Crowds Gather Saturday for Open House of Issaquah Highlands' Swedish Medical Center

Sammamish-area residents will have a new option for medical services beginning Thursday with the opening of outpatient services and the emergency room at the new Swedish Medical Center in the Issaquah Highlands.

On Saturday, Swedish held an open house for community members from Issaquah, Sammamish and other Eastside cities. People toured the facility, which is about five miles from Sammamish , and learned about health and medical information.

The open house was held in conjunction with Highlands Day, a community celebration. The Swedish campus - which officials call Swedish/Issaquah - is at 751 NE Blakely Dr.

Earlier this year, Swedish . It will eventually have 175 beds and a staff of 1,200 people.

Sammamish Patch has other coverage of Swedish/Issaquah, including an and a involving hospital executives and government leaders.