The brand-new 27,000 square-foot CHI Franciscan Family Medicine Clinic opened its doors for the first time last week, providing comprehensive outpatient care that includes obstetrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, sports health and addiction treatment.
According to a press release, the facility features 30 exam rooms, an Academic Conference Center, and a team of over 60 medical professionals — 24 of which are medical residents from St. Michael Medical Center’s Northwest Washington Family Medicine Residency program. Each person who enters the facility will be screened, required to wear a mask, and must practice social distancing. The clinic will also be limiting the number of visitors on site.
“As we continue to experience one of the most challenging times we have faced in health care, expanding access to safe, high-quality care is more important than ever for our communities,” Ketul J. Patel said, CHI Franciscan chief executive officer. “We are proud that the CHI Franciscan Family Medicine Clinic will be home to the single largest collection of primary care providers on the peninsula, offering patients comprehensive outpatient care close to home.”
According to a 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation study, only 25 percent of Washington state’s primary care needs are being met and the Kitsap Peninsula is expected to experience significant population growth in the next decade. This year, the NWFMR program will be at full capacity as it welcomes its third class of residents. The program will graduate its first class of residents in 2021. With 24 physicians now in residency, the clinic is expected to see 25,000 to 30,000 visits each year, according to the release.
“As our great City prepares for unprecedented growth, we appreciate CHI Franciscan’s continued investment in maintaining a health care presence in Bremerton,” Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler said. “This clinic will help ensure our residents get access to good health care, including those who are low-income, uninsured and disabled in our community. We are pleased to be celebrating the opening of the clinic in Bremerton with CHI Franciscan.”
CHI Franciscan is also expanding St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale through a half-billion-dollar investment, which is on track to open later this year.
