There’s a brand-new building in Issaquah Highlands that may have caught your eye. Despite appearances, it’s not a ski lodge  (sorry kids). That beautiful building off Highlands Drive is the Proliance Highlands Medical Center. With the opening of Proliance, everyone in Issaquah and the surrounding areas now has local access to health services that were only once available in Bellevue and Seattle. For anyone who has had to fight traffic and pay exorbitant parking fees to visit a doctor, this is welcome news.

Proliance offers sports medicine and general orthopaedics, including surgeries such as knee and hip replacement. The new state-of-the-art center includes an MRI, ambulatory surgery center, orthopaedic clinic and physical therapy suite. Staffed by 13 doctors and more than 70 staff members, the center plans to add an ENT center (ear nose and throat) and a facial plastics suite in the near future.

The parent company of Proliance Highlands Medical Center is Proliance Surgeons, Inc., the largest surgical group in Washington. Executive Director Frank Gilbert says, “We’ve had a presence in Issaquah for more than 25 years. With the growing Issaquah population, we felt a need to expand our services to make top-notch orthopaedic care more accessible to area residents.” The 43,000 square foot building fits in perfectly with the architectural look and feel of Issaquah Highlands. Built in partnership with Marshall Erdman and Associates of Madison, Wisconsin, the new Proliance center was designed to reflect the natural setting. Two sides of the building offer panoramic views of forested land that is permanently dedicated as open space – it will never be cut down.

The exterior of the center features a stone façade and cedar beams, with exterior stone used in the lobby and cedar beams inside the building as well. A gas fireplace in the lobby adds a cozy feel while keeping the area welcoming and warm. Energy saving features have been implemented throughout, including totally digital clinical services such as digital x-ray machines, digital MRI and other equipment. This allows for optimum im¬aging quality without film, eliminating the use of toxic chemicals.
In about two years, Proliance will have a new neighbor—the Swedish hospital campus. Thanks to the proximity of both facilities, Issaquah Highlands will have outstanding healthcare services at our doorstep. The Proliance Highlands Medical Center is located at 510 8th Ave. NE and the phone number is (425) 392-3030. More information is available at www.pro-osm.com.