| Mar |
| 19 |
Burien’s Highline Medical Center is holding a children’s “Kidz Tipz for Safety” billboard contest in association with Highline Public Schools, in an effort to engage kids in childhood safety.
Each year one in three people in the U.S. visit an emergency room – 40 percent as a result of injury-related accidents and a third under the age of 21. Highline Medical Center, which serves nearly 50,000 ER patients annually, in concert with Highline Schools, is inviting students to design their own safety billboard.
Elementary school students in the Highline School District are encouraged to design their own billboard featuring an up-to- eight-word safety tip, with three winning entries to be featured on billboards in the surrounding community. Finalists’ artwork will be also featured at the Grand Opening Celebration of Highline Medical Center’s new Emergency Room on April 10. And every child who enters will be eligible to win a party at Family Fun Center in Tukwila.
A panel of representatives from Highline Medical Center and the community will review the entries and select 20 finalists from which final winners will be chosen. Finalists will have their artwork on display at the opening of the new ER from 10 am to 3 pm on April 10.
The deadline for entries is Friday, March 19, and more information and contest rules are available by emailing commrelations@highlinemedical.org.
Burien building inspectors have granted temporary occupancy approval to Highline Medical Center’s new three-story Emergency Department and Patient Care Unit – leaving only one more permitting step before the $60 million addition can start receiving patients.
City Manager Mike Martin noted in his report for tonight’s (Monday, Feb. 22) council meeting:
“Temporary occupancy allows hospital personnel to enter the new facility for the purpose of setting up equipment, bringing in furniture and providing staff training while the contractors continue to complete final items needed to obtain a certificate of occupancy.
“All additional work needed to obtain final occupancy is expected to be completed by March 17,” Martin added. He said review and inspections have “involved hundreds of hours of staff time.”
The 79,607 square foot addition, which includes a parking garage for primary use by the Emergency Department, is scheduled to open to patients on April 13. The grand opening of the Emergency Department will be April 9-10 and will include a public open house.
Emergency staff will begin training in the new facility once the final occupancy permit is granted by the city.
With 27,000 square feet of floor space, the new Emergency Department triples the size of the existing 50-year-old emergency facility. The new department includes three triage rooms, 32 private examination rooms, two trauma bays, and its own diagnostic imaging area.
Story & Photos by Gina Bourdage
Community members and local business owners stepped up to raise $1,675 for the completion of Highline Medical Center’s new ER at the “Red Wine & Decadent Dessert” event Wednesday night, Feb. 10th.
This event was the brainchild of local business owners from Mark Restaurant, BTB Advertiser E.B Foote Winery and OptiMark Eye Care. This event allowed attendees to sample some of the great things our community has to offer as well as enjoy an evening among friends.
“We are glad to see such a great turn out, especially in this economy.” said Renee Klein, Executive Director, Highline Medical Center Foundation. “There is really something to be said about the energy in this room and seeing people enjoying themselves. This event speaks to the character and uniqueness of our community to see people come together, showing that this community is truly unlike any other.”
Amongst the warm candlelit setting of the Mark Restaurant, the evening highlighted a raffle drawing for a table full of generous community items including everything from baskets of gardening supplies, a romantic valentine inspired package and art work and more. Guests also were treated to a number of wines from the E.B. Foote Winery and a plate of indulgent sweet treats brought by Mark Restaurant and OptiMark Eye Care.
Originally built to serve 12,000 patients per year, Highline’s Main Campus ER now serves nearly 47,000 –– making it one of the busiest in the state. According to their website:
When a health emergency strikes, you need advanced care. And you need it fast, which is why a new ER is so critical. While we have made significant investments in expert staff and advanced technology over the years, there are simply too few treatment rooms for the number of patients. Ambulances are sometimes diverted to other hospitals farther away, because we simply don’t have enough capacity, according to www. lifedependsonit.org.
“…Highline Medical Center receives no tax support, i.e., we are not publicly funded. Yet, we are a not-for-profit hospital. The new Emergency Room and Patient Care Unit is a $60 million project, most of which is funded through bonds and reserves. But a $10 million capital campaign is needed to help complete the funding. The community has responded, and to date we have raised $5.4 million. But we still need more to reach our goal, and are so thankful for those individuals and businesses who have stepped up!” – Renee Klein
“We are truly grateful for the Mark Restaurant, OptiMark and EB Foote Winery. This was truly all their idea,” added Klein.
