New primary care clinic in Bellingham promises low appointment waits and personal care
A new primary care clinic has opened in Bellingham “offering a significant reduction in how long patients must wait to see a primary care clinician,” according to a Monday, Jan. 23, news release.
Kinwell Medical Group, a physician-owned practice, has clinics throughout Washington in cities including Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima, Lynnwood and Olympia, and now Whatcom County.
The practice is an exclusive in-network provider for patients with Premara Blue Cross, Premera Blue Cross HMO, Premara Blue Cross Medicare Advantage or LifeWise Health Plan of Washington coverage.
“Kinwell has opened clinics across Washington State to help address the primary care crisis by improving access to high-quality primary care across the state and offer a significant reduction in patient wait time for a primary care clinician,” a Kinwell spokesperson wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
The Bellingham clinic has two doctors on its care team, Dr. Francine Martis and Sandra Wilmot, a nurse practitioner.
Martis is a board-certified family physician and her primary focus is mental wellness, chronic care management and woman’s health.
Sandra Wilmot received her bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s of nursing degree as a family nurse practitioner, as well as being a board-certified family nurse practitioner.
“The physicians at the new Bellingham location will focus on building meaningful, long-term connections with them to ensure that everyone who walks through the doors will receive high-quality care. The clinics have treatment suites designed for patient comfort, blending the latest in technology with thoughtful details that create a welcoming experience for guests,” the news release stated.
The clinics promise under 24-hour average wait times for new patient appointments, while the average wait time for a new patient appointment in the U.S. is 26 days, according to the news release.
“At Kinwell, our mission is to bridge the gap and provide accessible healthcare to all patients. We take a holistic approach and consider fitness, nutrition and behavioral health to ensure we are delivering personalized and high-quality care. We look forward to building a relationship with the Bellingham community and continue to connect patients with knowledgeable physicians,” Dr. Mia Wise, president of Kinwell Medical Group wrote in the news release.
Kinwell’s clinics also provide in-person or telehealth visits, online scheduling and access to the MyChart app that allows patients to contact their healthcare team and manage appointments and billing.
The new clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and is in Bellingham at 340 36th St. Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling 833-411-5469.
