Clinic’s New Digs Will Provide More Elbow Room

By JULIA ANDERSON

Medical assistants Gratian Sutton, standing, and Hector Olave assemble shelving for medical records at the Family Medicine Clinic’s new location.

The Family Medicine Clinic, operated by Southwest Washington medical center, is moving from the main campus to the Memorial campus at 100 E. 33rd St.

Angela Fuhrer, left, and Claudia Buzzell stock exam rooms with gloves as part of the move by the Family Medicine Clinic.

More exam rooms, an extra procedure room, a spacious waiting area and more parking are among the pluses of the new home of Family Medicine of Southwest Washington.

After 12 years in cramped space near the medical center’s main campus on Mill Plain Boulevard, the clinic’s 21 doctors and 60 support staff moved desks, charts and furniture over the weekend to 100 E. 33rd St., Suite 100. Tuesday, the clinic opens in the new location, just west of Memorial Health Center.

“In general, this move will provide for more patient- and family- centered, team-based care expand our capacity,” said Dr. David Ruiz, clinic director. “This will allow us to expand our current projects, such as group visits for our diabetics. And frankly, gives our patients more privacy and sense of dignity.”

Last year, the clinic, with an operating budget of about $7 million, handled 42,000 patient visits. While the program accepts patients of all ages and income levels, its primary care focus is on low-income, uninsured or underinsured people.

The program is linked to the University of Washington family medicine residency program, which provides specialty training for doctors entering the family medicine field.

The clinic is occupying an 18,700-square-foot space vacated last year by Family Physicians Group when it relocated operations to medical office space near Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital.

FAMILY MEDICINE OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON:

What: Primary care outpatient clinic and family medicine residency training program affiliated with the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Staff: 21 physicians, 60 support staff.

2006 patient visits: 42,000.

New location: 100 E. 33rd St., Suite 100 in Vancouver.

Opens: Tuesday.

For information or appointment: 360-514-7550.

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