WANTED: New West Seattle home for life-saving truck

(Photo courtesy Swedish Health)

That’s the Swedish mobile mammography truck. Even if you’re not a patient, you probably noticed it out in front of the former Swedish location at 3400 California SW many times. As we’ve reported, Swedish moved out of that building this summer. And that’s when the truck trouble began.

Swedish mobile mammography program lead Annaleis Ortiz tells WSB they got permits for the truck to park by the new clinic location at 4100 SW Alaska. But – “the neighborhood did not agree with us in that spot. We ended up getting many threatening complaints to our staff, mobile coach and event patients. They did not like us taking their parking spots or the sound of the generator. Due to the safety of the patients, staff, and equipment we pulled the plug on bringing the coach to W.Seattle. We cancelled many, many appointments and made a lot of women unhappy. The last thing I want to do is take an important health screening away from a community that benefits so much. On average we saw 85-120 woman a month, finding countless cancers in an early stage.”

Ortiz drove around West Seattle looking for someplace else to park the truck so patients could get mammograms in West Seattle – an especially valuable service with the bridge closed. “I finally found a location outside the YMCA on Snoqualmie and went through the channels to get approval to park outside their location. Last week we had our first visit in a couple months. It had great success and we were thrilled to be back. We only have approval to visit on Mondays. We are in need of an alternate location … We have over 100 women on a waitlist to be seen, many who do not want to make the trek into downtown to be seen due to bridge closure and traffic issues. A lot of these women are older and benefit greatly from our service.”

Here’s what she’s looking for: “A business with ample parking, not too close to high-rise apartments or condos … willing to host us a few times a month. Our tractor trailer is about 42+ feet long and usually occupies 8-10 parking spaces for setup.” Two other criteria: Level surface, and: “We need to have access to a bathroom for our staff as we do not have a restroom on board.” If you have a business or institution that might be able to host the truck, contact the Swedish West Seattle clinic at 206-320-3399.

89 Replies to "WANTED: New West Seattle home for life-saving truck"

  • Mike August 23, 2021 (3:32 pm)

    Since the new pay lots in the Junction are rarely used, maybe Diamond Parking can “donate” enough space for them to use and get a tax write off for the donation.  Seriously, it’s a win win.

    • Beckyjo August 23, 2021 (4:35 pm)

      Excellent idea Mike! 

  • james s August 23, 2021 (3:39 pm)

    pitching a fit over a mobile mammography unit? this is… some pretty monstrous stuff.

    • Mellow Kitty August 23, 2021 (4:20 pm)

      Agreed (and you’re way more polite than I would have been). Despicable behavior.  Absolutely reprehensible.

    • trickycoolj August 23, 2021 (4:39 pm)

      Agreed, threats to the staff’s safety? Over life saving preventative screenings?  Great priorities and empathy for our neighbors with health and mobility needs.  Perhaps check with Neighborhood House in High Point, they often have health fairs.  Not sure if there would be a conflict of interest with the other clinic in the neighborhood.

    • Resident August 23, 2021 (7:05 pm)

      I would expect some empathy for those impacted from lack of parking as well. Empathy is a two way street. The city has allied building up without adequate parking required. It creates issues like this. I can understand the frustration on both sides. Moving something that large into a neighborhood while Covid is going on and many are working from home and require that parking is a consideration. The truck will find another place to park that will benefit everyone.

      • Eric1 August 23, 2021 (7:58 pm)

        LOL.  No empathy for a person who rents an apartment without a parking space  for their car (it is unlikely a new WFH employee suddenly needed a car).  No parking would be an absolute non-starter with me, I’d just continue on my search until I found an apartment with spaces available.  Furthermore, the street is public property and Swedish goes through the process to get a street occupancy exemption as there is an obvious public benefit (unlike a resident’s car).  I do feel for apartment dwellers as back when I lived in one, the search for a space for the GF’s overnight visit did involve some walking. Most of the time, I’d park my car on the street and give her my stall.  I would walk as many extra blocks as it took if spaces were taken up by a Mamotruck near my apartment.  I definitely of owe the start of my life to breastfeeding and I’d like to see that breasts get screened for cancer…    Maybe the complainers were bottle-fed and didn’t get the love they needed?

