— from Alison Shaw for the Coalition for Orcas Health Care —
The Coalition for Orcas Health Care (COHC) wants to hear from as many folks in the community as possible. Toward that goal, it has planned four Town Hall-style meetings over the next few months to hold a community conversation about the proposed Public Hospital District.
The first two meetings will be to share general information, the third to provide information about Public Hospital Districts and how they work. The fourth will allow commissioner candidates to make their case before the public. The Town Hall meetings are currently scheduled as follows:
– Town Hall #1 – November 30, 2017, 5:30-7:00 PM, Eastsound Fire Station
– Town Hall #2 – December 18, 2017, 5:30-7:00 PM, American Legion Hall
– Town Hall #3 – January 24, 2018, 5:30-7:00 PM, Eastsound Fire Station
– Town Hall #4 – March 14, 2018, 5:30-7:00 PM, Eastsound Fire Station
The resolution to create a Public Hospital District was passed by the San Juan County Council during its meeting on October 31. The resolution will now go on the April 24 Special Election ballot. The proposed Hospital District comprises the four voting precincts on Orcas Island. The ballot will include a separate section for the election of five, at-large Hospital District Commissioners. Candidate filing for Commissioner positions has been scheduled by the County Elections office for Feb. 5 through 9, 2018.
“Hospital District” is the legal term the ballot measure must use. District funds are not intended to build a hospital, however, but to support primary care (clinic visits) plus urgent medical care both during and after regular office hours.
COHC members believe that a hospital district is needed to support the basic health care needs of the entire community, and feel it’s important to hear from as many Orcas residents as possible. “We want to hear people’s concerns about their health care needs and what it might mean for them to have a Hospital District on Orcas,” said Julie Gottman, COHC Member.
In addition to the larger Town Hall meetings, COHC is scheduling civic group presentations and neighborhood meetings. “The voices in our community matter and we look forward to engaging Orcas citizens in the conversation about a Public Hospital District,” said Dale Heisinger, COHC member.
For more information, see the Coalition’s website at: https://www.coalitionfororcashealthcare.com/
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“District funds are not intended to build a hospital, however, but to support primary care (clinic visits) plus urgent medical care both during and after regular office hours.” This seems to conflate what the COHC has in mind with what the district can actually do.
District funds can be used for a very broad range of items and services, at the discretion of the Commissioners. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.44.060.
Please see:
https://www.coalitionfororcashealthcare.com/questions
Question 8, and
https://www.coalitionfororcashealthcare.com/your-questions-answered
Question 4.
It will be Orcas voters’ responsibility to select Commissioners who will respond to the priorities expressed by the community: primary care (clinic visits) plus urgent medical care during and after office hours. The first public forum on this issue will be held Thursday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 PM, Eastsound Fire Hall.
Peg,
Thanks for your comment with the link to our state RCW. I appreciate having as much knowledge as possible in preparation for casting my vote in the April election to have our own Public Hospital District and for its Commissioners. Of course, I also will attend the Town Hall Meetings.
[“District funds can be used for a very broad range of items and services, at the discretion of the Commissioners. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.44.060.”-see Peg Manning’s comment above]