UNION GAP, Wash. – MultiCare is expanding healthcare access in Yakima County with its newest emergency department in Union Gap, marking the first of its kind in the Yakima Valley.
Today, the department opened its doors to the media, providing a sneak peek into the 10,000-square-foot facility. The facility features 10 examination rooms and is expected to serve between 80 and 90 patients daily.
“This is really giving people choice and access, especially for those who are in the lower Yakima Valley,” said Tanny Davenport, Chief Medical Officer for MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital.
The new state-of-the-art emergency department is designed to handle virtually every emergency. Davenport emphasized the facility’s goal to stabilize and transport those in need.
“Our main campus emergency department is one of the busiest emergency rooms in the state,” Davenport said. “So we do think that people will, because of that volume, there may be many patients who choose here. It’s going to be the same service, it’s the same board-certified E.R. physicians, the same technology to support those needs. And again, if a patient does need to be hospitalized, we will send them over to the main campus.”
The E.R. will start with nine nurses, staffed in three separate shifts, each handling four to five patients at a time. The facility will offer ultrasounds, X-rays, CAT scans and a lab pharmacy, all operating 24/7, with an expected patient wait time of 15 minutes.
Bill Robertson, CEO of the MultiCare Health System, highlighted their community partnership goals.
“It’s what drives us to be constantly looking for ever better and new ways to deliver the care that our communities need,” Robertson said. “Access to emergency services is a really important part in a community.”
Union Gap Mayor John Hodkinson expressed enthusiasm about the new facility.
“Yakima area has been in real neglect of places like this that have 24-hour doctors,” Hodkinson said. “I mean, they’ve got everything here and this place is absolutely amazing. So, we are just really excited to have it here and be able to help out.”
The emergency department will hold a grand opening on Saturday for the public, offering another tour around the facility. They are set to begin serving the community on Monday, November 3rd.
