With a growing need for primary medical care and walk-in clinics in Snohomish County, the Community Health Center of Snohomish County is expanding.
Plans were in the works before COVID-19 came to Washington, but a new building at the Edmonds Clinic will certainly help with local healthcare.
“We’ve found it’s really helpful for patients who think they have COVID-19 to be assessed in a location that’s segregated from the rest of the medical facility,” says Dr. Thomas Tocher, Chief Medical Officer with Community Health Center of Snohomish County. “With more building space and an outdoor drive-through area we’re better able to adapt for both infection control and work flow.”
Nov. 2 is the big moving day, when walk-in services transfer from the Lynnwood Clinic at 4111 194th St. SW to the new building at the Edmonds Clinic, 23320 Hwy 99.
“The Lynnwood Clinic has outgrown itself. The Edmonds Clinic is more accessible, on a main street with better bus access. We’re very excited — construction is on track and with the new building we’ll be able to provide even better care to our patients.”
The other health crisis
The Lynnwood Clinic will continue to serve the region with primary care, dental care and a pharmacy. The Edmonds Clinic will continue to offer primary medical and dental care plus a pharmacy in the original building, and will now offer physical therapy and walk-in services in a new building right next door.
“The walk-in clinic is steps away from primary care, making it easy to consult with other specialists, share resources, and shift providers and support staff back and forth,” Dr. Tocher says. The large physical therapy space with high ceilings and lots of natural light is custom designed for better care.
As of Sep. 30, providers of the walk-in clinics have joined the Community Health Center of Snohomish County’s primary care providers, and are now wavered to provide Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT) to help those with substance use disorders. The new Edmonds Walk-in Clinic is excited to partner with Evergreen Recovery for on-site chemical dependency counselling.
“We’re in the middle of an opioid epidemic, we should act like it. It’s the leading cause of death in America in people under 50,” Dr. Tocher says. “I’ve been using MAT since 2003, and about three years ago I required all of our primary care providers to get certified. It’s been very successful. Now patients who come to the walk-in clinics will be able to get a one-time, limited supply of medication to carry them over until they can establish with one of the primary care providers.”
No matter how you access services you’ll be able to find support — Dr. Tocher calls it a low-barrier, no-wrong-door approach. The service is very accessible and helps save lives.
Visit chcsno.org to learn more, and find the clinic nearest you.
