New Bothell Building Will Double Access

July 7, 2011 - All of us at HealthPoint were gratified to see the enthusiastic turn out of 80 supporters to celebrate our long-awaited ground breaking of the new HealthPoint Bothell. The project is an example of community partnership at its best. The new clinic is as much a homecoming as it is a long awaited achievement with land that has been owned by HealthPoint for over 10 years. With funding and strong community vision, the project is now a reality.

"This project is extremely important to providing health care access to the people of Bothell. The relocation and expansion of the health center will have an immediate positive impact on the underserved people in the area," said Thomas Trompeter, Chief Executive Officer of HealthPoint.

And HHS Regional Director Susan Johnson reminded us of how again, HealthPoint's leadership aligns with a national movement towards better health for all. She quoted US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, "Community Health Centers in the country are not just a bridge strategy to get us to health care reform, they are a blueprint on the ground for healthcare services delivered now and for the future."

HealthPoint was among the first recipients in Washington State of Affordable Care Act funding. The grant, worth $6.8 million, helps to construct the clinic in Bothell that will serve over 12,000 low-income and uninsured patients each year - double the number of patients the current location accommodates. The additional $3 million needed to construct the building will be generated from both HealthPoint and community support.

The building design is a masterpiece in itself, setting a precedent for beauty and innovation as the first building constructed under Bothell's new downtown plan, designed to foster community connections and walkable space. The green design, by Miller Hayashi Architects, includes 16 medical exam rooms, 9 dental chairs and a pharmacy. The dental clinic will be new to the community and 25 new jobs will be added to the local economy.

With such enthusiasm for the project, it's no wonder that King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson states, "The one thing that is better than a groundbreaking is a ribbon cutting." We agree with you, Councilman Ferguson, and have that ribbon waiting for HealthPoint Bothell's opening in the Fall of 2012.