      • Ice August 25, 2021 (11:55 am)

        I am sorry but any able-bodied person who is complaining about not having a designated 10×8 piece of pavement to park their motor vehicle for free in public does not deserve any kind of empathy. This is complete and utter entitlement taken to an extreme that is would be comical if it wasn’t just straight up embarrassing.

  • RayWest August 23, 2021 (3:41 pm)

    Is the Westwood Village parking lot a possibility?  The area behind BB&B, Ross Dress For Less, never seems completely filled with cars. Patients could have their mammograms and then go shopping.

    • Jeff August 23, 2021 (3:56 pm)

      That’s just the spot I thought of too.   I can’t really see how they thought the new clinic was an appropriate place to regularly park that vehicle.  

    • The Velvet Bulldog August 23, 2021 (5:18 pm)

      I live right next to this parking lot, and think it’s a good idea! While listening to a generator isn’t what I want to do all the time, a couple of times a month is no biggie. Plus, there’s restrooms in the businesses that the staff could use. 

    • Ryan August 23, 2021 (9:48 pm)

      This was a great idea but sounds like they contacted them already. I e-mailed the Westwood Village staff asking them about this and they replied:>I responded to the coordinator about this over a month ago. We are going through sale of the property and can’t agree to this until the property has sold.

      • WSB August 23, 2021 (10:03 pm)

        Thank you for indirectly confirming something I’ve been looking into!

  • John Enger August 23, 2021 (4:00 pm)

    SW Sports Complex…ie: Sealth HS….lots of room above the stadium…plenty of room even with the UW Covid test site that is there now.  (buses)     Also South College has a huge parking lot….(bus routes).SW Youth and Family Services.    WS Golf Course has a huge Parking lot (Bus routes)    Lots of room at Jack Block Park, but too hard for some people to find.    Something tells me Annaleis is not from West Seattle. 

    • Andrew August 23, 2021 (4:58 pm)

      Whether she’s from there or not, it’s a reasonable request to get permission since they are getting harassed by someone for doing something they are permitted for 

    • raywest August 23, 2021 (7:31 pm)

      SW Youth and Family Services sounds like a good idea. South College has a huge parking lot but it’s always been restricted for students and staff who pay and have to display a parking placard. SC parking security would probably be unwilling to monitor cars coming in for the mobile unit. Street parking is too far of a walk up a long incline for older patients. WS Golf Course probably has lack of bathrooms. Jack Block is too hard to find and a public park shouldn’t be used for this.

  • D-Ridge August 23, 2021 (4:03 pm)

    Knowing that my neighbors have a higher regard for parking cars than for saving people’s lives really makes it hard to love this neighborhood.

    • S.A. August 23, 2021 (5:26 pm)

      Yeah for every feel-good story about cat adoption, there’s somebody threatening mammogram clinic staff (!) over taking up parking spaces, and somebody else railing about young people at Alki or unhoused people like they’re sub-human.

  • Alex August 23, 2021 (4:10 pm)

    I also have to wonder if the  churches, such as Guadalupe on 35th would be good.    Swedish should offer to pay for use of the parking lot.    

    • This August 23, 2021 (8:11 pm)

      Church parking lots… great idea

      • This August 24, 2021 (7:10 am)

        And, after reading others comments regarding the pollution concerns, also hope Swedish will look for a healthier solution to offer this service.

  • Chuck August 23, 2021 (4:13 pm)

    Rite Aide has two large lots on either side of their building on California.  I wouldn’t think a couple of times a month would be a big inconvenience for them.  

    • Peter August 23, 2021 (11:24 pm)

      Same with the Walgreen on 35th at Highpoint, their back lot is always empty. 

  • Ryan August 23, 2021 (4:13 pm)

    Raise your hand if you’re surprised that the residents of one of West Seattle’s new faux-bougie apartment complexes would have the NIMBY gall to gripe and moan and threaten the workers of the breast cancer truck!  
     
    … anyone? …anyone?
     
    So sad. So much for community. Hope someone is able to find them a spot.

    • KM August 23, 2021 (5:25 pm)

      What about the business owners? We don’t know who did it, could be single family homeowners down the street too. 