In addition to the three businesses that planned the event, many others donated time, products and/or gift certificates, and those businesses include:
- Market Place Salon (BTB Advertiser)
- Levich Agency
- Archery Bistro
- Bison Creek Pizza (BTB Advertiser)
- La Costa
- Purple Café’ & Wine Bar
- Artist Warren Knapp
Here are some photos shot at the event by Gina:
| Feb |
| 10 |
| 7:00 pm |
Enjoy an early Valentine’s Day by drinking red wine and eating decadent desserts at Mark Restaurant this Wednesday, Feb. 10th from 7pm to 9pm, and all for a good cause – to raise money for Highline Medical Center’s new E.R..
BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery, along with Mark Restaurant and Optimark have partnered to bring this first-time event to the area to help raise money for the new medical facility, which is set to open in April.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Red Wine & Decadent Desserts fundraiser for Highline Medical Center’s new ER.
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 10th from 7pm to 9pm.
WHERE: Mark Restaurant, located at 918 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien.
COST: Donations for the evening are $30 per person, $50 for couple for advance sales and $35/$60 at the door.
CONTACT: Call 206-242-3852 for reservations or more information.
100% of the proceeds will go to fund Highline’s New Emergency Room.
| Apr | Apr |
| 9 | 10 |
by A few years ago, when I worked as a volunteer in the Emergency Department at Highline Medical Center, the waiting area usually was filled with patients and family members well into the evening.
Patients waited, as they still do, for their turn to be screened in a single triage room, then waited longer for a treatment room to become available. That’s not surprising since the crowded Highline Emergency Department, designed to handle 12,000 patients a year 50 years ago, now provides care for nearly 50,000 patients annually.
But all this will change soon. Construction of a new state-of-the-art Emergency Department that will triple the size of the current facility is nearing completion – on time and on budget. When its doors open to patients on April 13, waiting times for triage and treatment will decrease dramatically.
The new patient-friendly facility also will improve exponentially the convenience and efficiency of the working environment for physicians, nurses, radiology and lab technicians, and everyone else who contributes to the care of Highline’s emergency patients.
B-Town Blog photographer Michael Brunk and I joined a tour of the new Emergency Department on Jan. 19 – shortly after the end of major construction activity as the finishing process got underway. No equipment or furnishings had yet been installed.
Even at this incomplete stage, however, one thing was immediately apparent – the new Emergency Department is a magnificently awesome improvement over the current emergency facility.
Highline Medical Center CEO Mark Benedum described it well: “a facility that’s up to the care the staff’s been providing.”
Benedum said planning for the new Emergency Department began in 2005, with the start of construction on the $60 million project (which includes a new 31 bed Patient Care Unit) getting underway in 2008.
Highline Medical Center’s service area extends from West Seattle to Federal Way and from Tukwila to Vashon Island, and most of its emergency patients come from this region – as well as persons driving along Interstate 5 and both passengers and employees at Sea-Tac International Airport.
Combine the size of this service area with its population growth in the last two decades and it’s easy to see why the aging emergency facility is overcrowded, noted Renée Klein, Executive Director of the Highline Medical Center Foundation.
The differences between the current facility and the new Emergency Department are strikingly apparent the moment one walks into its main entrance, which is on the west side of the medical center not far from the current emergency entrance.
The interior is bright and airy, with large windows that provide ample natural light, as well as spacious – 27,000 square feet compared with the current 9,000 square feet. In fact, the main nurses station area, well inside the Emergency Department, looks as if it could hold the entire existing facility.
Just beyond the reception desk are three private triage rooms, which will speed evaluation of patients, reducing their time in the general waiting area. Patients then will be taken to any of the 32 large, private treatment rooms, where admitting can be done at bedside.
Every room is universally equipped – “hardwired” – to handle any emergency. Two of the rooms are dedicated for pediatric care. The current facility has 19 beds, only eight of which are hardwired.
The ambulance entrance – with an ambulance bay that can accommodate about a dozen emergency vehicles including police cars – is on the north side of the Emergency Department. Two trauma bays for serious emergencies such as heart attacks are immediately inside. Each is designed to handle two patients if necessary.
Two diagnostic imaging rooms – one x-ray, the other CT, both dedicated for emergency patients – and a separate diagnostic imaging waiting room are located just beyond the triage rooms.
