POULSBO — “We’ve just grown with the needs of the community,” Susan Simons explained almost matter of factly.
What isn’t so matter of fact though is the brand new 13,000 square-foot facility the staff at Poulsbo’s Pacific Surgery Center, Pacific EyeCare and Peninsula Pain Clinic will be moving into during the next few weeks.
The original center, which opened in 1985, was one of the first in the country to offer non-critical and elective surgical procedures that do not require overnight hospital stays.
Back then, Dr. Tom Case and Dr. Franklin Chu, an optomologist, owned the center, but over the years its services expanded well past those related to the eye — and so did the number of practicing physicians and owners. Although Dr. Chu sold his interest, the physicians center has added medical experts David O’Morchoe, optometrist; Dr. Michael Jungkeit, ear, nose and throat and plastic surgery and Dr. Jon Hillyer, an anesthesiologist who specializes in pain management to the owners’ list.
Simons started as a registered nurse at the center when it opened and now serves not only as director of surgical services, but as a co-owner as well.
With so many services added over the years, it seems only natural that the facility should expand.
“We’ve outgrown this building. There’s no question,” Simons said, surveying her current cramped office quarters. “We’re all really excited. We’re ready to move.”
The new building — dubbed the Pacific Medical Building — will be about three times larger than the current center and will allow for much more than just much-needed elbow room. Patients, doctors, nurses and other staff members will all benefit due to upgrades in service and equipment.
The present site has just one operating room and one procedure room. The new building will feature three operating rooms, allowing surgeons to better meet the scheduling needs of their clientele.
“The last two years have been really, really crowded here as we’ve grown and added new surgeons,” Simons said, pointing out that in addition to the 21 staff members who serve as nurses and office workers, the center is also used by 40 physicians.
“We hope to offer more to the community,” she explained.
The “ultra-specialty” center features board certified practitioners and offers orthopedic, ophthalmic, ear, nose and throat, cosmetic and general surgery services. The group also provides
preventative medicine such as endoscopic screening for colon cancer.
Even though the business has always provided surgery without overnight stays, the additional space will make the facility much more family-oriented.
“Families can be with you both before and after surgery,” Simons said.
The end result is a local out-patient surgery, eye care and pain management clinic that rivals any offered on the east side of the Puget Sound.
“Everyone likes to have their health care done by competent, professional people — and that’s what we have here,” Simons remarked.
Pacific Medical Building
20699 Bond Road, Poulsbo
Pacific Surgery Center
(360) 779-6527
Pacific EyeCare and Optical
(360) 562-2020
Peninsula Pain Clinic
(360) 415-9110
