Sutter Health is moving forward with a series of infrastructure and service expansions designed to improve healthcare access in some of Northern California’s most underserved areas.

The not-for-profit health system has committed more than $23 million to projects in Del Norte and Lake counties, aimed at increasing the availability of primary care, urgent care and behavioral health services.

In Crescent City, the Palo Alto, California-based organization broke ground this week on a new Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing (EmPATH) unit at Sutter Coast Hospital. The facility is intended to provide a calming, outpatient setting for patients in psychiatric crisis, helping to reduce strain on the emergency department. The unit is scheduled to open in early 2026.
“Our new EmPATH unit is an essential step forward in how we care for those with acute behavioral health needs,” said Michael Lane, CEO of Sutter Coast Hospital.

Sutter has also purchased an 18,000-square-foot building near the hospital to house expanded services, including primary care, urgent care and rehabilitation. That site is expected to open in early 2027. To support staffing, Sutter has acquired 6.5 acres of land in Crescent City for potential workforce housing development.

In Lake County’s Hidden Valley Lake, Sutter is investing $5.5 million to build a new 6,900-square-foot care center set to open in June 2026. The facility will offer urgent and primary care, on-site lab and X-ray services, and rotating specialty care.

“This new site brings care closer to home for residents of Hidden Valley Lake and the surrounding communities, and is projected to serve 3,000 new patients each year,” said Timothy Stephens, CEO of Sutter Lakeside Hospital.

Sutter is also expanding its physician training efforts with the launch of new rural residency programs. A recently accredited family medicine program at Sutter Coast Hospital will begin accepting residents in fall 2025.

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