By Larry Vogel/For Lynnwood Today

The dirt is flying on the Swedish/Edmonds campus, as construction crews hustle to ensure that the new parking garage is completed on schedule. Construction began last month, and it needs to be ready for the first cars in June.

“The garage is the critical next step in this phase of our expansion,” said Steve Kaiser, Director of Communications for Swedish/Edmonds. “and will pave the way for construction of our new emergency and urgent care facility, which is due to start this summer.”

The new wing will go in just east of the present emergency care center, in what is now a parking area. With parking increasingly tight at Swedish/Edmonds, construction needed to wait until more parking could be provided.

“The new 363-car garage will more than make up for the loss of parking areas E, F and G,” Kaiser said.

The new 2-story expansion will be attached to the present building. It will house both emergency and a new urgent care facility offering fast, targeted, affordable care. The current emergency facility, built in 1970, was designed to serve 25,000 patients annually. Today it serves more than 42,000.

“By serving patients will less critical needs, the urgent care center will take the pressure off emergency care, reduce wait times, and in the end provide better service to our customers,” Kaiser said. “This modern facility will be light and open, providing a combination of increased privacy and a more pleasant environment overall. In the end it’s about putting the patient first, providing the right level of care in the right setting, and giving patients more affordable options that fit their needs.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the hospital and health care facility. Opening in 1964 as a 110-bed hospital, the facility has grown into a major health care center offering world-class care to the community. Originally named Stevens Memorial Hospital in honor of Issac Stevens, Washington’s first territorial governor, it has been part of the Swedish health care system since 2010.