    • Peter August 23, 2021 (11:26 pm)

      What’s your source of information that’s it was apartment residents making threats?

  • HS August 23, 2021 (4:23 pm)

    I know how much having this service available in West Seattle means as I am one of the people bussing to somewhere in First Hill to have my exam. So it’s probably a 4 hour back and forth, time off work, vs a 30-45 minute appointment locally.  My suggestions are the north west side of the Les Schwab parking lot. That corner is often unused to my eye (I work out at LA Fitness and often walk through the parking lot). Plus it’s a reasonable distance away from residencies. Or the corner of 40th Ave SW & Alaska – the north west side of Whole Foods and again removed from residential. Or the Bank of America Parking lot. It’s huge and, again walking past, is often fairly empty.  Agree that the parking area to the south of the PO at Westwood is another good option – also not near residences.

    • HS August 23, 2021 (4:28 pm)

      Scratch the near Whole Foods suggestion.

  • miws August 23, 2021 (4:23 pm)

    Wow, it’s one thing to feel inconvenienced or annoyed, but, to threaten staff and patients of a piece of equipment that provides a valid and very valuable preventative medical service? That’s real mature. Also, presuming the parking spot was on the street, I’d like to know how much the complainers had been paying for “their” parking spaces… —Mike

  • Hope August 23, 2021 (4:28 pm)

    There are some great options in South Delridge.  A couple churches have giant parking lots that have only a handful of cars in them most of the time.  It would be a good service for the Delridge/White Center area, too.  

  • Buttercup August 23, 2021 (4:39 pm)

    So sad that a few people can it bear the sound of a compressor a few hours a month. Are the willing to pay to taxi women to get their mammograms? West Seattle is not the community and kind hearted people it used to be. Disgusts me to hear about this.

  • Dez August 23, 2021 (4:48 pm)

    How about over with the Covid testing site? 2801 SW Thistle St (SW Athletic Center) SeattleWA98106

    • anonyme August 24, 2021 (6:53 am)

      This is an excellent idea.  Kill two birds with one stone.  The only problem is bathroom accessibility.  I’m kind of surprised a truck that size doesn’t have a small bathroom…

  • Millie August 23, 2021 (4:54 pm)

    Seriously,  why would anyone have issues with a Mobile Mammography unit being parked in front of a clinic  several days  a month?   Visibility of the mobile unit in front of the clinic will remind patients, and  passing walkers,  to schedule their mammograms.    Lives have been saved, and will be saved by individuals taking advantage of a visual and physical reminder.

  • Steve August 23, 2021 (5:06 pm)

    If the generator noise is within legal limits, and they have the appropriate permits, then let’s let them park there! What in the world. 

    • AQ-Professional August 23, 2021 (8:04 pm)

      I don’t live near the old or new site, but wouldn’t want it near my residence. As someone who has performed air quality studies for over 30 years, it’s not the noise but diesel emissions from the generator. I always found the irony of a unit to detect cancer, is using a known carcinogen (diesel burning) to power their service. I once looked at the condos across from the California site and said no way given the presence of the diesel generator on the vehicle. I suggested to the staff working there that the vehicle should be retrofitted with electrical power. Even cruise ships do that so they don’t need to run engine power in port.   https://iris.epa.gov/ChemicalLanding/&substance_nmbr=642

  • Jami L Vaux August 23, 2021 (5:12 pm)

    Blood Bank uses Westwood Village. Have you asked the Bank of America about their lot at the junction?

  • sgs August 23, 2021 (5:49 pm)

    I have depended on this service in West Seattle for years.  Lots of good ideas for locations.  Need to make sure people can get there on public transport. Thank you for having this service, Swedish!

  • Lisa August 23, 2021 (5:53 pm)

    I have used this mobile mammography facility for the last 6 years. It is a life saving bus! I hope it has many more years of helping women get their yearly mammograms. They are always so kind and do such an important job. I am so grateful and I hope to get on board for my next check up soon!

  • Chris August 23, 2021 (6:33 pm)

    Will you please keep us advised where the mammogram truck is able to go.   We are behind in our checkups due to pandemic & also hard for us to go outside of West Seattle.   Thank you.   This is a most needed service.

