(sound of construction)

Ground preparation has begun on a vacant lot across from the Peterson Clinic in Woodland.

Robin Affrime is CEO of Communicare Health Centers. She says the Peterson facility is an old one that won't be able to accommodate the next phase of healthcare for the poor and uninsured.

AFFRIME: "With the growth that we've had over the last few years, and the growth that we expect with Medi-Cal expansion and the health benefit exchange, we need to be poised to be able to meet that need. And the new facility will allow us to do that."   

In part because of the federal health law, Affrime expects a 25% increase in the patient load in Woodland.

She says the new center will have a "patient-centered" model - where many services are in one building that will be easy to navigate.

A five million dollar federal grant through the Affordable Care Act accounts for more than half of the project money. 

AFFRIME: "We were going to do it anyway. It just helped us immensely. And it was really great timing."

The 21,000 square foot clinic is expected to be completed by the end of this year.