Demand for their services has far-exceeded capacity according to Unity Care NW representatives on hand at an informational open house yesterday in Ferndale.
When Unity Care NW first opened its Ferndale health center in 2007, they were seeing about 2,700 north Whatcom County patients. That number has grown to more than 5,800, exceeding the 4,000 patient capacity of the Ferndale location. As a result, many are being directed to the Bellingham location.
To address this need, a new and much larger $12-million health center is planned to be built on Portal Way.
The 2-story 23,000-square-foot facility to be built at 6060 Portal Way will be able to serve 9,500 patients making it the largest medical facility in north Whatcom County according to Unity Care NW. It will include medical and dental services along with a pharmacy and on-site laboratory.
Click for more information
Click for more information
A capital campaign to raise $3 million of the total project cost is underway. In addition, the business community is being offered naming rights for various parts of the new health center in an effort to raise $300,000. Naming opportunities, according to information available at the open house, include the medical/dental reception area, pharmacy reception area, exam rooms and a mention on a donor wall.
Donations can be made online by clicking this link. Individuals and businesses interested in naming opportunities should contact Unity Care NW’s Planning & Development Office at either (360) 788-2624 or (360) 788-2628 or by email to development@unitycarenw.org.