Northside Medical Associates is expanding its footprint and its services in a Phase III now under construction on its Pell City campus. The facility will more than double the size of this medical practice.

The 50,000 square foot, two-story facility being built on the hillside fronting I-20, will house over 20 specialties, including: Physical Therapy; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Gastroenterology; Ear, Nose and Throat; Nephrology; Endocrinology; Dermatology; Ophthalmology; Allergy specialists; Immunology; Orthopedic Surgery; and Sports Medicine.

Northside Apothecary, the onsite pharmacy, will be moving into the new phase as well.

There will also be a 9,000 square foot cardiology center with full time cardiologists. Nuclear stress tests, Echocardiograms and vascular studies can be conducted there.

An infusion center for chemotherapy patients and other IV conditions is planned as is a 6,000 square foot ophthalmology services center with full time optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Full-time general surgeons will call Phase III home as well, and there will be a full-time oral surgery practice.

"We also want to expand our preventative medicine department and have it morph into a group that takes care of high risk cases, like Diabetes and congestive heart failure," Rock Helms, MD said.

In conjunction with the expansion, Helms has moved from full-time physician status to CEO to ensure a smooth transition. "I will still see patients in the hospital, to a limited extent in the office, and I will still be behind the scenes and available to staff to help in the transition," he said.

This is Northside's third expansion at the campus. Phase I and II included state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and lab, more doctors and more nurse practitioners. It also has a cutting edge Imaging Suite, featuring an MRI that is custom designed for the comfort of the patient.

Phase III is expected to be completed by July 2017.