By David Jaffe/Chief Executive, Swedish/Edmonds

These are exciting times at Swedish/Edmonds and for our community. As the community grows, we’re growing too! The largest expansion of our hospital in more than 40 years is underway. In fact, we just broke ground for the first phase of the project, a multilevel parking garage. The expansion features a $63.5 million, two-story addition to the east side of the hospital that will include a new emergency department (ED), an urgent care clinic, and more. I’d like to share a few details about the new expansion, and how it will benefit the community.

A new and expanded emergency department

To build upon the strengths of our emergency services, we’re building a new, 29-bed ED that will provide an exceptional patient experience. The new facility will replace the current ED and double its size. Each element of the design has been carefully planned to promote greater efficiency and improve the overall ED experience by reducing wait times, improving flow, and enhancing privacy in the ED lobby and in treatment and exam rooms.

Patients who come to the ED with psychological, emotional or behavioral issues will be seen and cared for in a new separate behavioral health unit staffed by caregivers with experience in this specialty. The unit will be modeled on successful behavioral health units established at other newly opened Swedish outpatient facilities. Like those other units, it will make a valuable and important contribution to the health of the community we serve.

An urgent care clinic

Immediately adjacent to the new ED, a new urgent care clinic, with its own lobby, staff and eight exam rooms, will offer more affordable care to patients with non-emergent medical issues or concerns. This clinic will be open for extended hours during evenings and weekends to serve drop-in patients, including pediatric patients. An urgent care clinic will provide much needed services and benefits to patients in the right setting and at the most appropriate cost.

Within close proximity to the new ED will be a new 10-bed, dedicated observation unit. This space will be used by patients who have been seen at the ED or our new urgent care clinic, and who are determined to need monitoring and observation for extended periods before they are either admitted or released from the hospital. This unit will contribute to more affordable care while providing a comfortable healing environment for patients and families during observation.

An outpatient diagnostic imaging center

A new outpatient diagnostic imaging center will be another important and valuable component of our hospital expansion. Our outpatient diagnostic imaging center will provide imaging services in dedicated suites of rooms that are accessible through a single, private entry lobby. This means greater convenience and privacy for you when you need an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or other imaging test.

In addition to these major changes, the expansion includes a new hospital entrance that will lead to a spacious and inviting reception area with a centrally located information desk, comfortable open seating areas, a Bistro with indoor and exterior seating, and other retail spaces. Art from local artists will be on display, and the space will depict visual elements connecting us to the history, natural resources and beauty of the area.

The hospital expansion will transform many of the health-care services we provide and mark an historic milestone for the community, placing the patient experience as our central focus. I look forward to your sharing in the excitement surrounding this transformational initiative, and celebrating the bright future of health care in our community.