WEST RICHLAND, Wash. – In an effort to cut down on wait times, Kadlec has begun construction on a new clinic in the Tri-Cities area. The facility, located in West Richland, will feature ten new primary care physicians.
Rob Walito, the Chief Operating Officer of Kadlec, shared insights about the current situation. He stated that Tri-Cities clinics handle approximately 12,000 patients weekly. A recent physician assessment study revealed that the area is short by 50 primary care providers necessary to meet community needs.
“We know from multiple studies, from like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation or the Kaiser Foundation, that people who have a primary care provider have better health outcomes at a lower cost,” said Kadlec Chief Medical Officer Rich Meadows, MD.
Each of the new physicians at the West Richland clinic will be able to see 1,500 to 2,000 patients, with the clinic serving a total of 15,000 to 20,000 people.
This expansion is significant as it marks the first addition to Kadlec’s local network in nearly ten years. The construction of the clinic started today, with the facility expected to open its doors in about a year.
