PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Healthcare is bringing all of its physical therapy operations under one roof next month in preparation for the construction of a new outpatient services addition.
On Nov. 3, the hospital will move a satellite operation, Port Townsend Physical Therapy Clinic at 1200 W. Sims Way, onto the lower floor of the main hospital complex at 834 Sheridan St., where it will be accessible from the north entrance.
Aside from moving all of the physical therapy options into one place at the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, the move will expand hours from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and will add Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
While the move takes place Nov. 3, Saturday hours won’t take effect until Jan. 1.
“I’m delighted that we will be able to serve our patients and the community by the expanded hours,” said Lisa Holt, the department’s executive director.
“We will be able to get patients in faster and meet their needs, we will be more patient centered and patient focused and will allow them more choice.”
Physical therapists will continue to see patients at Port Townsend Physical Therapy Clinic at 1200 W. Sims Way until Oct. 31.
Patients will be moved to the new location beginning Nov. 3.
The current facility now serves around 90 people at a time while the satellite serves around 25. Those numbers will be consolidated, Holt said.
In addition to the physical therapy and rehabilitative care patients now receive, the new location also will offer an expanded gym, meeting room and a shower, hospital spokeswoman Kate Burke said.
Work will begin in November to remodel the Sims Way clinic into a more open floor plan to house the new Jefferson Healthcare Wellness Center.
The Exercise for Health program is now located in the 1929 building that will be demolished to make way for the new outpatient services addition.
Remodeling of the single-floor Sims Way building is expected to take 90 days.
The wellness center is expected to open Feb. 2.
Accessible parking and restrooms, improved ventilation and heating, and upgraded exercise equipment are planned.
Burke said no figures were available for the remodel that is part of an overall project to prepare the hospital for the construction of the new outpatient services addition.
The new $26 million, 50,000-square-foot outpatient services addition will include upgrades to the emergency room and more room for the oncology, orthopedics and cardiology departments, as well as give the hospital a remodeled main entrance on Sheridan Street.
The new wing is projected to open in late 2016 or early 2017.
For more information about the hospital, visit www.jeffersonhealthcare.org.
