Health Care District Has a Superintendent

— by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues reporter —

The Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD) has hired a half-time superintendent, Anne Presson, beginning July 16. Presson, who has spent her career in health care, has served as the Superintendent for the Lopez Island Hospital District (LIHD) on a half-time basis since January. While each position will be independent, the dual role will create a full-time job, and Presson plans to seek efficiencies of scale and improved services for both districts through her work for each.

During her interview, Presson expressed excitement at the unique opportunity to serve both districts, and shared the thoughtful process she went through before applying. It is important to her that both LIHD and OIHCD want to foster a spirit of collaboration and cooperation across districts. Regardless of the cultural differences between islands, the communities often work with the same partners and are trying to solve similar problems. Common to both islands are issues of geographical remoteness, an aging population, and a shortage of providers and services to help people stay on the island and in their homes. The ability to speak with one voice will give both islands added strength and relevance when engaging with outside partners, and the opportunity to create efficiencies and share expertise is what compelled Presson to apply for the position.

Presson’s hiring was the big news from the OIHCD Commission’s July 3 meeting. Commission President Richard Fralick took advantage of the moment—coming almost exactly two months after the commissioners were sworn in—to outline the Commission’s accomplishments in that period, which were impressive. Among other activities, the Commission has
• approved all its foundational documents (Resolution 2018-12 adopting a public records policy was passed at this meeting);
• created an extensive web site;
• created and benefitted from a great deal of work from its five committees (finance, legal, staffing, communications, and technology);
• obtained short-term financing from San Juan County and begun work with Washington Federal on long-term financing;
• drafted an interim funding agreement for use with the two clinics;
• made progress on possibly receiving the UW Medicine (UWM) building from the Orcas Medical Foundation;
• helped UWM and Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC) explore sharing OFHC’s x-ray machine; and
• hired the superintendent and a minutes taker.

During this meeting the Commission also moved forward in its ongoing work. The big topics continue to be, first, the desired model of urgent care, and second, the selection of appropriate metrics to measure provider productivity and quality of care. The commissioners decided to use basically the same approach to both issues: ask the two commissioners who have been focusing on each issue to write up a proposed model of what they would like to see happen, share it with the board for discussion and changes, and then present the results of the discussion to the two clinics and EMS for their responses. Commissioners felt this process would be more efficient than individual discussions with each entity.

Commissioner Diane Boteler reported on her meeting with representatives from UW’s radiology group, Mt. Baker Imaging, and OFHC staff to explore the capabilities of OFHC’s x-ray machine. Their conclusion is that images taken at OFHC could be delivered to UWM physicians within 30 minutes. Alternatively, a UW patient who had an x ray taken at OFHC could take a DVD back to UW with the image. Some technical and staffing issues remain, but Boteler would like to have a trial of cooperative use of the machine. Orcas Island Fire & Rescue is willing to use its ambulance to transport patients who cannot make the journey between clinics, alleviating one major issue for patients.

The commissioners reviewed drafts of the interim funding agreement to be used with the two clinics for the period July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. The budget from UWM still lacks sufficient detail for the commissioners to feel comfortable signing an agreement. Commissioner Pegi Groundwater will speak with UW Neighborhood Clinics director Debra Gussin and the attorneys for the District and UWNC to move the process forward.

The communications committee has been working with Madrona Voices, which has done several surveys about medical care on Orcas, on the structure of a community survey for the District. The goal of the survey will be to test the assumptions on which the commissioners reached consensus during their June 11 working session (click here for the summary of that session). Each item will be framed within a context of information, so that the meaning of a response will be clear. The survey is expected to take about 5 minutes to complete. Dr. Vincent Shu, a licensed medical physician who runs the Integrative Medicine Clinic on Orcas, asked that surveys and town hall meetings include a question about support for alternative medicine. Commissioner Art Lange responded that Madrona Voices does intend to ask about support for different kinds of medical services in upcoming surveys.

The technology committee received a detailed quote and additional information from NW Technology on the services it would offer the District. The commissioners approved signing a month-to-month contract for a comprehensive service agreement and use of Microsoft Office 365. After a thorough discussion, the commissioners also voted to authorize Boteler and Commissioner Patty Miller to spend up to $1,100 per commissioner on computers.

The Commission’s next meeting will be Tuesday, July 10, at 4 p.m. at the Fire Hall.