    • Kathy August 24, 2021 (7:57 am)

      I suggest taking the bus downtown and get your mammogram at the main hospital. C line/Route 3/4. Don’t forget your mask (or they have paper ones on the bus.

  • JW August 23, 2021 (6:46 pm)

    I think everyone needs to be honest about what this truck sounds/smells like… I live close to where it ran for many years on California, and it spews exhaust 24/7. It runs all night. No argument that this is a service that is needed but… environmentally speaking, it’s kind of gross.

    • ACG August 24, 2021 (5:55 am)

      Why does it spew exhaust 24/7?  Are they open for mammograms 24 hours a day when they are at a location?

    • Mellow Kitty August 24, 2021 (8:40 am)

      I live a block north of where the truck used to be – it did NOT run 24/7. When not in active service, the truck, and its generator, were turned off. The truck wasn’t there every day either. 

      • JW August 24, 2021 (10:21 am)

        I also live in the neighborhood of the old location. It was running at 5 am whenever it was parked there (I would cross the street on my AM runs to avoid smelling the exhaust) and it was running in the evening too… I assumed it ran all night to keep the equipment cool. I don’t think anyone commenting here would want this next to their residence just from the exhaust standpoint. I never complained about it on California since obviously that isn’t residential, but I did wonder about the nearby condos. There really should be a better, greener way to offer this service.

  • Justin August 23, 2021 (6:47 pm)

    I wish I could say I was surprised to hear that NIMBYs would rather prevent cancer screenings than give up even a little of their car storage. How about you pay 2 dollars for a spot instead of threatening people.

  • flimflam August 23, 2021 (7:37 pm)

    I’m guessing this is less to do with parking then the generator noise and exhaust. Obviously that doesn’t excuse threats against workers…

  • Midi August 23, 2021 (7:46 pm)

    The writing of the article is crass and biased, really awful. It makes me doubt everything said, including what kind of harassment allegedly took place. They made a decision in a vacuum to plop the mobile unit in a highly disruptive place where people may be trying to work from home instead of being thoughtful about where the best location is for the community. As said by another person, empathy works both ways and there’s a mutually beneficial solution here. Vilifying residents for wanting to exist in their homes is not the answer.      

    • scubafrog August 23, 2021 (8:47 pm)

      Disgraceful.

    • Jethro Marx August 24, 2021 (3:14 pm)

      Empathy does not work both ways- are you thinking of quid pro quo? Do you mean that you refuse to be empathetic unless your empathy is earned? Because that’s not empathy either. I feel strongly that you also misunderstand the word ‘crass’ as the blog is only, occasionally, a bit brusque, but never crass.

  • Lola August 23, 2021 (8:11 pm)

    How about the Boat Launch?  They have restrooms.

  • Community Member August 23, 2021 (8:42 pm)

    This is a megacompany that runs 100’s of hospitals in the region. Y’all make it sound like its just a couple of sweet nuns or something. There are a lot of companies that provide services that benefit the community, they don’t all automatically get to spread their business onto the adjacent street. It might not only be residents who complained. Maybe someone likes being able to park on the street and run into QFC or Petco? Maybe it feels safer to park on the street than to deal with QFC’s garage?

    • Really? August 25, 2021 (12:14 pm)

      Safer to park on the street than in the parking garage? Really? This has to be trolling. I cannot even wrap my brain around this one.

  • scubafrog August 23, 2021 (8:43 pm)

    I’m appalled that people made threats to its personnel, and haven’t welcomed it and them. I have breast cancer in my family, this truck and its personnel are absolutely critical to potentially finding something in an early stage. I wish I owned space for it to park on.