In addition, there are two seclusion rooms for psychiatric and other patients who require additional security, an isolation room for highly contagious patients, a decontamination room with an outside entrance for disasters and contact with hazardous materials, a separate area for first responders – emergency medical and law enforcement personnel – to write their reports, and a private family consultation room.
Designed byNAC Architecture, the Emergency Department was planned “from the physicians’ and nurses’ point of view” to provide “rapid treatment,” Klein said. The general contractor is GLY Construction .
One floor above the new Emergency Department is a 31-bed Patient Care Unit for medical and cancer patients. (Look for a report on this unit on the B-Town Blog soon.) Beneath it is a parking garage for those going to the Emergency Department.
The grand opening of the Emergency Department is set for April 9-10, and will include an open house for the public.
Klein noted that while most of the cost of the new facility was paid through bonds and capital reserves, only $5.4 million of a $10 million capital campaign has come in or been pledged. “I’m optimistic that the community will help us with that last amount,” she said.
Highline Medical Center receives no tax dollars for capital expenses and general operations, and relies largely on grants and pledges. If you would like to learn more about how to support Highline’s Campaign for a New ER, log on to www.LifeDependsOnIt.org or call the Foundation office at 206.901.8500.
Here’s Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow of the facility:
“Dine for Highline,” an all-day fundraiser to help raise money for Highline Medical Center’s new ER, will be all day Thursday, Jan. 21st at 16 or so various local restaurants (see the full list below).
A percentage of all proceeds from the day will be donated to Highline Medical Center’s “Campaign for a New ER.”
Here’s a link to our original story.
Participating restaurants include:
- Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
- Sal’s Deli
- 909 Coffee and Wine
- Mark Restaurant and Bar
- Yo’s Bistro
- Sidestreet Kitchen and Bar
- Angelo’s of Burien
- Australian Pie Co.
- Tin Room Bar
- Osteria de Primo
- Collier’s The House
- La Costa Restaurant
- Archery Bistro
- Bison Creek Pizza (BTB Advertiser)
- Emerald City Smoothie
- Vino Bello Wine Bar
| Jan |
| 21 |
On Thursday, Jan. 21st, several local restaurants will be hosting “Dine For Highline,” where a percentage of proceeds will be donated to Highline Medical Center’s “Campaign for a New ER.”
Originally built to serve 12,000 patients each year, Highline’s current ER now serves nearly 45,000, making it one of the busiest in the state; obviously, a new, state-of-the-art ER is required.
Here’s info from their press release:
Mark your calendar for January 21st!
On Thursday, January 21, several local restaurants are hosting Dine for Highline, whereby they will donate a percentage of their proceeds to the hospital’s Campaign for a New ER.
These generous businesses know that having a great community means having a great hospital, too, and that’s why they are supporting the campaign.
Now let’s show our support for them, while enjoying a fabulous meal!
Currently participating restaurants include:
- Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
- Sal’s Deli
- 909 Coffee and Wine
- Mark Restaurant and Bar
- Yo’s Bistro
- Sidestreet Kitchen and Bar
- Angelo’s of Burien
- Australian Pie Co.
- Tin Room Bar
- La Costa Restaurant
- Archery Bistro
- Bison Creek Pizza (BTB Advertiser)
- Emerald City Smoothie
- Vino Bello Wine Bar
Here’s info on the campaign from Highline’s website:
A State-of-the-Art Facility
With support from the community, Highline Medical Center is building a 27,000 square feet, state-of-the-art ER housed in a new three-story building on its Main Campus. It will be equipped with the very latest advances in medical technology and staffed by an expert team of board-certified physicians. It is designed to make ER visits faster, to reduce stress and to enhance comfort for patients and their families at every stage of care:
- Three private triage rooms
- Bedside registration
- Sophisticated electronic patient tracking system
- Family consult room
- 32 private treatment rooms, with room for family members
- Dedicated decontamination room for disasters
- Diagnostic imaging within the ER
- Electronic medical records
- Separate family waiting area
- Private and confidential admitting areas
- Convenient free parking and easy drop-off
A Life Giving Opportunity: How You Can Help
Highline Medical Center Foundation has launched a $10 million community campaign to help fund construction of the new ER. Highline is not tax-supported. We are an independent, nonprofit organization created by the community and supported by the generosity of individuals like you. We need your help. Your gift is an investment in the future health and wellbeing of everyone in our community. It will assure that fast, convenient, state-of-the-art emergency care will be right here –– whenever life depends on it.
