Health District and clinics confront COVID surge

||| BY SUSAN MCBAIN, ORCASONIAN REPORTER |||

The surge in COVID-19 cases, and its effects on medical services on Orcas Island, were the main topics of the Orcas Island Health Care District’s meeting on Nov. 17. Managers of the two existing clinics gave reports on what they’re doing, and senior managers from Island Hospital (IH) and UW Medicine (UW) discussed how the surge and lockdowns may affect plans to launch a new practice in 2021.

The UW Medicine clinic manager, Jennifer Taylor, reported that the clinic is moving many appointments to telehealth visits. The current 20–30% of visits done by telehealth may increase to 70–80%. The clinic is conducting COVID testing 4–5 days per week, focusing on people with symptoms or known exposures, those needing medical procedures, and those required to travel. The clinic currently has flu vaccine available, including children’s doses.

Orcas Family Health Center is also moving to telehealth appointments as much as possible, according to business manager Aaimee Johnson. OFHC has used all its flu vaccine but is working with Ray’s Pharmacy to ensure that patients can receive vaccinations if they wish. The clinic has ordered rapid tests for COVID and is considering mobile testing at various island sites for those who need testing, beginning in mid-December.

Four senior managers from IH, including CEO Charles Hall, and UW senior manager Debra Gussin discussed the possible impact of the COVID surge on the transition to a new practice. All were confident that medical care would not be interrupted, but they were less certain about how the transition’s practical aspects might be handled, depending on how long statewide restrictions are in place. Processes such as equipment ordering, the transition between electronic medical record (EMR) systems, and employment interviewing could continue, but the March 1 opening date may be less certain.

Both the IH managers and the District commissioners are working on communications planning, hoping to inform Orcas residents as fully as possible on what is happening now, what to expect during the transition, and what IH services they have access to, such as online classes. IH plans to put an Orcas “landing page” on its website to provide information specific to Orcas. The commissioners suggested the kinds of information that would be useful on that page, such as a local phone number, the process for booking appointments, any requirements and/or fees for new patients, and which providers and staff IH hires. (As noted in its proposal, IH hopes to hire as many of the existing providers and staff as possible; interviewing should begin in December.) The commissioners also suggested that the page include a way for islanders to ask questions. Work on the UW Medicine clinic building, owned by the District, is almost entirely complete. UW’s Taylor summed up the results in one sentence: “We had a rainstorm, and we didn’t have any leaks!”

Superintendent Anne Presson noted that she has sent all final documents related to the District’s 2021 budget and levy to the County. The documents are 2021 SJCPHD #3 Levy Certification, 2020-03 Resolution Adopt SJCPHD #3 2021 Budget, and 2020-04 Resolution Adopt SJCPHD #3 2021 Levy.

The District’s next regular meeting will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. The Zoom link for the meeting will be posted a few days in advance on the District’s Meetings Calendar; click the link on Dec. 1 to attend.