Thursday, March 29, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Eastsound Fire Station
— from Kate Long for Orcas Community Foundation —
The Orcas Island Community Foundation presents a Medical Providers Roundtable on Thursday, March 29, from 5 – 6:30 p.m., in the Eastsound Fire Station.
All are welcome to come and learn more about current systems and how a public hospital district will affect us. Presenters include representatives from:
- Orcas Family Medicine
- Orcas Fire and Rescue
- Orcas Medical Foundation
- UW Clinic on Orcas
Questions? Contact OICF at 360-376-6423 or info@oicf.us.
Where is the representative from Orcas Family Health Center.
I just ran into a young man in town whose hand looked severely injured. He’d gone to the medical center in hopes of an x-ray & been told he needed at least $300 to be seen. I directed him to Orcas Family Health Center, because they never turn away people in need of medical attention.
This is my concern in all this. I myself have also been turned away from the medical center for lack of funds, several years ago. Dr. Shinstrom’s clinic has been Amazing in serving all of Orcas for so long, often without pay, & they’re to be commended rather than treated as an afterthought. They have my admiration & respect as medical professionals, concerned with patients.
Honestly, if I had my druthers, I’d rather see Orcas Family Health Center take over the medical center.
I’m guessing Orcas Family Health Center was listed above as Orcas Family Medicine. I could be wrong, but knowing OICF this is more of a typo than an oversight. I would check with OICF to be sure.
We can’t lose choices.
$300 for a medical professional to care for a “severely injured hand” is quite reasonable. This fact alone in no way detracts from the center. In fact, I wish we were on Orcas a couple weeks ago.
My spouse experienced a similar fate that involved an actual break a couple of weeks ago. The Mt Sinai Medical bill was $3,500 for just two visits and x-rays; and this still doesn’t include physical thereapy after the hard splint comes off.
We really need to look at these issues comprehensively and with the highest standards of rational thought.
We cannot race to the bottom in medical care becasue the best care is not affordable to all alike. The solution lies elsewhere. And, yes, I have some thoughts about how to get to “elsewhere.”
I’ve heard very good things about Dr Shinstrom. Thank goodness for her /him. But I’m certain that were I armed with ALL the facts, I could demonstrate clearly to all reasonable minds that an economic foundational basis lies behind Dr Shinstrom’s clear altruism. This is not at all to say that he/she in any way personally benefits other than from the warmth and love justly received by patients and non-patients alike; it’s simply to make the point that our system makes the rendering of services at or below cost impossible short of other economic explanations. There must be other explanations.
Therefore, we must improve our analytical skills when discussing these matters for the sake of quality medical care, specifically, and a better quality society overall so that we avoid a descent into an “illiberal” democracy.
Orcas Family Health Center ( Dr. David Shinstrom’s practice)is indeed going to be at the roundtable. Kate Long included us in the date planning. Orcas Family Medicine was Dr. Russell’s office which is now closed.
$300 is too much if you don’t have insurance and have to choose between medical care and heat or food for the month. My concern is that commissioners are going to be biased toward the clinic and we will lose an amazing physician and facility. I have experienced the heavy-handed policies and opinions at the clinic. It is why Dr. Shinstrom is my doctor. It is also why I have questions for Dr. Diane Boteler as she was a provider at the clinic.
I believe that Dr. Boteler worked at both the OIMC and Dr. Shinstrom’s practice. At the OIMC, she not only saw patients but also managed the operations of the clinic. She seems, therefore. Well-position to bring both perspectives to the Commission. I have talked with her extensively on these subjects and wholeheartedly endorse her for Commissioner.
A question for Chris Graham….was your wife turned away from getting care????? That is the question…not total expense!