The full clinic returns in three weeks at Seattle Center
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Seattle, WA – Seattle/King County Clinic returns for an eighth year to Seattle Center, April 27 – 30, with free dental, medical, and eye care services for those who struggle to access or afford healthcare. With just a few weeks to go until the Clinic opens its doors, organizers are intently focused on patient outreach to ensure those in need know of this substantial opportunity.
For those interested in attending the Clinic, here is how Seattle/King County Clinic works:
• Clinic patients receive treatment on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Patients may park free of charge at Mercer Street Parking Garage each day of the Clinic.
• Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, located at the corner of 2nd Ave North and Lenny Wilkens Way, serves as the ticket waiting and distribution area. Organizers distribute free admission tickets for the day beginning at 5:30 a.m. Tickets are limited.
• The doors to the Clinic open at 6:30 a.m.
• Patients are escorted to the service facilities and are admitted by ticket number into the Clinic.
• Patients register as they enter. They do not need to show identification. Services are not limited to residents of Seattle and King County.
• Inside the Clinic, all procedures and services are provided free of charge, and interpretation services are available for those who need them.
• Patients cannot receive both dental and eye care in one day. They may return to the Clinic on other days for additional services.
• Face masks are required. People who are feeling sick are asked not to attend.
Seattle/King County Clinic transforms the form and function of multiple Seattle Center facilities where services are provided. The licensed healthcare professionals and general support volunteers who staff it donate their time and expertise. Patients receive real and, in many instances, extensive care, including dental fillings and extractions, eye examinations, physicals, behavioral healthcare, social work, prescription eyeglasses, immunizations, laboratory tests, mammograms, ultrasounds, x-rays and much more. Additional information is available at: seattlecenter.org/patients.
In 2022, Seattle/King County Clinic, a vision-only clinic, provided free eye exams and prescription eyeglasses to more than 1,000 people in need – the first services the Clinic offered since the pandemic hiatus. Patients from across the region represented more than 127 unique zip codes and spoke 30 primary languages. Patients were families, elders, veterans, immigrants, refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and, in large part, wage earners who struggle with the high cost of living. Since 2014, Seattle/King County Clinic has served more than 24,000 patients and provided more than $20 million in direct services.
As one patient stated, “I really appreciate the generous time, efforts, kindness, and care given to all of us who are in need. It gives hope to know that while going through tough financial times, I could find a place to go, take care of myself and stay healthy.”
Seattle/King County Clinic is made possible through thousands of donated work hours as well as cash and in-kind contributions. Donations are accepted at seattlecenter.org/donations.
Clinic organizers still need additional dental, medical, and eye care professionals, social workers, health insurance navigators, interpreters, and general support volunteers to fill a range of volunteer functions and shifts. They are also seeking volunteers in early June to help dispense the prescription eyeglasses ordered during the Clinic. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Individuals may register at seattlecenter.org/volunteers.
“Following the pandemic, there are still a lot of unmet healthcare needs,” explains Julia Colson, Clinic Director. “This Clinic is a testament to the community in how we as individuals and organizations can come together to not only provide care that improves quality of life, but treat people with honor and respect, ensuring that each person feels valued. Our hope is that they can return to our community stronger and better able to participate.”
Learn more about Seattle/King County Clinic at seattlecenter.org/skcclinic or by calling 206-684-7200.
About Clinic Partners
Several community organizations collaborate to produce Seattle/King County Clinic and contribute needed resources and expertise, including:
141 Eyewear · Amazon · AMN Healthcare · APTA Washington · Arcora Foundation · Auston James Photography · Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · Burkhart Dental Supply · Cisco Systems · Climate Pledge Arena · Cornish College of the Arts · DCG ONE · Delta Dental of WA · Dentsply Sirona · DEXIS · Essilor Vision Foundation · Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · Grousemont Foundation · Gull Industries, Inc. · Heidelberg Engineering · Henry Schein, Inc. · Hepatitis Education Project · HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response · Kaiser Permanente · Kerr Dental · King County Nurses Association · KLS Martin LP · Microsoft · Molina Healthcare · Nashi · National Association of Social Workers – WA Chapter · Neighborhood House · The Norcliffe Foundation · Northwest Eye Surgeons · Opticians Association of WA · Optometric Physicians of WA · OVVO Optics · Pacific Northwest Chinese Nurses Association · Pacific Office Automation · Patterson Dental · Patterson Foundation · Peer Seattle · PhenoPath · Philips Healthcare · Project Access Northwest · Providence Swedish · Public Health – Seattle & King County · Seattle Center · Seattle Center Foundation · Seattle Fire Department · Seattle Housing Authority · Seattle Information Technology · Seattle King County Dental Foundation · Seattle King County Dental Society · Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs · Seattle Opera · Seattle Police Department · Snohomish County Dental Foundation · Somali Health Board · SPARK · Underwood Gartland Development · Uplift Northwest · UW Medicine / UW School of Medicine · UW School of Dentistry · Virginia Mason Franciscan Health · Vitalogy Foundation · VOSH Northwest · WA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons · WA Association of Naturopathic Physicians · WA Dental Hygienists’ Association · WA Healthcare Access Alliance · WA State Chiropractic Association · WA State Dental Association · WA State Department of Health · WA State Nurses Association · WA State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons · Zeiss
