MultiCare opens new family health clinic in Kent

By MultiCare Health System

MultiCare is re-affirming its commitment to the Kent community with the opening of an all-new, $17.5 million comprehensive family health clinic to replace its current facility on State Avenue.

The new 36,000-square-foot clinic features expanded spaces for primary care, women’s health, occupational medicine and urgent care.

Kent is the third-most diverse midsize city in the country, and by far the most diverse in the state. In 2018, more than 2,000 patient appointments in the current Kent clinic were conducted in languages other than English. To further support this diverse patient base, all treatment rooms in the new clinic are equipped with real-time video translation capability, using dedicated monitors and cameras to allow patients and translators to see each other. The service translates more than 100 languages (including sign language), and translators can be selected from either gender, which will help the staff provide culturally-appropriate care.

“What a privilege it is for us to provide this vibrant, diverse community with the health care services it needs, delivered in the modern, welcoming space that it deserves,” said Bill Robertson, President and CEO of MultiCare, at a community grand opening event Jan. 12. “It’s the perfect next phase of our relationship with Kent.”

Hilton Chen, MD, a family practice physician at the clinic since 2002, said the design of the new facility should have a positive impact on communication and camaraderie among the staff.

In 2014, a study determined that the older building, which dates to the 1950s, would require significant investment in the coming years. To support the rapidly growing community, MultiCare leadership determined that the most effective long-term approach would be to invest in an all-new facility designed to improve workflows and efficiency for patient care, while also leveraging modern design to reduce facility operating costs. Starting with a new building also eliminated any disruptions to care that upgrading the old facility would have caused. The new clinic was built by Abbott Construction.

The old building will be demolished to make room for additional parking at the new facility.

Learn more about MultiCare Kent Clinic providers and services