Overlake’s new urgent care center gets huge reception downtown | Open house on Thursday

Published 2:18 pm Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Overlake Medical Center’s Bellevue Urgent Care Center downtown has been open nearly three weeks now, and the nonprofit is already eyeing expanding its space and service hours.

Overlake opened urgent care clinics in Redmond and Issaquah two and 10 years ago, respectively, and the downtown Bellevue clinic opened Jan. 19 to address an increase in population there, said Dr. Eric Shipley, medical director of Overlake’s urgent care centers.

“That was the thrust and it’s been well-received,” Shipley said. “It’s been busier than anticipated and I think it will grow rapidly.”

The clinic occupies 6,000 square feet of an existing Overlake building built several years ago for primary care services at 400 108th Ave. N.E., and includes 12 patient rooms, one procedure room and an in-house laboratory for basic blood, urine and respiratory tests. Four primary care providers continue to operate out of the building Monday-Friday.

Shipley said Overlake hired specific physicians, nurses and X-ray technologists to staff its Bellevue care center, which will be able to provide health maintenance, screenings, immunizations, routine women’s care and chronic disease management. Physicians are also experienced in managing acute and chronic conditions like broken bones, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and anemia, according to an Overlake news release.

Overlake Urgent Care physician Teresa Pliskowski said a majority of patients are coming in with illnesses like colds and flus, but there have also been a good amount of injury cases. She said the clinic fluctuates from very busy to few patients, with peak times also varying.

“It really is feast or famine,” Pliskowski said. “I’ve gotten really good feedback from patients,” even when they have to wait, she added.

Shipley said the clinic’s hours of noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday will likely need to expand in the next two months to meet the already healthy demand for urgent care. Other Overlake urgent care centers are open 7-11 a.m. Monday through Friday. He added Sunday service hours are also being considered.

Overlake has the ability to add on to the urgent care center building, and Shipley said its footprint may be expanded in the next six months.

“There’s some area that we can expand to, and I fully expect that will be happening based on the reception we’ve received,” he said.

The urgent care center can be reached at 425-635-6550 and the primary care clinic can be reached at 425-635-6350.

Overlake will hold an open house at the urgent care clinic noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5.