Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> Elizabeth Armstrong / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic nurse practitioner Dan Miller checks Bethany Elibosang's eyes during her well-baby visit to the clinic. Elizabeth Armstrong / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Sarah Goodrich cuddles her baby, Bethany Elibosang, after Bethany received immunizations at Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic.   ADVERTISEMENT   Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic 1001 N. Broadway, Everett 425-317-0300 The nonprofit medical clinic provides basic medical care, counseling services for children and adults and dental services. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, January 5, 2009 Providence Everett Healthcare Clinic sees growth ahead By Sharon Salyer Herald Writer 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. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Lake Stevens neighbors protest loss of left turn off Highway 9 2. Police look into fire at Emory's restaurant in Everett 3. Man who died from fall identified 4. Mural memorializing fallen soldier lost in effort to fix Silvana building 5. Marysville-Pilchuck comes up short in battle of unbeatens 6. 'Twilight' tourism 7. Accident near Poulsbo kills Marysville man, injures five 8. In Forks, it's always Twilight 9. Expect wintry roads at passes, dusting of snow on Snohomish County hills 10. Icy conditions lead to numerous wrecks on county roads 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Memorial for Peggy Pritchard Olson set • Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million