EVERETT -- Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary later this month, is planning its second major expansion.
Plans for growth follow a record-breaking year in the number of medical visits at the nonprofit health care clinic, rising 37 percent last year, said Dr. Tony Roon, who oversees the clinic. The 12,000 medical appointments it scheduled is more than double the 5,500 medical visits it had in 2004, the year it opened.
"We are planning to expand because we expect that the demand is not going to go down," Roon said. The economic downturn will likely mean that the high demand for medical services will continue, he said.
The expansion planned for later this year will cost about $300,000. It will include the addition of two more primary care exam rooms, bringing the total number to 10, Roon said.
The clinic tries to arrange for translators to be available on site for people who speak a language other than English, Roon said. If that can't be arranged, the clinic can connect patients with a translation service by telephone.
The clinic also hopes to begin offering optometry services for the first time this year.
Children's learning problems can often be caused by undiagnosed vision problems. "If you can't see the board, you can't learn," Roon said.
Optometric exams would also help patients with diabetes. Yearly eye checkups can help ensure that the proper diabetes medications are being prescribed and help avoid vision problems, which can include blindness.
The nonprofit clinic opened on Jan. 15, 2004, following a public fund drive in which more than $1 million was raised to help the uninsured and those with low incomes get medical care.
In 2007, it added space to allow for treatment of more patients needing basic medical and mental health care.
Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic is one of three nonprofit health care organizations in Snohomish County. The other two are the Community Health Center of Snohomish County and Sea Mar Community Health Centers.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
