EVERETT — The nonprofit Community Health Center of Snohomish County is opening a new $8 million clinic here that is expected to serve 8,000 patients in its first year.
The clinic at 4201 Rucker Ave. is scheduled to open Jan. 22.
All patients are welcome, but the nonprofit organization primarily serves low-income and uninsured patients. Medical services are provided on a sliding fee scale, based on income.
The clinic, called Everett Central, is the health care organization’s fourth medical clinic in the city. It also has clinics in Arlington, Edmonds and Lynnwood.
The Rucker Avenue clinic will have a walk-in clinic with X-ray equipment. It’s the organization’s second clinic with urgent care services.
The Community Health Center decided it needed to open another office in Everett because of high patient demand, said Bob Farrell, the organization’s chief executive officer.
About 22 percent of its patients are waiting more than 14 days for an appointment, he said. The clinic will help relieve the demand on its current clinics in north and south Everett.
The clinic is in the 98203 ZIP code, an area that the state Department of Health considers as medically underserved. Less than half of the low-income population there obtains regular medical care.
With its location on bus lines, it also will be able to serve the homeless, Farrell said.
The clinic initially will have eight medical providers, with plans to later increase that number to 12.
The Community Health Center purchased the three-story building for $2.7 million and spent $5.3 million on renovation, Farrell said. It previously was home to two banks and business offices for The Everett Clinic.
Current Community Health Center patients are being notified of the opening of the new clinic.
“We’re hoping they’ll come and take a look at the clinic and to see if that’s where they’d like to go,” Farrell said.
Some patients might see some familiar faces on the clinic’s staff. Two physicians from its South Everett office, Dr. Amy Rodriguez and Dr. Suzanne Powell, will be working there. The family practice doctors also provide obstetrics services.
Overall, the Community Health Center served 53,000 patients last year, 60 percent for medical services and 40 percent for dental care. The organization’s offices in Arlington, Edmonds, Lynnwood and North and South Everett also provide dental services.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
Learn more
An open house at the Community Health Center’s new Everett Central clinic at 4201 Rucker Ave. is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday.
The clinic is scheduled to open Jan. 22. Its hours are:
Walk-in clinic: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Medical clinic: Monday through Wednesday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Appointments are now being accepted. Call 425-789-3789.
The nonprofit community Health Center of Snohomish County was founded in 1983.
Its medical clinics are:
Arlington Clinic: 326 S. Stillaguamish Ave.
Edmonds Clinic: 23320 Highway 99
Everett-Central Clinic: 4201 Rucker Ave.
Everett-College Clinic: 930 North Broadway
Everett-North Clinic: 1424 Broadway
Everett-South Clinic: 1019 112th St. S.W.
Lynnwood Clinic: 4111 194th St. S.W.
Community Health Center of Snohomish County Chief Executive Officer Bob Farrell (from left), Chief Operating Officer Lisa Miller and Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Thomas Tocher stand in the newest clinic location on Rucker Avenue in Everett. (Ian Terry / The Herald)
Community Health Center of Snohomish County’s newest clinic location is seen on Rucker Avenue in Everett.