To support The Campaign for a New ER at Highline, be sure to “Dine For Highline” on Thursday, Jan. 21st, or click here or call (206) 901-8500.
BTB Advertiser Jim Coleman, DDS recently held their annual Stuffed Animal Drive for children who end up in the Highline Medical Center Emergency Rooms, and this year received over 300 donations!
The purpose of the annual drive is to provide children who may be visiting hospitals something to “calm them,” like a stuffed animal.
“These animals are given to children as they check into the ER and I have been assured by the nurses that they have a very calming effect on the kids,” said Lynn Coleman. “About half of this year’s donations went to the main Highline Medical Center campus, and the other half went to the Riverton campus in Tukwila.”
We here at The B-Town Blog tip our collective hats to this innovative fundraiser, as many of us here still use our stuffed animals to help calm us.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmorgan/ / CC BY 2.0
| Dec ’09 |
| 22 |
BTB Advertiser Jim Coleman, DDS is holding their annual Stuffed Animal Drive for children who end up in the Highline Medical Center Emergency Rooms, and they’re looking for donations.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Jim Coleman, DDS annual Stuffed Animal Drive, to help calm children who end up in Highline Medical Center’s ERs.
WHEN: Now through Dec. 22nd.
WHERE: Donate stuffed animals at Jim Coleman’s offices, located at 1800 SW 152nd Street in Burien.
Jim Coleman, DDS
INFO: Here’s an email we received from Lynn Coleman:
As many of you know, our dental practice collects stuffed animals for the Highline Medical Center Emergency Rooms. These animals are given to children as they check into the ER and I have been assured by the nurses that they have a very calming effect on the kids.
We are again collecting animals and would really appreciate any contributions that you could make.
We will get them to the ER on the 22nd of December so if you want to drop them by our office before then, it will be great!
Let’s make those kids comfortable, loved and cared for in the best ER in the Seattle area!
Thanks,
Lynn Coleman
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmorgan/ / CC BY 2.0
The B-Town Blog welcomes back Advertiser Market Place Salon and Day Spa with this important community announcement:
To celebrate and acknowledge October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Market Place has teamed with Highline Medical Center to encourage women to get their mammograms. As part of their efforts, staff will be appearing at Highline Diagnostics at 160th to provide what they call “mini-spa events” for women getting their mammograms this month (look for them towards the end of the month). Patients will receive a hand or scalp massage and polish change.
They have also provided HMC with a “Queen for a Day Makeover” which includes a day of head to toe pampering as a raffle prize for Highline Diagnostics raffle. Imagine a cut and color, manicure and pedicure, a facial, a massage and a makeup application–all for you if you win the raffle. It’s a $275 value, and you’ll have a chance to win just by getting a mammogram at Highline Diagnostics at 160th.
In cooperation with Aveda, Market Place is selling limited edition Aveda Hand Relief Lotion. $4.00 from every sale will go directly to Breast Cancer Research. Just stop by the spa and look for the tubes with the pink ribbon to help this worthy cause.
They will also have daily in-spa specials throughout the month. Check out their sidewalk chalkboard for these specials.
And here’s something we don’t often think of, so the Market Place staff has thought of it for you:
“Did you know that 8 out of 10 women wear the incorrect size bra?”
In honor of Breast Cancer Awarenes Month they will be offering free bra fittings by Michelle on Saturday October 24 from 10am-1pm.” Michelle is a Certified Bra Fit Expert through Nordstom.
Market Place Salon is located at 15858 First Ave. South, next to Trader Joe’s in the Five Corners Shopping Plaza in Burien. You can call for an appointment for a bra makeover or beauty blast at 206-244-8886, or visit their website here.
Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story and Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by over 35,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
Burien’s Highline Medical Center is aiming to provide 1,000 mammograms to women in our community during October, which is “Beast Cancer Awareness Month,” and is offering free “booby prizes” (NOTE: this is our nickname, not theirs) as incentive.
As part of their “October 1,000” campaign, the first 1,000 women who receive mammograms at Highline Diagnostics at SW 160th during October will receive an eco bag filled with items to pamper herself. In addition, 75 random bags will contain Dr. Oz’s book “YOU: Staying Young. The Owner’s Manual to Extending Your Warranty.”
They will also be treating mammogram patients to complimentary mini-spa and mini-massage sessions. As an extra incentive, every woman will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win fun prizes including spa packages, gym memberships, salon visits and personal training sessions.