  • Arianna August 23, 2021 (9:02 pm)

    Unfortunately, our household was one of many affected when the trailer was parked in our neighborhood. The noise was so loud, that there was no sleeping from when they brought it around 3 am, nothing helped. During the day it was extremely  difficult to focus and work (we work from home). It was painfully loud noise for 15 hours non stop (imagine 5 large trucks idling full power in front of your windows),  until 6 pm when they removed it. I spent part of the day crying. It got from very bad to worse when we realized the trailer would be back again and again. A few points:  Swedish, if there is such need for the services, why not install the relatively  small equipment in a clinic instead of terrorizing residential neighborhoods with such loud noise and destroying the environment running a huge industrial generator 24/7? It was so bad there were threats against people working at the clinic?. We do not believe there were threats. Swedish is playing a victim, and that is rich. They know very well how disruptive the generator trailer is to people within at least a block radius. We heard they parked it next to the senior building in the Junction. A friend who lives there told us. Bravo Swedish, terrorize seniors, some of whom are ill and/or cannot muster courage to complain. Lowest of the low. To people that think it’s fine, please offer them to park in front of your house.

    • md August 23, 2021 (10:17 pm)

      well said.    right onrecord profits in the  health care industry and we are supposed to feel sorry for them. Pay to play, Swedish.   Adequate healthcare is the most pressing unresolved issue for all of us, dontchathink?

    • Mark August 24, 2021 (1:12 pm)

      I’m sorry…did you say they were “terrorizing seniors” with this? No, the truck is saving lives. I for one hope it returns. People can deal with the noise given the importance of the service being provided. It’s simply inappropriate to complain about this. I think we as a society should stop tolerating such complaints, especially when the result is the truck is no longer coming to our neighborhood.

      • Arianna August 24, 2021 (2:17 pm)

        Mark, I am sorry, but the senior friend told me she could not sleep all night due to the incredible noise from this large industrial generator. I believe her, no one in our household could either.Why do you think that dozens of buildings and businesses said no to having that on their parking lots? The noise and fumes, hundreds of people having to endure this all day and night, when it is so easy to install the mammography unit indoors. 

  • Denise August 23, 2021 (9:08 pm)

    35th and Fauntleroy entrance to the West Seattle freeway isn’t being used now! Who knows when it will reopen!

  • 1994 August 23, 2021 (9:29 pm)

    The set up spewed a lot of foul smelling exhaust and was a noise pollutant as well. Maybe Swedish could electrify the mobile clinic and plug into the electric grid in front of their new location? And coordinate with SDOT for reserved parking for their special days? Franciscan in Burien offers ‘bridge free’ mammogram screenings.

  • Auntie August 23, 2021 (9:44 pm)

    Swedish just spent lord knows how much relocating their West Seattle primary care and internal medicine clinics and I wonder why they didn’t make room for the mammogram clinic while they were at it. I don’t think it was Swedish (maybe Providence) used to have mammogram facility at the clinic on California Avenue many years ago and I don’t know why they got rid of it. 

    • Arianna August 24, 2021 (1:57 am)

      Swedish – stop looking for a neighborhood to terrorize with your noisy, diesel guzzling huge generator trailer. These trailers are not designed to use in densely populated residential areas (noise, fumes), but in the field where there is no access to electricity to plug in mammogram or other equipment. The solution is not to find parking for the large industrial generator trailer. Donate it to a needy country. Use a tiny percentage of your extremely high profits and lease an indoor space for the mammogram equipment. We are disgusted and appalled that you were allowed to make a poorer area residents suffer noise and pollution night and day for years. It was for your financial convenience, not out of necessity to park the trailer there. Now you undertake a publicity stunt about neighbors threatening your staff over a few parking spots? Really?Something in this smells and it is not just the diesel fumes. 

      • Jort August 24, 2021 (9:40 am)

        Do you even know what the word “terrorize” means? You sure are throwing that word around pretty casually.

        • Arianna August 24, 2021 (12:41 pm)

          English is not my native language. Help me here, what word would you use for this: you feel extremely worried they will be back again, and you will not be able to sleep or work  in your own home? Terror.What word would you use for when a company is knowingly doing this? Call it abuse.  We feel terrorized, abused. They can easily install this small mammography equipment indoors. There is no shortage of commercial space for this.

          • This August 24, 2021 (9:46 pm)

            It sounds like you are on edge and stressed about this, and it’s been hard for you to cope with in the past. Maybe look into strategies to help calm stress and anxiety? Drink herbal tea. Meditate. Get away from home during these times. Do more positive things within your reach, and you’ll feel more in control. You can’t avoid all stressful and unpleasant things, but maybe you can learn to manage your ability to cope with them. Also, hope there may be a way these services can be offered in the future that are less disruptive for neighbors and better for the environment.

