— by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues reporter —

The Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) commissioners received an in-person briefing on results of the recent survey of community health care preferences from Steve Smith of Madrona Voices, which did the survey. The commissioners also made progress on agreements with Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC) and the UW Neighborhood Clinic (UW) concerning acute and after-hours care, and on contract negotiations with the two clinics.

According to Smith, more than 600 people have taken the survey to date. Among the results:
• There is overwhelming support for acute-care services in the form of a triage nurse and access to a medical provider during clinic hours.
• There is also overwhelming support for the same acute-care services after hours.
• There is a stark difference in satisfaction levels with the two primary clinics. Patients of OFHC are much more satisfied than are UW patients.
• A majority of respondents favored increased clinic access, such as evening or Saturday open hours.

A summary of results to date is posted at www.madronavoices.com. The survey will be open through Sept. 27; those wishing to take it can sign up at the same web site (scroll to the bottom of the page).

OIHCD’s After-Hours Care Work Group adopted a proposal for consideration by OFHC concerning after-hours services and compensation. A similar proposal for UW consideration was adopted at last week’s meeting. OFHC providers already see any patient in person at the clinic if medically appropriate, whether during or after regular clinic hours, and UW managers are meeting with their providers to be sure that they all are willing to do the same. Providers at both clinics would receive compensation for seeing patients after hours if these proposals are accepted.

Although both clinics have established productivity metrics that are in line with professional standards, the commissioners felt that OFHC’s patient satisfaction metrics need improvement and that UW’s system for measuring patient satisfaction needs more clarity. The commissioners intend to include development of better metrics in this area as a priority in both contracts. They also intend to require direct communications with providers for EMTs in emergency situations and participation in regular review meetings for cases involving EMS. The commissioners acknowledged that the first contracts with the clinics will not include everything they would like to see, but that the contract periods will serve as trial runs in an ongoing process. They expect their contracts with both clinics to extend to at least December 2019.

Finally, Commissioner Richard Fralick stressed the urgency of reaching decisions on the budget. The budget hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6, so they must finalize the budget for the public by Oct. 23 and have preliminary figures by Oct. 2. While good estimates for the budget amounts will be available, some contingency funding may need to be built into the overall numbers to allow for surprises.

The second Town Hall is scheduled for Sept. 20, 6-8 p.m. at the Fire Hall. The next regular meeting of the OIHCD commissioners will be Oct. 2, 4 p.m., also at the Fire Hall.

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