Why is the hospital moving?
We have outgrown the current hospital; there is no room for expanding or adding new services, staff and technology. Expansion at the current site presents many obstacles. The current site is secluded, and has numerous environmental restrictions that make new construction very expensive. Emergency and first responders have difficulty finding us. One of the biggest problems is access from the freeway, since the closest exit doesn’t have on- and off-ramps in all directions.
Will the new hospital be bigger?
Yes, the new facility will be approximately 75,000 square feet, three times the size of the current facility. Initially it will have the same number of licensed hospital beds, 28, but the number and types of services and specialties will be expanded and existing services will be able to accommodate more patients.
The campus will be 71 acres and will include medical office buildings and room for the hospital to expand. View floor plans (500k pdf)
What services will it provide?
The new hospital will continue to provide the services that are currently offered plus new services. The plans for new and expanded services include emergency room expansion, women’s health services, senior health services, surgery, diagnostic services and other new programs.
What will the new hospital cost?
The new hospital facility is estimated at $35 million. Land acquisition is estimated between $20 - 25 million, and equipment and miscellaneous costs estimated at $5 - 10 million. Total costs for a new hospital facility, land purchase, and equipment is thus estimated at $60 - 70 million.
How will it be paid for?
Funding is planned from a combination of the sale of the existing hospital campus and from a ballot measure for a levy lid lift.
How much more would I pay in taxes?
If the levy passes, the current tax rate of 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value will increase to 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for those in KCPHD#4. The proposed levy increase will cost $10 per month or $120 per year for a home with a King County assessed value of $400,000.
When do I vote?
August 21, 2007 primary election
Why does it cost so much money for a 25-bed hospital?
The proposed facility is priced at about $325 per square foot. This is very competitive for a hospital this size and is roughly the same as existing estimates for Enumclaw’s new facility and for the new Gig Harbor hospital. Much of the space in the hospital would be devoted to services for outpatients or shared by inpatients and outpatients, so the size of the hospital doesn’t necessarily correlate to the number of beds.
Does this location favor one community in the district over another?
Not at all. The hospital district is very large, over 420 square miles. This new location would be more accessible to the whole district because it is easier to get to and from the freeway and from other major roads in the district.
Will all the doctors in the area move out of the neighborhoods and to this new campus?
No. Some doctors will be located at the new campus. These may tend to be specialists. Primary care doctors, including pediatricians, will remain in the community where they are now. Did you know that most of the providers within the district are employees of the hospital district? There are no plans to close or relocate any of the community clinics at this time.
Would the opening of a new hospital in Issaquah affect Snoqualmie?
At this point there are a number of uncertainties related to Swedish’s new hospital in Issaquah. It is scheduled to open five years from now, but there is a strong likelihood that construction could be delayed due to appeals from other East King County hospitals.
What is the timeline for construction?
The property that the hospital is proposing to buy is currently located in unincorporated King County. The hospital has begun working through zoning issues with the county to allow for annexation into the City of Snoqualmie by the fall of 2008. Once all steps are completed with the county the hospital will begin permitting work with the city.
When is the hospital scheduled to open?
2010
Would the hospital stay open during construction?
Yes, the hospital would continue to operate at its current location until the new hospital was ready to open.