HMC adds:
“We understand women are busy and want to make scheduling a mammogram appointment as easy and convenient as possible. To accommodate their busy schedule, we have extended our hours to include evenings until 7pm and Saturday until 4pm for the month of October and added an online appointment request to schedule a screening mammogram.
Please call Highline Diagnostics at 160th at (206) 248-8900, Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 6:00pm or log onto www.HighlineMedicalCenter.org to schedule your appointment.”
As you may know, October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month, and Burien’s own Highline Medical Center is partnering with local businesses to help encourage women to get their mammogram. Early detection is still the best protection and they want to do all they can to help women in the fight against breast cancer.
So if you’re a local/area business, here’s a chance to get some good, local exposure.
Here’s a blurb from HMC:
To help encourage local women to get their mammograms we are partenering with local businesses to help the women in our community to have an enjoyable experience during their visit. All women who come into Highline Medical Center for their mammogram during the month of October will receive free mini-spa sessions donated by local salons and schools. In addition every woman who comes in will receive a raffle ticket to win great prizes donated by local businesses and artists.
Highline Medical Center would like to invite you to partner with us to help encourage the women in our community to get their mammograms. We would encourage you to consider donating a gift card, certificate, or basket to raffle off during the month of October, or to donated services to participate in our mini-spa session event. All businesses or individuals who donate will receive a free 8.5 X 11 ad space in our local businesses book which is viewed by 30-40 local women a day while they wait for their appointments.
Highline Medical Center is proud to be a partner in health with our community and we encourage you to join us.
Please contact Janinne Walker, 206-293-6784 or email jwalker@highlinemedical.org, if you would like more information or if you are interested in donating.
This is NOT Kathy's x-ray.
The saga continues…last January, Dr. Clark replaced my left shoulder. It was such a success and such a blessing to be pain free on the left side that I, once again, entrusted myself into his brilliant hands and the wonderful surgical nurses of Highline Hospital. They did their magic while I slept, and I am now the proud, PAIN FREE, owner of two bionic shoulders.
Kathy Keene is ready to arm wrestle you.
After they finished, they passed me off to the ICU staff, and then I was taken to my lovely room on the 4th floor. It was like old home week; I was re-acquainted w/ the great nurses and the CNA’s that help me last time and, I made some new friends. Their professionalism, sense of humor, and willingness to see to my comfort was superlative! I especially appreciated the night shift staff that tippy toed in and took my vitals without turning on that horrible bright light and barely waking me up – Thanks guys.
My favorite Reiki person came by and treated me; sadly, the young lady from Highline High School, who serenaded us with her lovely violin music last time, seems to be on summer vacation.
Our community is so blessed to have such a fantastic hospital, staffed with such professionals in our community! Thank you all for making my stay, not only safe, and healing, but fun as well.
P. S. Keep the candle burning in the window, the chicken stroganoff looked so good on the room service menu I may have to come back. Now if you could just get down pillows and beds a wee bit more comfy…
(Kathy Keene moved to the Burien area in 1987 and worked for Boeing for 17 years. Kathy opted for an early retirement in 2005 to pursue her new love of designing and selling jewelry as well as becoming more involved with the community.)
[EDITOR'S NOTE: We welcome guest columns from all area residents – do YOU have a story you'd like to tell? Email us!]
According to the King County Sheriff’s Department, an 18 year-old man was shot in SeaTac last night around 11:30pm, and subsequently died at Burien’s Highline Medical Center.
The victim was riding in the back seat of a car that was southbound on Military Road South. Four friends were with him in the car. A second vehicle began following the victim’s car but turned off at South 140th; as it did, several rounds were fired and the male victim was hit.
The men drove straight to Highline Medical Center and the man collapsed in the entrance to the Emergency Room. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
The dead man is believed to be from California and was in the area visiting relatives.
All the people in the victim’s car were male and in their late teens or early 20s.
There is no description of the suspect vehicle, and no apparent motive for the shooting.
Burien’s Highline Medical Center has been chosen as one of the “Top 10 Healing Hospitals” for 2008 by Baptist Healing Trust, a Christian foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Highline was singled out as lucky number seven in the list. This year’s six-member selection panel reviewed hospitals coast-to-coast before making their decisions about the winners. Panel members consisted of Presidents & CEOs from hospitals and health systems across the nation.
The “Healing Hospital” recognition was created to honor hospitals and leaders that have made a special commitment to creating cultures that demonstrate compassion and quality. Each hospital honored in the list has “demonstrated extraordinary commitment to patient and employee-centered care,” according to the release.
