Public Health – Seattle and King County announced recently that they will be closing their medical clinic that’s part of Navos Mental Health and Wellness Center in Burien in September, 2023.
Navos – located at 1210 SW 136th Street (map below) for over 10 years – provides Adult Outpatient Behavioral Health (mental health, substance use disorders), Pharmacy, Specialty Programming, Program Housing and more.
The primary care clinic is the only portion that will be closing, and MultiCare will continue with other services.
Several patients were caught off guard by this announcement, and were left wondering what will replace it.
Officials told The B-Town Blog that the clinic at Navos was launched as an innovative experiment in 2010, “to demonstrate how to integrate care across a behavioral health agency and a primary care clinic.
“As a result of changes that occurred during the COVID emergency and struggles marrying differing electronic health record systems, we have determined that Public Health cannot sustainably operate this clinic and fulfill its purpose of integration of primary care with behavioral health,” officials told us.
“Our patients will be gradually transitioning between now and September. For some patients, the best option to continue care could be at clinics nearby the Navos location. For others, the best option may be closer to where they live, work or receive other services.”
Owner MultiCare says that they are “currently in discussions with several other organizations that deliver primary care to fill the space that is being vacated by King County.”
Below is text from a letter (download PDF here) sent out to patients from Public Health announcing the closure:
“Dear Patient,
“I am sharing some important news about our Public Health medical clinic that is co-located at Navos Mental Health and Wellness Center in Burien.
“In September 2023, Public Health will stop providing services at the medical clinic co-located at Navos Mental Health and Wellness. You will need to establish with another provider for your primary health care needs. I am sorry to have to deliver this news.
“For over a decade our team has been privileged to serve the community at Navos by building relationships with patients like you. We are honored that you have trusted us with your primary health care, and we will deeply miss this community. The Public Health primary care team will continue serving patients through the beginning of September and can help you transition smoothly to your next primary care provider. We know how important it is to have a medical provider that you can trust. You have a choice in where you receive healthcare. We want to help you understand and navigate through your options. Over the next several months, the Public Health team at Navos will be available to you to help you find the best medical home to meet your needs. We will ensure that our medical records are transferred with care. Your health is important to us. If you are overdue for a check-up or will need medication refills, please make a plan to be seen by a medical provider. You can schedule to be seen in our office before September, or you can establish care with a new primary care office. It’s been a tremendous experience serving the Navos community. We are working with trusted healthcare agencies to do everything we can to help you confidently continue your journey towards good health. With this letter you will also find a list of trusted clinics near our Navos location that may be a good fit for you. There is also a flyer (“Looking for Good Health Care?”) with contact informat‘on i aor community community medical clinics throughout all of King County.
“For questions about how to connect with a future provider or to transfer your health records, please call Public Health at N5-257-6870.
“Sincerely,
“The Navos Public Health Care Team”
We reached out to Public Health, and here’s their response:
“After working with our onsite partner for several years, we have decided the best course of action is to decommission this clinic in September of this year. The clinic at Navos was launched as an innovative experiment in 2010 – to demonstrate how to integrate care across a behavioral health agency and a primary care clinic. As a result of changes that occurred during the COVID emergency and struggles marrying differing electronic health record systems, we have determined that Public Health cannot sustainably operate this clinic and fulfill its purpose of integration of primary care with behavioral health.
“We are excited that MultiCare, the owner of Navos, is working with us to help ensure all patients experience a smooth transition to new primary care providers.
“Our patients will be gradually transitioning between now and September. For some patients, the best option to continue care could be at clinics nearby the Navos location. For others, the best option may be closer to where they live, work or receive other services.”
We also reached out to MultiCare, the owner of Navos, and here’s their response:
“MultiCare is partnering with King County Public Health to ensure proper primary care for their patients. We are currently in discussions with several other organizations that deliver primary care to fill the space that is being vacated by King County.
“At MultiCare, we believe that integrated whole health provides long-term physical and behavioral health benefits to the communities we serve.“
