Local Healthcare Is Better Healthcare: How Jefferson Healthcare’s South County Clinic Is Serving Quilcene and Brinnon Residents

Jefferson Healthcare’s South County Clinic offers high-quality care close to home for people living in and near Quilcene and Brinnon.

December 12, 2023

The first thing you notice when you step inside the Jefferson Healthcare South County Clinic in Quilcene is the welcoming environment. Someone visiting the clinic might first run into Jennifer Capehart-Mora at the front desk or meet a fellow patient, but one thing that everyone seems to have in common is a smile. The same is true for Nurse Practitioner Genevieve “Genny” Pate, who joined Jefferson Healthcare in February 2023.

But what does everyone have to be so happy about?

To hear Pate explain it, the people who use the South County Clinic — most live in Quilcene, where the clinic is located, or Brinnon — are happy to have care close to home. Someone living in Brinnon, for example, can reach the clinic in just 15 minutes instead of traveling nearly an hour to larger facilities to the north or south.

As for Pate, she’s just as happy to be serving the community. “I’ve enjoyed working so much with the people of South County and have learned so much from them.”

Getting Back in the Habit of Receiving Care

When you talk to Pate, you can tell she loves her job and has enjoyed getting to know the community she serves — a process that has had its challenges. “During the pandemic, a lot of people didn’t go to the doctor,” she says. “And many have just gotten out of the habit of getting care. We’re trying to change that.”

The South County Clinic typically sees up to 2,000 visits a year, serving primarily the 1,500 people who live in Quilcene and Brinnon. To help remind people in these communities that the South County Clinic is a resource available to them, staff are calling former patients individually. It has been a time-consuming process but worthwhile, as Pate finds she’s seeing more and more patients. “It’s been wonderful seeing people come back,” she explains.

Small But Mighty

As a patient, once you’ve been greeted by all of the smiling faces in the South County Clinic, the next thing you may notice is how impressive the space is. Though the clinic appears to have a small footprint from the outside, it boasts two exam rooms as well as another room for lab work.

“It may look small,” says Pate, “but we have all the latest equipment.” And that means patients receive top-quality care without having to travel far from home.  

As for Pate, she says she enjoys getting to know her neighbors and is proud to call South County home. “The people are warm and kind, and the area is beautiful,” she says. “What’s not to love?” 

Learn More About the South County Clinic

Visit our website’s South County Clinic page to learn more or to make an appointment with a provider.