They are also noted for embarking upon a journey of establishing a Healing Hospital environment.
In addition to Highline, this year’s recipients include:
- Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, Texas
- Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut
- The 2006 Baldrige Award-recipient Sharp Healthcare in San Diego, California
“This is wonderful recognition and a real tribute to our staff and medical staff for all they do to support the Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care at Highline Medical Center. We are honored to receive this distinction alongside such well-respected hospitals from across the nation,” stated Mark Benedum, CEO of Highline Medical Center. “This recognition supports our mission of providing high quality, compassionate health care in a healing environment to our patients and the community.”
More information on Highline Medical Center available here.
On Tuesday, Burien’s Highline Medical Center laid off 85 management and staff positions.
CEO Mark Benedum said, “Today is an incredibly difficult and painful day for us. In order to assure our financial stability, we had to reduce 85 management and staff positions at both campuses through a lay-off. In many cases, these are individuals who have given years of service and significant contributions to our organization. This was not an easy decision and it was something I had hoped we would not have to do.”
Like most hospitals both locally and nationally, Highline Medical Center has been hit hard by the declining economy. Highline’s net revenue has been negatively impacted by both a decrease in outpatient volumes and an increase in uncompensated care. These factors led to significant financial losses in December and January and a projected loss in February.
Benedum continued, “We have taken actions to respond to the decline in the economy. While we initially believed that these measures would allow us to manage the economic fall-out, it was not enough. We cannot continue to spend more than we are earning. Continued losses of this magnitude are not an option. We have a responsibility to our patients and the community to reduce our costs and remain financially viable.”
The vast majority of positions that were eliminated were not involved in direct patient care.
Highline Medical Center first opened in 1958 as Burien General Hospital. It now includes two healthcare campuses and more than 20 clinics across Southwest King County. As the tenth-busiest emergency department in the Puget Sound region, Highline serves as the base station for the Burien area emergency medical unit. In 2008, Highline broke ground on a new ER & Patient Care unit, which is slated to open in early 2010.
More information is available at their website: www.highlinemedicalcenter.org.
A bomb threat caused a lockdown at Highline Medical Center Sunday afternoon as King County Sheriff’s deputies investigated a suspicious device in a minivan parked in the garage.
Authorities said the incident started at about 3:45 p.m. when a man, who was known by the staff, walked into the emergency room and claimed to have a bomb in his car.
Shortly thereafter, the entire hospital was locked down, as well as surrounding streets.
Bomb technicians determined that the device was not explosive, subsequently ending the lockdown around 6:30pm and re-opening streets.
The man who made the threat was detained.
by Mark Neuman
It’s tough being a kid, as the saying goes.
It’s even tougher being a kid who isn’t feeling well, maybe suffering from a sore throat or stomach flu or other issues.
And it’s tougher still if the young person’s family has limited – or no – health insurance.
That’s where the Youth Health Center comes in. The Center serves adolescents, ages 13-19.
The priority there is medical care, and in many cases, even if a patient’s family has limited financial means or is not insured.
Sometimes it helps to have someone to talk to privately when, emotionally, things don’t feel right. The Center has two counselors – one female, one male – available for private sessions. Call the number below for their hours.
Through no fault of its own the Youth Health Center has been “bounced around” town over the last year or so.
Well, it has a fine new home. The Center is located in the northwest portion of Highline Medical Center’s Main Campus, between Sylvester Road SW and 8th Avenue SW, just south of SW 160th Street.
Many families may qualify for programs funded by the state of Washington. The Health Center’s office manager, Bonnie Arroyo, will be happy to help patients research and apply for assistance programs.
The medical staff is led by Patricia Burke, PA-C.
The main transit Routes to the Center are #123 and #139.
The Center also has a clinic in Renton, with limited hours. The phone number there is 425-254-2710
Youth Health Center (Burien)
16110 8th Avenue SW Suite B-1
Burien, WA 98166
phone: 206-439-9300
fax: 206-439-4695
www.HighlineMedicalGroup.org
Youth Health Center (Burien) Clinic Hours:
- Walk-Ins First Come, First Served Until Full
- Monday – Thursday 9:30am – 5:45pm
- Friday 9:30am – 2:00pm
- Closed for Lunch 12:45pm – 1:30pm
| Jun ’09 |
| 13 |
| Jun ’09 |
| 14 |
by The 25th annual American Cancer Society’s 2009 “Relay For Life” kick-off happened last Wednesday (Jan. 21st) at Highline Medical Center.
