CHI Franciscan’s $500 million investment into creating a new 500,000-square-foot acute care expansion of its health care system in Kitsap County became a reality when it opened the facility to patients on Saturday in Silverdale.

Working with partners at Olympic Ambulance, Central Kitsap Fire District and other medical transport agencies, 166 patients were moved from Bremerton to the new hospital in Silverdale. Following the move, the Bremerton emergency department will remain open with a reduced number of beds until CHI Franciscan’s urgent-care center opens in 2021.

Patients who go to the Bremerton emergency department may be transferred to Silverdale because it will have the staff and equipment necessary to handle higher-level emergencies ranging from surgeries to heart attacks, officials said.

CHI Franciscan officials label the new medical center as the organization’s most “sustainable hospital” to date in the Pacific Northwest. They touted the center’s patient-centric design and centralization of St. Michael’s cardiac and surgical care in Silverdale.

The hospital will serve as a regional medical facility, providing care for patients across Kitsap County and the Olympic Peninsula. Ketul J. Patel, CEO of CHI Franciscan and its division president, said the expansion positions the health care system to meet the needs of this fast-growing region by offering “world-class care” closer to home.

“The new St. Michael Medical Center represents our commitment to ensuring our communities have access to world-class care and services for generations to come,” Patel said. “The facility builds upon our legacy of serving our community in times of need, as Harrison Medical Center originally opened over 100 years ago during the Spanish flu pandemic.

“As we have been reminded during this difficult year, access to high-quality care is essential to building healthier communities. I am extremely grateful for the dedication of our team and support from our community to make opening a brand-new hospital a reality.”