Both Covington MultiCare and Valley General Hospital are planning expansion in Covington.  MultiCare, already having a large facility in Covington, has long-term growth plans.  Initially, they hope to build a new emergency department.  If they get a permit from the State, they intend to build a larger facility to include up to 58 beds and specialized care such as a childbirth center.  Valley, in offering to purchase 10 acres in downtown Covington, also plans to build an emergency department initially.

As it turns out, both Auburn Regional Hospital and St. Francis in Federal Way have made application to the State to add beds in their respective areas.  State approval is not needed to add emergency departments, but is needed to add long care hospital beds.  It is unlikely that all the requests will be granted.  In fact, it is likely that only one or two of the applications will be granted and the total bed expansion may be cut from what was requested.

I suspect that Covington will end up with an approved Hospital expansion, as well as emergency department expansion.  The simple reason is that the SE King County area completely lacks quick access to any emergency facility.  Emergency services providers want to transport accident victims to an emergency facility in a very short time.  The longer the transport time, the more likely that fatalities result.  Right now, it is a significant drive to either Auburn Regional or Valley General.  With a large and growing population in SE King County, the time is right for the addition of an emergency facility and expansion of adjacent longer term care.

Be sure to attend all opportunities for public meetings and hearings about this issue.  It is important that you voice the need for this important medical expansion in Covington.  Your life or the life of a family member may depend on it some day!