One of Kitsap’s largest medical care providers is expanding to Bainbridge Island.

Harrison Medical Center announced that it has purchased 2.5 acres of land on the corner of New Brooklyn Road and Madison Avenue.

The hospital plans to build a 13,000-square-foot facility to provide urgent care on Bainbridge Island.

“This represents our commitment to extend access to Harrison for the Bainbridge Island Community,” said Scott Bosch, president and CEO of Harrison Medical Center.

“Right now, Bainbridge residents have the furthest to go for 24-hour a day healthcare services. When our center opens, it will be just minutes away,” he said.

Harrison Medical Center currently offers urgent care services at its other facilities in Port Orchard and Belfair.

The Bainbridge Island facility will also house a primary care clinic, in addition to community-based specialty practice physicians.

The hospital chose the island location for its proximity to other local services and long-term care facilities.

City officials welcomed the hospital’s announcement.

“I’m supportive of adding more medical services to the island,” said Councilman Steve Bonkowski. “With the demographics of the island I think it’s a good thing.”

“I can’t say anything but ‘Welcome,’” said Councilwoman Anne Blair. “We are very pleased to have another important business on the island and it’s exciting to have them providing services to our island community.”

“Competition is always a tricky thing,” she added. “But it certainly bodes well for the healthcare services on the island. I’m pleased the options are expanding.”

Serving more patients from Bainbridge Island has been a central component of the hospital’s plan for growth.

Harrison Medical Center has a five-year goal of increasing its primary service area inpatient market share from 71 percent to 76 percent. That goal includes expanding its 35.2 percent share of the Bainbridge Island market up to 50 percent.

Harrison Medical Center is a not-for-profit hospital that currently offers medical, surgical and emergency services at five locations; Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bremerton, Port Orchard and Belfair. A Harrison HealthPartners family medical center is also located in Forks.

Earlier this year, the medical center also broke ground on a new, $25 million, three-story orthopedic hospital on its Silverdale campus.

The hospital had total revenues of $345 million in 2010, and total expenses of $325 million, according to its annual report.

The new urgent care facility on Bainbridge will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.

Officials said the new facility could potentially create 50 full-time jobs.

The center aims to break ground on the new facility next spring, and open its doors in late winter of 2014.

The island architecture firm of Coates Design will design the new hospital. Its construction will be carried out by Kingston-based Tim Ryan Construction, Inc.

Harrison will add to the many healthcare options on the island, including a new memory care facility currently under construction across the street on New Brooklyn Road.

Bainbridge Island Review Editor Brian Kelly contributed to this article.