The evening began with hors d’oeuvres from Sal’s Deli and music from the group “Critical Mass,” a local jazz band comprised of some very talented members from the Burien community, including doctors from Highline Medical Center.
Entering its fourth year in Burien, “Relay For Life” gathered together team leaders, board members and local businesses to go over the goals for the June 13th – 14th event at Highline Stadium. Involvement in the “Relay For Life” provides lifesaving support for the American Cancer Society and programs.
Contributions and fundraising allow much-needed programs and efforts to be funded in the advancement for a cure, while sustaining ongoing efforts for survivors and families of cancer. Each team spends one day and one night celebrating and remembering those whose lives have been affected by cancer and provides them a way to fight back.
Margie Rodriguez, a two-time cancer survivor, was on hand to speak about what having cancer has done to change her perspective on life:
“It has taught me how to live. To enjoy the moment.”
Each year 3.5 million people in more than 4,900 communities participate. This year Burien has 11 teams signed up to participate and are looking for more. Last year the Highline Community had more than 515 register participants and raised more than $85,000. Four year participant and team captain of team Fam Damily, Patty Murray was present this year for the kick off 2009. Last year Murray’s team raised more than $10,000 through efforts from handmade painted pots sold for $5 each and garage sales.
Other teams include:
- The City of Burien
- City of Sea Tac
- Aviation High School
- Mt Rainer High School
- Many more
The event coordinators are hoping to have competitions between each city and high school team, however they are not all represented yet… (clearing throat voice Evergreen High School among others).
The event will start with a survivor’s lap and the evening will continue with music, entertainment and refreshments. Each team will take turns having at least one member on the track for the relay up to 24 hours. As the sun sets over campsites and darkness falls, the night is brightened by the glow of illuminated bags called luminaria, each of which has a special meaning. Some celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer and have lived to tell their stories. Many remember the lives of those who have been lost to this disease. All represent someone special who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to fight back in their honor.
This year the overall fundraising goal is $95,000.
Will you be part of helping the fight for a cure? To participate, become a team captain or make a volunteer or monetary contribution please contact:
Gary McNeil
Event Co-Chair
Email: gmcnsoccer@comcast.net
Phone 206.390.3184
or
Kelly Cochran
American Cancer Society
Email: Kelly.cochran@cancer.org
For more information on Relay For Life visit www.highlinerelay.org.
Here’s a video with some more information:
| Jan ’09 |
| 21 |
| 7:00 pm |
The official kickoff celebration for the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) “Relay For Life” of Highline is Wednesday, Jan. 21st, from 7pm-8:30pm at Somers Auditorium in Highline Medical Center, located at 16251 Sylvester Road SW (see map below).
The event will provide information about Relay For Life and how volunteers can get involved in the fight against cancer. Attendees will enjoy food from Sal’s Deli, music by Critical Mass, and coffee provided by Starbucks as they visit with volunteers, sharing stories of hope.
Founded 25 years ago by Tacoma physician Dr. Gordy Klatt, Relay For Life has grown to be the most recognized fundraising event for cancer nationwide, held in more than 5,000 communities and raising more than $3 billion toward cancer research, advocacy, education and patient services. 
In 2008, the Relay For Life of Highline saw over 500 people from the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park and Seatac participating on 38 teams, and raising over $87,000.
Relay For Life is a family-oriented event in which teams will walk or run in shifts around the track for 17 hours. Participants traditionally camp out on the field, and, when they are not taking their turn walking, enjoy a variety of entertainment activities.
The Relay For Life of Highline will be held on June 13 & 14th at Highline Stadium in Burien. For more information, please call Kelly Cochran at 206.6744103, or visit http://www.relayforlife.org/highlinewa.
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.
by Janet Grella
Earlier this week, I went in for my annual mammogram at Highline Diagnostics on SW 160th.
Like most “women of a certain age” (over 40 according to the American Cancer Society), this is something we don’t look forward to. The squishing, the pain and discomfort of the unnatural-like positions and finally the waiting in a cold room while the Mammography Techs check each film to make sure one was readable. Of course we are always delighted when we learn after a week or so that we’ve got an “all clear” for another year. Further I can recall some time ago when I had a “suspicious” mammogram and had to go back for more x-rays. Waiting for the next appointment was nerve wracking for my family and me.
