offices) 
  • 84 clinic rooms 
  • 12 operating rooms 
  • 2 procedure rooms 
  • 14 emergency care rooms 
  • On-site, surface-level parking for patients/visitors that is close to the main entrance 
  • Lots of natural light inside the building 
  • Easy wayfinding 
  • The North Liberty campus is UI Health Care’s first hospital (i.e., inpatient beds) constructed outside the university campus. Iowa River Landing, North Dodge, Scott Boulevard, and other locations are off campus but are ambulatory/outpatient facilities. 
  • With the addition of North Liberty, UI Health Care now comprises three medical center campuses: university campus, downtown campus, and North Liberty campus. 

Who led this project, and who designed and built this facility?

UI Health Care Capital Management, in collaboration with UI Design and Construction, oversaw the planning, programming, and budgeting of the project—establishing the project requirements and managing the medical equipment, information technology, furnishings, and the coordination of facility load-in, transition, and activation. 

Neuman Monson Architects of Iowa City was the lead architectural firm. Several other architectural, engineering, structural design, and landscape design firms also worked on the project as sub-contractors. 

JE Dunn Construction of Des Moines was the general contractor. Under JE Dunn, there were hundreds of sub-contractor companies involved in the construction. 

How much did this project cost, and how are we paying for it?

The total project is budgeted at $525.6 million. The project is being funded through patient revenue, philanthropic gifts, and hospital revenue bonds. The total cost of the project has not been finalized, but leaders expect it to be under budget. The opening date of April 28 is ahead of schedule; the original target for opening the North Liberty campus was July 2025. 

Is parking free for patients at North Liberty? What about employees? Are there other forms of transportation to the campus?

Parking is free for patients. Employees are eligible for parking permits through UI Parking and Transportation.  

Beginning Monday, April 28, a new service zone for the Cambus On-Demand Shuttle will launch service to the North Liberty campus. The service zone will connect the Health Sciences Interchange, UI Research Park, and the North Liberty campus. The additional service will transport riders from the university campus to and from the North Liberty campus. Service to North Liberty will be available on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Will Coralville Transit service (which serves North Liberty) go to the North Liberty campus?

The North Liberty bus route, operated by Coralville Transit, will not stop at the North Liberty campus. 

What is the large sculpture in the main lobby?

It’s titled “Bluestem” and was created by artist John Grade. It was carved from salvaged Alaskan yellow cedar wood. It is 27 feet tall, and it was brought in as four sections, which were assembled on-site. It was inspired by the anatomy of a single stem of Big Bluestem prairie grass native to the hospital site, and its intricate structure was informed by the porous nature and growth of cancellous bone. The sculpture is suspended by stainless steel cables. 

Will the North Liberty campus affect staffing levels at the university and downtown campuses?

While we do not anticipate many direct impacts on staffing levels at our other campuses, certain areas may look a little different as we move certain orthopedic services to the North Liberty campus. 

How will patient care be managed during the transition to the new campus?

Our goal is to create a seamless transition experience for patients at the North Liberty campus. We have a team that is working on how and when we transition up our patient care loads here. We are taking a carefully measured approach so that patients can be confident they’re receiving the same quality care they expect from UI Health Care.  

Will medical education and research be part of the North Liberty campus?

Yes. Students, resident physicians, and fellow physicians will learn and train at the North Liberty campus. A surgical skills lab is available for residents to hone their skills. An education center will accommodate faculty, learners, and staff and serve as a place for community seminars and other educational programming for the public. 

In terms of research, the Department of Orthopedics has a strong clinical research mission. The department’s Biomechanics Research and Gait Lab facilities will be on-site, and a weight-bearing CT system is available for research. 

Are there plans for future expansion or growth of the new campus?

Shelled space in the surgery area and inpatient care unit is available inside the new facility to expand capacity if/as needed in the future. The 60-acre North Liberty campus allows for future building expansion.  

Who are the leaders at the North Liberty campus?

Amy O’Deen, BSN, MHA, is chief administrative officer at the North Liberty campus. 

J. Lawrence Marsh, MD, is professor and chair of the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation and Physician-in-Chief at the North Liberty campus 

Bryan Garter, MHA, MPH, is director of operations at the North Liberty campus 

Emily Ward, DNP, RN, MBA, NEA-BC, CCRN-K, is associate chief nursing officer at the North Liberty campus 

Connor Downes, MBA, is director of human resources at the North Liberty campus 

Hans House, MD, is director of emergency medicine services at the North Liberty campus. 

Anil Marian, MBBS, MD, MS, is interim executive director of Perioperative Services at the North Liberty campus.