| Harrison Medical Center is moving forward with its second phase of the master plan for its Port Orchard clinic, located on Tremont Street. The master plan, developed in 1995, includes a total of three phases, with the second phase entailing the construction of a three-story building of about 50,000 square feet.
“It’s a decision that’s been in the queue for a long time but now it’s a priority,” said Tom Kruse, vice president for strategy and business development. “We want to demonstrate we’re committed to that market and the local residents’ needs.”
Kruse said many Port Orchard residents already visit Harrison’s Silverdale and Bremerton locations, and with new medical facilities opening in Gig Harbor, they may feel they need to travel to in order to meet their primary care needs. Instead, Harrison would like to bring those primary care services to the community so residents can be served locally.
The new building is currently in the architectural planning stage. Preliminary designs call for a building that will be connected by a covered walkway to the current building. The two would form an L shape. The urgent care clinic would be moved to the new facility, and stay open for 24 hours. More primary care physicians would be added, and Harrison hopes to attract other health care providers such as Advanced Medical Imaging (AMI), which is interested in expanding its Port Orchard presence, according to Kruse. Other possibilities include a sleep lab and a café.
Kruse said the primary goal of the expanded clinic is to better serve local residents, as well as be prepared for increased demand for medical care. He said the expansion would not necessarily compete with the space that will become available across the street, where the JWJ Group recently secured approval from the Port Orchard City Council to build a four-building medical complex.
“Could all (the space) be filled? I think it could, considering how fast South Kitsap is growing and how many people have to travel for their primary care,” Kruse said, adding that the two complexes are likely to offer different type of medical services.
Harrison was in the process of submitting its permits to the county at the end of September, with some geotechnical and site study work already in progress. Kruse said the cost is not known but is estimated in the “$10 million range,” and construction would start as soon as the permitting process allows. The new building could open as early as January 2009.
Harrison has no plans for the last phase currently; should the need arise, the third building would be built to create a U shape facing the street.
“Harrison is growing at a pretty remarkable rate,” Kruse said. “(We’re looking at) how we can grow now to meet the outcome of our success.”
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