Community Corner
New Health-Care Provider in Tillicum Could Fill Void
A health-care provider is reportedly standing by to replace the Tillicum Family Medical Clinic that is scheduled to close in June.
The has lined up a new medical provider to replace the existing Tillicum Community Health Care clinic, which plans to vacate May 27.
Karen Priest, the community resource center’s executive director, said she has been negotiating with another health-care provider since CHC announced it was shutting the Tillicum medical clinic on June 1 due to state budget reductions.
Without a new clinic operator, at least 300 Tillicum patients — representing some of the poorest residents of Pierce County — would be forced to travel elsewhere for medical treatment, placing uneeded burden on one of the poorest communities in Pierce County.
Find out what's happening in Lakewood-JBLMwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Priest said Monday that her governing board has approved the new operator and that she expects to sign the agreement later this week. If that happens, patients should see virtually no lapse in service.
“When I first got the news (of CHC leaving), I cried for three days,” she said. “We’ve always had such a wonderful relationship. They’ve been in the community for 17 years, so it was a real hard thing to take.”
Find out what's happening in Lakewood-JBLMwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Priest, who runs the community center at 14916 Washington Ave. SW, said she was not at liberty to name the new provider Monday but will make details available later this week. Patch will have the full story when more information becomes available.
Community Health Care reportedly has been losing $150,000 a year. CHC officials reportedly decided to close the smallest of its clinics, six total, as a result of statewide financial cutbacks.