      • kroberts August 24, 2021 (2:11 pm)

        Arianna, I’m having a difficult time with everything you are saying. Did you really just suggest Swedish donate the truck to a “needy” country, and then go on to say you were appalled they were allowed to “make a [sic] poorer area residents suffer”? 

        • Arianna August 24, 2021 (2:28 pm)

          They can donate the generator (equipment that generates electricity) trailer to someone who actually needs it. Swedish can install the mammography equipment inside a clinic. 

        • Aaron August 24, 2021 (3:09 pm)

          KRoberts, she said donate the 42′ generator trailer, not the truck,  to a needy country. Many places in the world that do not have access to electricity and in dire need of generators, especially industrial size ones.For the mammogram unit, that can be installed inside a clinic. Plug into wall outlet and it works. Every commercial building has 240V. For the “poorer area” comment, she was probably referring to the spot on California Ave SW, where this generator was parked for years. The area is low income units.

      • scubafrog August 24, 2021 (2:47 pm)

        O…M….G

  • Meeeeee August 24, 2021 (5:24 am)

    Put me in the no sympathy for Swedish camp.How about update your mobile unit to electric and stop contributing to the air and noise pollution?  Swedish has the money, just not the will to update/retrofit it.There are much more appropriate spots to park it than on SW Alaska in a densely populated area.  This situation was created by poor planning and foresight by Swedish about how their truck could affect a neighborhood and maybe they’ve learned a little outreach and education next time could alleviate this.

  • Terri August 24, 2021 (8:19 am)

    This is a story that should not have been told solely from the point of view of the program lead, who has obviously been put in an untenable position and is feeling the stress. The threats are unverified, the neighbors are dismissed out of hand, and the institution’s own responsibilities to the program, its employees and the community are not even suggested. Some additional reporting and/or judicious editing would have highlighted the serious need — which the vast majority of West Seattle residents support — without diminishing the legitimate quality of life issues that we all face in a rapidly changing community.

  • Downwind of Seattle August 24, 2021 (8:26 am)

    For those of you suggesting “electrify it”…it is electric.  That’s what the generator produces, electricity for the medical devices and A/C to keep it cool.I’m not in the industry so I don’t know how much it takes but given some of the descriptions of the existing generator I suspect that it would take three or four extra trucks worth of batteries just to run this unit for a short time.As for just “plugging it in”, it probably takes much higher voltages and current than are readily available outside of the industrial areas of W.S.  Even the cruise ships and container ships need a special, permanently installed power jack to handle their loads and voltages.  So they can’t just run an extension cord and plug it into a wall plug someplace.

    • Arianna August 24, 2021 (12:58 pm)

      This is some major bull. Every commercial building has 240 V and 20 Amp available. Just spoke  about this to a neighbor who is an electrical engineer. Swedish, call a licensed electrician, they’ll explain.  You can easily install and plug in the mammography unit in an indoor space.

    • Arianna August 24, 2021 (2:25 pm)

      Complete bull. They can install the mammography unit indoors, or run a cord from the truck. Every commercial building has 240V, 20 Amp available.  

      • Jethro Marx August 24, 2021 (3:48 pm)

        Absolutely! And before anyone complains that 20 amps of 240v is woefully inadequate for, say, a 100 amp draw at 480v, duh, just hit up Costco and get a 10-pack of extension cords.

        • Arianna August 24, 2021 (4:46 pm)

          Jethro Marx, sorry, but what you are talking about. My neighbor worked as an electrical engineer for a large healthcare equipment corporation for decades. If he says 240 V, 20 Amps is enough, it is most likely true. If you don’t believe him, here is a very short video explaining the power requirements for a digital mammography unit, probably a larger one than used in the trailer.  They say in the video that two power outlets are needed: a standard one, and another one, like for a dryer or a range. Available everywhere, let alone in a commercial property.  https://info.blockimaging.com/power-requirements-for-hologic-selenia-digital-mammography .  What is your excuse Swedish? Call a moving company, take that unit out of the trailer and plug it in a room in the clinic. You can get it done tomorrow and start screening patients.

