Lawrence Memorial Hospital wants to expand its presence in Baldwin by buying a doctor’s office in the southern Douglas County community.

Gene Meyer, the hospital’s president and chief executive, told board members Wednesday negotiations were progressing on a deal to merge the practice of Dr. David Jones with LMH’s Family Medicine of Baldwin, which is staffed by Dr. Kevin Hughes.

“I don’t know if we’ll come together or not, but we’re still having some good discussions,” Meyer said.

Jones, who has been practicing medicine in Baldwin since 1981, declined to comment on the negotiations.

LMH has operated a doctor’s office in Baldwin since September, when Topeka-based Cotton-O’Neil Clinic ceased operations.

Meyer said adding another doctor to the hospital’s Baldwin operations may help lure more Baldwin residents to use LMH for their medical needs instead of going to competing hospitals in the Kansas City area.

“It is absolutely an important market for us, and we’re excited that it is a growing market,” Meyer said, noting new residential and commercial projects and talk of a new industrial park.

He said it was too early to tell when a deal might be completed.

“We’re still a little ways off,” Meyer said.