Kaiser Permanente’s Medical Center in Poulsbo will be closing Dec. 13, coming on the heels of the healthcare company previously announcing that its urgent care clinic in Silverdale has reduced its hours.

Impacted members of Kaiser are in the process of being notified of the closure, communications specialist Jessica Knapp said. Patients will be referred to Kaiser clinics in Silverdale and Port Orchard and 24/7 care and advice will be offered at kp.org/wa.

“As the healthcare market changes rapidly, with increased competition, new technologies, and high consumer expectations, it is critical that we continue to adapt by allocating our people and resources where they provide the greatest value to our patients, members and customers,” Knapp said.

The urgent care clinic in Silverdale, the only kind that Kaiser operates in Kitsap County, has curbed its hours to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, meaning patients seeking care in evenings and early mornings will have to drive to the next-closest Kaiser clinic in Tacoma. Urgent care clinics handle ailments that are not life-threatening but still need medical attention, such as broken bones, burns, insect stings, dehydration, vomiting, lacerations and illnesses like strep throat or flu.

While Kitsap has its fair share of urgent care clinics, Kaiser will only cover care within its own network, Knapp said. That means if a member receives treatment outside of the healthcare company’s network, they will be responsible for the full cost. However, in emergencies, members can go to any hospital and Kaiser will cover the service under the plan’s emergency coverage policy.