Health Commission Plans for Community Town Halls and Survey

— by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues Reporter —

The focus of the Orcas Island Health Care District Commission (OIHCD) shifted this week, from what the commissioners are doing to what the public thinks of what they are doing. Much of the Commission’s regular meeting on September 4 was devoted to final planning for the two upcoming Town Hall meetings and the first community survey on medical services.

The first Town Hall, planned for Saturday, September 8, 3 – 5 p.m. at the Fire Hall, will be moderated by Lisa Byers. The second, on Thursday, September. 20, 6 – 8 p.m., also at the Eastsound Fire Hall, will be moderated by Hilary Canty. The commissioners will give brief updates on what they have done since their election and what their plans are. Because the commissioners must establish a 2019 budget soon, and because the most pressing cost issue is acute/urgent and after-hours care, the meeting will focus mostly on islanders’ questions and concerns on that topic.

Although the commissioners are in talks with both Orcas Family Health Center and the Orcas UW Neighborhood Clinic (UW), discussions with UW have been the most extensive, since that clinic is part of a much larger and more structured organization. The most recent information on those discussions is available here and on the OIHCD website under “Meeting Documents.”

The first community survey was developed with, and will be conducted by, Madrona Voices, which has surveyed the community on other important issues (see www.madronavoices.com for more information). The survey will include background information on medical services on Orcas (all services, not just acute and after-hours care), a brief set of questions on islanders’ priorities for services, and a brief set of demographic questions. The survey will be distributed by email and available on paper at various public locations such as the library and Senior Center. As the commissioners continue to gather information and make plans, they may develop future surveys as well.

The commissioners will be discussing results from the first Town Hall at their next regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. at the Fire Hall.