Washington State’s First Hybrid ED/Urgent Care Opens in Bremerton

Feb. 27, 2025

Today, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) announced the opening of Washington state’s first hybrid emergency department (ED) and urgent care facility in collaboration with Intuitive Health. VMFH Emergency and Urgent Care - Bremerton (4205 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA 98312) will begin seeing patients on Tuesday, March 4 at 7 a.m.  

"The opening of our new hybrid ED/urgent care center in Bremerton marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality care to the Kitsap Peninsula community," says Ketul J. Patel, CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President of CommonSpirit Health's Northwest Region. "This innovative model not only improves patient experience by ensuring individuals receive the right level of care, but also addresses the growing need for urgent care services and eases pressure on our busy hospital emergency departments. We're proud to be at the forefront of developing solutions that improve access and affordability for all."

The emergency departments at St. Michael Medical Center (Silverdale) and St. Anthony Hospital (Gig Harbor) serve more than 120,000 people each year. St. Michael remains one of the busiest EDs in Washington state. It continues to see increased patient volumes as Kitsap County’s population continues to grow and there remains a shortage of primary care and specialty care providers in the community. 

The hybrid ED/urgent care model aims to help address ED capacity by offering emergency room and urgent care services under one roof. The model also eliminates the need for patients to guess which level of care is most appropriate and ensures they only pay for the level of care they need. 

When a patient comes to the facility, they will be examined and triaged by emergency-trained physicians and nurses. The facility will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and fully equipped like a traditional hospital emergency department, including onsite lab equipment and a radiology suite with X-ray and a multi-slice CT scanner. Emergency medical services can also bring patients directly to the hybrid ED/urgent care facility, which will accommodate ambulances onsite.

“By eliminating the guesswork for patients when deciding between the emergency department and urgent care, we're improving the patient experience and ensuring that patients receive appropriate care without unnecessary costs,” noted Thom Herrmann, Chief Executive Officer for Intuitive Health. “We're excited to work with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health as they continue to lead the way in deploying innovative care models across the Puget Sound region.”

Given the ongoing community demand for emergency and urgent care services, VMFH is beginning construction on a second hybrid location: VMFH Emergency and Urgent Care - Port Orchard (450 S. Kitsap Blvd., Port Orchard) with expected completion in late 2025. 

Other projects underway to meet the growing demand for health care services in Kitsap County include a new tower at St. Michael Medical Center,which will be completed in 2025, increasing hospital capacity by 74 beds and improving patient access to emergency care.  

“As a leading health care provider in Kitsap County, we are proud to continuously deliver safe, high-quality care to the communities we serve, especially to the most vulnerable,” noted Chad Melton, St. Michael Medical Center President. “We are committed to listening to the community and responding to the greatest needs of our patients in collaboration with leaders across the county and beyond. Today’s announcement is a great example of this work in action.” 

More information is available at euc.vmfh.org. 

About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, including 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites. Founded in 1891, VMFH embraces its long history of caring for the most vulnerable, especially the poor and underserved, and meeting the evolving health care needs of the vibrant, diverse communities it serves. VMFH is a proud home to the Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and the Benaroya Research Institute, an internationally recognized institution for autoimmune disease research. VMFH is part of CommonSpirit, one of the nation’s largest health systems, dedicated to advancing health for all people.