Published October 2003

Proposed Everett clinic secures needed funding

By Sharon Salyer
Herald Writer

When announced in March, it was simply a dream: opening a nonprofit clinic in Everett to serve thousands of Snohomish County children and adults who don’t have health insurance.

With three recent donations, the dream will become a reality. A total of $732,000 has been raised for the clinic, which is expected to open in January.

Contributions that helped put the fund drive over the top included $27,000 from the Tulalip Tribes; $10,000 from Everett Community College trustees, its foundation and foundation board members; $15,000 from the Providence Everett Mission Board, which is associated with Providence Everett Medical Center; $150,000 from the North Everett Lions Club and $250,000 from the Providence Health System, the parent organization to Everett’s hospital.

“I’m so thrilled we’ve gotten to this point,” said Dr. Tony Roon, Providence Everett Medical Center’s trauma director, who along with County Executive Bob Drewel first proposed the idea.

Even though the initial fund-raising goal has been reached, Roon said he will continue to seek contributions. “There’s always the unanticipated expense,” he said. “This is a pretty big experiment. You don’t want to cut it too close.”

The new Community Access Clinic will provide basic health services, such as blood-pressure checks, baby checkups and treatment of sore throats, infections and cholesterol problems. Specialty services, such as surgeries and baby deliveries, will be referred to area doctors who have agreed to provide some services for the clinic.

The clinic will open in a remodeled 3,300-square-foot suite in the College Plaza shopping center on Broadway near Everett Community College. It is expected to be open Monday through Saturday, with an emphasis on afternoon and evening hours, Roon said. It will have five paid staff, including a nurse manager, two nurse practitioners, a receptionist and a part-time medical assistant.

Students taking classes in health-care professions at EvCC and nursing students at the University of Washington are expected to assist at the clinic as part of the work for their degrees.

During the clinic’s first year, it could handle an estimated 15,000 medical appointments, Roon said.

The typical office visit will cost about $50, which must be paid at the time of the appointment to avoid adding the expense of billing.

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