The Franciscan Health System announced on June 19 its plan to build a community hospital in Gig Harbor. The 112-bed, state-of-the-art facility will include a 24-hour emergency room, intensive care units, and general medical and surgery departments.

“We conducted a number of comprehensive studies over the last year that show that the time is right to plan for the establishment of a hospital there,” Franciscan Health System President and CEO Joe Wilczek said in a press release. “In fact, the greater Gig Harbor area is one of the largest population centers in the state without its own community hospital.”

The announcement is very good news for Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula residents, who have complained for years about the lack of emergency services. Bremerton’s Harrison Hospital is 20 miles from the Pierce-Kitsap County line, and 14 miles from downtown Port Orchard. Harrison does operate an urgent care center in Port Orchard just off the Highway 16 and Tremont Street/Old Clifton Road interchange, but the services at that facility are somewhat limited.

There were plans a number of years ago for a hospital to be located at the intersection of State Route 16 and Olalla Burley Rd., but those never materialized. Part of the problem was the fact the state couldn’t provide a time frame for construction of a freeway interchange at that location as well as other financial considerations.

Last year, about 3,500 emergency cases from the two peninsulas were transported to Tacoma, and more than 4,200 people traveled out of Gig Harbor for inpatient care.

Driving patients over the Narrows Bridge to Tacoma during heavy traffic or bridge lane closures adds difficulties. Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula emergency services can transport patients to Harrison as well, but crossing county lines could involve protocol challenges.

“This will be a huge boost for us,” said Tom Lique, Key Peninsula Fire District 16 medical services officer. “If they build the facility according to the plan, we should be in for some great changes in health care out here.”

While in some cases reduced transport time could mean a matter of life and death, some benefits come down to sheer economics. Patients are charged per mile for emergency transport, and miles add up for family members visiting loved ones at the hospitals. Not to mention the tolls to be charged in a few years on the Narrows Bridge.

The Franciscan Health System operates hospitals in Tacoma, Lakewood and Federal Way and an outpatient surgery center in Gig Harbor, where a kidney dialysis center is also planned.

The hospital is slated to open in 2007 on a 19-acre site Franciscan has an option to buy at Burnham Drive and Canterwood Boulevard, between State Route 16 and the Target store located at the Gig Harbor North retail center. The project would be built in phases and include diagnostic facilities, physical and occupational therapy services and a sleep disorder treatment center.

City officials say the location may be appropriate but several issues could be challenging, including zoning, utilities right-of-way, and water availability. Gig Harbor, which several years ago was almost out of available water, had obtained additional water rights but it’s unclear yet how much water use a 112-bed hospital would require.

“Anyone would be excited at the prospect of the city having a hospital,” said Gig Harbor City Administrator Mark Hoppen. “But much of it hinges on the suitability of the site and the issues that must be explored. It will be an exciting thing to be able to address.”

Hoppen said there are other properties that could accommodate a hospital in Gig Harbor, and the Franciscan’s interest in the area is an encouraging indication that such a facility would be built.

The cost is estimated at $94 million, to be funded through the Franciscan Health System and grants.

The local economy would gain about 450 jobs, although some positions would be filled by some of the approximately 400 Franciscan employees who live on this side of the Narrows Bridge. Some current Harrison employees who live in the area will undoubtedly become part of the new facility’s staff as well.

Franciscan also operates a recruiting program designed to draw nurses — of which there is a critical shortage of nationwide — as well as doctors, from out of the area.