The new Digital Mammography Machine from GE at Highline Diagnostics.
But what a difference a year makes – NO MORE FILMS! Late last year the Highline Cancer Center at Highline Medical Center (HMC) invested in new equipment – the Digital Mammography from GE Healthcare – for Highline Diagnostics. According the GE’s website, ”digital mammography represents a breakthrough in the advancement of women’s health care. Digitally enhanced breast images have outstanding clarity and contrast, leading to a quick diagnosis and quality patient care”.
At Highline Diagnostics I could tell that Jill, my Mammography Tech, and Kris, “Tech In Training” were really excited about this new mammography device they now get to work with. According to them, the amount of unnecessary recalls are reduced by more than 20%; patient anxiety is minimized and the exam time is reduced.
Further, I didn’t get squished like before, the equipment was built to make the digital imaging less uncomfortable, and the only standing around I did was to look at my ‘digital breasts’ on a computer monitor screen.
According to Janinne Walker, Community Outreach Manager of HMC, my images were sent directly to the radiologists, and they will be read twice by radiologists, and then further by ‘CAD” (a computer reader). At the same time the radiologists receive my digital mammography, they were also made viewable by other HMC specialists through a system called PACs, which allows providers to access the images through a password protected system.
No, these aren't Janet's breasts.
But this story is not about me or my wonderful mammogram experience at Highline Diagnostics. It’s about all you women who put off your annual mammogram because it’s too painful, too awful, humiliating….whatever your excuse, in my opinion, you’ve run out of them. As National Breast Awareness Month draws to a close, I want to remind you to make that mammogram appointment.
The American Cancer Society Guidelines for Screening Mammography are:
- Annual breast examination by a physician or other health practitioner
- Annual mammography beginning at age 40
- Monthly breast self-examination
Janinne at HMC tells BTB that they recommend starting mammograms at 35 years old (although most guidelines say 40), and that women can obtain a mammogram at any younger age with a doctor’s referral.
You can make your appointment at (206) 248-8900 and visit Highline Diagnostics at 160th, 275 SW 160th Street in Burien (right behind Sylvester Middle School).
The good thing for me was that it didn’t take long to get an appointment, and there was no waiting once I got there.
| Oct ’08 |
| 4 |
| 7:30 am |
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a regular on The Oprah Winfrey Show and one of the world’s most influential people according to Time magazine, will be the featured speaker at Highline Medical Center’s Women’s Wellness Event called “Live Healthy. Stay Young.”
The event takes place Saturday, October 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center in SeaTac.
“We wanted to create an event that would give the women of our community an opportunity to learn strategies for staying healthy,” said Mara Burke, director of community relations for Highline Medical Center. “Our goal is for every woman who attends this event to come away with valuable information that is meaningful in her life. We couldn’t think of a better way to do that than to bring Dr. Oz to Seattle and pair him with a dozen other medical experts.”
Event guests will enjoy their choice thought-provoking health workshops, the keynote by Dr. Oz, continental breakfast and lunch, and their own copy of Dr. Oz’s latest book YOU: Staying Young for an all-inclusive $90 registration fee. Workshops cover a wide and relevant range of topics for women at every age and life stage. From the power of positive nutrition to strategies for restful sleep to coping with menopause gracefully, this event promises to answer women’s pressing health and aging questions in candid, compelling, and useful ways.
Visit www.LiveHealthyStayYoung.com to download a brochure with class descriptions. Seats for this event are limited. Advance purchase is required. Call 206-695-5544 to claim your place at your workshops of choice and register.
Burke said that this event is part of the 50th anniversary activities in motion to honor Highline’s half-century of growth and commitment to healthy living and compassionate care. Highline opened its doors as Burien Community Hospital 50 years ago and has since grown into an award-winning, comprehensive medical center. The presenting sponsor for the event is KeyBank. Other sponsors include Puget Sound Health Partners, BECU, Burien Toyota/Burien Chevrolet, Albertsons/Supervalu, Powell Brothers and Alaska Airlines.
About Highline Medical Center
Highline Medical Center includes two healthcare campuses and more than 20 clinics across Southwest King County. From orthopedic surgery to obstetrics, from heart care to home health, you’ll find it at Highline. We offer access to leading medical experts supported by sophisticated technology. And through our progressive Planetree model of care, we are committed to caring for each patient and his or her family with genuine respect, understanding and compassion. Learn more at www.highlinemedicalcenter.org
