SEATTLE—January 22, 2005—From humble beginning 30 years ago in a store front on Maynard Avenue South in Seattle's International District, International Community Health Services has steadily expanded and gained community support by serving the healthcare needs of Asians and Pacific Islanders.
On January 22, this non-profit organization celebrated the grand opening of a new 12,000 square-foot facility on the second floor of the Othello Building, securing their on-going place in the lives of many residents of Southeast Seattle.
According to Paul Fitzgerald, Development Program Manager with Seattle Housing Authority, "We are delighted that ICHS decided to move their clinic to the Othello Building. ICHS built a beautiful clinic that will serve the community for many years to come. The Othello Building with the clinic, attractive affordable housing and new retail is like a shiny new gem in the neighborhood."
The Holly Park Clinic was originally located in 1996 on MLK, Jr. Way S., but was displaced from its original location by Sound Transit's plans for LINK Light Rail. ICHS embraced the opportunity to relocate its clinic within the redeveloped neighborhood, just a few blocks west at 3815 S. Othello St. The third and fourth floors will contain 24 low-income apartments. The first floor will be leased as commercial space. Parking for clinic patients is located on a surface lot adjacent to the building and below ground.
The new clinic space includes 12 exam rooms and six dental operatories, which will allow the clinic to better serve its constituents.
Clinic management staff is aware that the demand for culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate services will continue to grow. Census 2000 data confirms that Asian/Pacific Americans are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the state.
“In fact, the demand for services outgrew the old location several years ago. Low-income options for healthcare, offered through ICHS, are more vital as uninsured populations expand. In the new century, immigrant populations will continue to grow,” says Executive Director Dorothy Wong.
The new clinic, located on the second floor of the Othello Building at 3815 South Othello Street, will accommodate three times as many patients as the old location.
In 2003, ICHS served more than 11,000 patients, and hosted an equal number of community participants in its health education and prevention classes. The growth of the Holly Park Clinic includes the addition of 2 new dental exam chairs, 6 new medical exam rooms and laboratory. Twice as many medical patients will have access to primary services, and ICHS expects to see a 30 percent increase in its capacity to see dental patients in the new clinic.