||| FROM ANNE PRESSON for ORCAS ISLAND HEALTH CARE DISTRICT |||


We appreciate the community’s patience as we’ve continued working through the details associated with the consolidation of the two existing primary care practices and building of a new clinic for the Orcas community.

Please know that OIHCD and Island Hospital have been working hard to put the pieces in place. Establishing strong leadership for the new clinic was our top priority, as we were committed to ensuring the team has the support they need to successfully deliver on what we set out to achieve with this process.. We are now very proud and excited to announce that Dr. Frank James will take on the role of Medical Director for the Island Primary Care – Orcas Clinic as of April 1.

Over the past year, many people have come to know Dr. James through his role as the San Juan County Public Health Officer. Throughout the course of the pandemic, Dr. James provided steadfast leadership as we faced unprecedented challenges to our health care system. Under his direction, San Juan County had one of the most impressive outcomes from COVID in both incidence and severity of cases.

Dr. James will spend the first 4-6 weeks focused on his role as Medical Director. This will include helping to ensure the operations and clinic workflows support the team and patients. During this period, he will also be working closely with the medical team from Island Hospital’s Anacortes clinics who will be seeing patients and helping the team orient to the Island Hospital culture. By mid-May Dr. James will take on a provider role and will be instrumental in the recruitment, training and mentoring the providers.

A few key areas of focus for the Medical Director role shall include, but not be limited to:

  1. Medical supervision of the patient treatment program within the clinic.
  2. Lead the Clinic’s Qualities Assurance Programs and actively participate in developing quality measures that are appropriate for a rural, remote clinic.
  3. Serve as a community provider liaison by advancing community wellness, preventative and chronic care programs and initiatives.
  4. Serve on the joint Quality, Community Engagement, and After-hours Committees to help direct and ensure future efforts are aligned with the needs of the Clinic patients and staff.

Dr. James brings a wealth of experience in both public health and family practice. He also understands what it takes to build a successful primary care clinic and was one of the founders of the Interfaith Family Health Center in Bellingham (now Unity Care). He has served as San Juan County’s Health Officer since 1992 and will continue in that position. Serving in this dual role will facilitate a close collaboration with our public health partners and will support an emphasis on establishing partnerships with those who share our commitment to building a healthier community. Island Hospital’s model, under the leadership of Dr. James, will focus on building an integrated care team that provides high-quality health care in a coordinated and caring manner for the whole person and whole community.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. James to the Orcas community.

Be sure to register for the March 18 th Community Briefing to hear more from Dr. James about his vision for the future of health care on Orcas.

As always, the Commissioners and Superintendent Presson welcome feedback and questions from our community. You can find our contact information at www.orcashealth.org.


 

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