The Regional Medical Center at Memphis has closed on a deal to purchase of 49 acres in East Memphis, clearing the way for a plan to attract better-paying customers.

The Med paid $3.4 million for the purchase of the land at the corner of Bill Morris Parkway and Kirby.

Hospital officials originally said they would use the land for a new outpatient facility but said Friday they were still weighing their options. The final plan will need approval from The Med's board.

"It will be a medical services building and it could be an outpatient diagnostic center or primary care or some other kind of outpatient services," said Tish Towns, senior vice president of external affairs at The Med.

"As we go through the process of developing and redefining our (hospital) campus and our presence in this market, then those things will start to flesh out."

The East Memphis expansion project was unveiled during an October meeting of the hospital's board, in which they approved the purchase. During the same meeting, the board approved the $3 million purchase of three buildings at 135 Pauline, which abuts property already owned by the hospital, for additional office space.

The purchase price does not include an estimated $4 million needed to renovate the space for office use, said Dr. Reginald Coopwood, CEO of The Med. The lease for the current tenant, Community Behavioral Health, expires in May. Hospital officials expect to close on that purchase in December.

Hospital officials want the building on Pauline so they can move some offices out of the Adams Pavilion, which they hope to demolish.

With the Adams building out of the way, they hope to build a new women and infants building on the site.