          • Jethro Marx August 24, 2021 (6:09 pm)

            I’m not an electrician, and I wouldn’t want a diesel generator running outside my house either, but as far as a different plan, “run a cord” just ain’t a viable option for the collection of specialized equipment and regulatory constraints we are likely to have at play here. 

          • Arianna August 24, 2021 (9:17 pm)

            Jethro Marx, seriously?  Sorry, but you have no clue. My neighbor, who worked with medical equipment all his adult life told me that not only is the “run a cord” a standard practice,  but it is used for mobile units with far more complex and power demanding equipment  like CT, etc. The list you sent are components of a mammogram unit, not separate pieces of equipment. And we have already established what is t power requirement for that. The question is why Swedish insists on running the disgusting noisy generator in densely populated residential areas, when that is absolutely not necessary for a mammogram unit.

  • CB August 24, 2021 (9:24 am)

    The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance operates a mobile mammo unit that is a converted RV, not a semi truck.  It parks at Harborview  every week among other locations, but sadly none in West Seattle.  Not sure if it uses diesel, but my recollection is it’s much smaller and quieter than the Swedish truck.  

  • Caren August 24, 2021 (10:28 am)

    I am one of the patients who was threatened on my way in and out of my appointment. I have been a patient of the Swedish mobile van for many years, it has been a huge help to those who aren’t able to easily make it into Seattle. On this particular day Swedish had moved to their new location in front of the new Swedish clinic. There was a female standing outside questioning me as to why I was there, she was taking photos of the unit. When I left she was still out there and told me to watch my back. She didn’t look like a worker from the area, I assume she was a resident of the apartment. The generator sound is not that loud, to those that say it runs 24/7 clearly aren’t discussing the Swedish van as it runs from about 5am to 4pm generally 1 day of the week. These workers obtain city permits to use the public space. There are also numerous trucks I have heard outside this location that cause more sound then this life saving van. Clearly people have nothing better to do then complain, I am sorry to Swedish as they are doing us a favor providing these services in our community. And to the Ones who are out here complaining, please find something better to do with your time, because of you many patients have missed their appointments. 

  • Lisa August 24, 2021 (12:01 pm)

    Has anyone thought about schools parking lots? It’s a great service! My mom, aunt and several friends are breast cancer survivors. When I lived in the admiral district I saw it daily and it always reminded me to make my appointment. I also feel it would be a great teaching experience to the younger generations. 

  • vanessa August 24, 2021 (1:23 pm)

    I second the previous ideas of the parking lots at Walgreens on 35th or Rite Aide on California Ave

    • Jay August 24, 2021 (2:43 pm)

      Now neighbors are threatening the patients too? Did you report this to the police? Signed an affidavit?A neighbor woman threatened you to watch your back? Time for the higher management at Swedish to investigate this in detail.

  • scubafrog August 24, 2021 (3:11 pm)

    There has GOT to be a business in WS with ample parking, that cares enough about women’s health to donate the space.  Rite Aid has tons of space that goes unused.  Perhaps the city would buy space/donate space?  Great use of tax dollars.

  • Chris K August 24, 2021 (3:41 pm)

    This country has to be one of the worst places in the world to be a woman.  I am so sad and angry for my daughters and wife to have to be subjected to such vile and selfish behavior.

    • Seriously??? August 24, 2021 (7:11 pm)

      Seriously Chris K???? Aren’t there thousands fleeing Afghanistan because of the fear of the Taliban and how they treat woman & girls?!? Just for some perspective……maybe rethink that statement!!

  • B Dahlia August 24, 2021 (4:12 pm)

    Masonic Temple lot? It’s virtually always empty. 

  • RJB August 24, 2021 (6:41 pm)

    You are kidding me. For the last three years we have lived less than a block from where the truck parked….on California. It was not that the big of a deal considering IT SAVES LIVES!!!Stop being so entitled. It looks ugly on you West Seattle.

  • Jen August 26, 2021 (11:19 am)

    I’m not going to read the long list of comments, just stopping by to say the West Seattle Health Club Parking lot could forgo a few spots a few times a month. It is health-related, after all and they may even sell a few memberships if they’re wise about offering to partner. 

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