MultiCare Health System is planning a town hall meeting for residents of south King County from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 14 at Cedar Heights Middle School, 19640 SE 272nd St. in Covington.

MultiCare announced plans to build a 58-bed hospital in Covington and also will add a 24-hour emergency department adjacent to the existing MultiCare Covington Clinic.

“We are really excited about our plans for Covington,” said Hugh Kodama, administrator of the Covington MultiCare Clinic. “This will make health care better in South King County. And we want to bring the community along with us in the planning process. We want to hear their ideas about what services they need and how to create the best patient experience.”

The new MultiCare Covington Medical Center will expand the services available to the community and provide better access to care for residents in South King County. New services will include a women’s and children’s center, childbirth services and expanded surgical services including the installation of robotic-assisted surgeries. Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital physicians and services also will expand into the new clinic.

MultiCare has been serving Covington for nearly two decades.

The health system has filed a Certificate of Need with the Department of Health detailing plans to expand services in south King County. MultiCare plans to provide patients with advanced technology, a secure and fully integrated electronic health record system and highly specialized adult and pediatric inpatient care. The medical center will expand during the next five years. The 24-hour emergency department will open by early 2012.

Refreshments will be provided at the town hall meeting and licensed child care will be available.

For more information, visit www.covingtonmedicalcenter.org.