||| BY SUSAN MCBAIN, ORCASONIAN REPORTER |||
My top story of the year was the finalization of the contract with Island Hospital. A lot happened at the Orcas Island Health Care District this year — the commissioners finalized their preferred model, released a request for proposal for a partner to help implement that model, and selected Island Hospital as that partner. But the die wasn’t cast until all the details of negotiations had been worked through and the contract was signed.
The signing was the culmination of more than 2.5 years of work on the part of the commissioners and Superintendent Anne Presson — hard work, long hours, with no pay for the commissioners. I must add that I can’t imagine a commission working any better than this one has. All five commissioners are thoroughly professional, competent as a group in all the needed areas of expertise, cooperative and patient, respectful of each other and the public, and absolutely committed to doing the job transparently and right. And they aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. I bet Richard Fralick will never agree to crawl into the clinic’s attic again!
I’m hopeful the new clinic will be a model of what Orcas has wanted for years. There will be adjustments, frustrations, and differences of opinion in the beginning, but all the factors seem to be in place for creation of a first-class rural health care system.”
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I think it may be premature to extoll the Commission quite so much. All we have at the moment is a contract with concessions and a willingness to abandon the premier ecare system that cost over $500,000 to put in place 3 years ago.
Yes, lots of hard work, but not unanimity on this major transition in the middle of a pandemic and not absolute candor on the comparitive cost.
The proof will be in the pudding by this time next year after which the commission may get their” just deserts.”
Given past experiences, I think islanders will rightly keep a cautious eye on the progress our new health services collaboration makes. I believe that the just deserts Commissioners seek are high quality, affordable (sustainable) health care for all Orcasonians and visitors. We may not be completely there yet, but a unifying effort among primary care providers, first responders and public health workers is not a bad start. I am choosing to be hopeful as I Iook ahead and am grateful to the Commissioners and their staff for the good work they have done. Thanks!