General Locations Information

Parking

Free parking is available at eight centers: Auburn, Cascade, Lake Washington, Mount Rainier, Port Angeles, Scribner, Totem Lake and West Seattle.

The main Northwest Kidney Center, Haviland Kidney Center (HKC), and Elliott Bay Kidney Center on Broadway provide patient parking in a parking garage and back parking lot at 700 Broadway. There is a $10 monthly parking charge for patients who regularly dialyze at these centers. Free 30 minute pick-up and drop-off permits are available.

Obtain parking permit forms from the 3rd floor receptionist at HKC (700 Broadway main entrance). You can purchase a parking permit good for one month at the beginning of each month.

Anyone who finds the parking fee to be a hardship can apply to their financial counselor or social worker for free parking. Some exemptions to the $10 fee are available to patients with medical coupons, State Kidney Disease Program support, etc. Those currently in training for home dialysis are also exempt.

Escort Service

The security officer at the two Seattle centers on Broadway can be contacted to escort you to your vehicle when it is in the parking lot, garage, or near the center. During regular business hours the receptionist can reach the officer for you. After business hours, ask the nurse in your unit to contact the security officer.

Language Interpreters

For patients who do not speak English, an interpreter can be arranged to translate important information into a patient's native language. We also use a telephone service that can supply interpreters 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Handicapped Access

All NKC centers are handicapped accessible. This includes parking, barrier-free doorways, signs, bell systems in the elevators, a TDD telephone, restrooms, and flashing lights on the fire alarm system.

Valuables

Patients are discouraged from bringing valuables with them to the centers. NKC does not assume responsibility for any personal items you may bring with you. NKC will not replace or pay for lost, stolen, or damaged items belonging to patients or visitors.

Lost and Found

All lost items are kept for six months. The lost and found at the HKC is managed by the Security Supervisor who can be reached by dialing 292-2771. Patients in other NKC centers should contact the nurse manager.

Items Not Allowed

Patients or visitors are not allowed to bring in or use any of the following items at any center: alcoholic drinks, illegal drugs, fireworks, flammable / toxic / explosive items, firearms or other weapons. The decision about what qualifies as a weapon is made by the charge nurse in each unit.

Waiting Areas

Each dialysis center has a waiting area or lounge for patients. These areas are for patients to use as they come in for and complete their dialysis treatments.

Television

All centers provide televisions with personal speakers. Out of courtesy to other patients, you are asked to keep the volume low enough so only you can hear it. Please report any TV problems to staff.

Telephones

Each of the NKC units and centers has a phone in the waiting area for patients to use. Please keep these calls brief. There is also one phone in the unit for patient use in an emergency. Centers with nearby pay phones are Elliott Bay, Lake Washington, Scribner, and Totem Lake Kidney Centers.

At the Haviland Kidney Center there is a telephone for patient use in the patient lounges on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any of the NKC buildings. You and visitors may smoke outside only.

Visitors

The priorities of NKC staff are the safety and comfort of patients, and the effective operation of services. For these reasons there are visitor guidelines.

• Visitors are welcome in the units except while the patient is going on and coming off the machine.
• Children must be watched at all times by an adult who is not the patient. Small children cannot go into centers / units due to the risk of hepatitis.
• A patient's visitors need to be limited to 1 or 2 at a time. Noise levels need to be kept low for the comfort of other patients.
• Visitors may be in the Haviland special treatment room after being taught proper precautions.
• Visitors may need to leave due to patient conditions or activities in the unit.
• Restrooms are available in or near each center including each floor of HKC.
• Some centers have free parking directly outside. Street parking, mostly metered, is available at the centers on Broadway, and a public parking garage is located under the 600 Broadway building. People driving patients to HKC at 700 Broadway are welcome to briefly use the loading zone at the back entrance (off Cherry Street).


Patient Library

The Northwest Kidney Centers houses a patient library in the lobby of HKC at 700 Broadway. Books, videotapes, audiotapes, pamphlets, and magazines are available for loan.

Call the lobby receptionist at (206) 292 2771 for materials. For information call the Patient Relations Coordinator at (206) 292 2771, ext. 6923.