Health District Hopes to Coordinate with County on Assessment of Health Needs

— by Susan McBain, Orcas Issues reporter —

The topic of a community health assessment occupied much of the January 22 meeting of the Orcas Island Health Care District (OIHCD). Mark Tompkins, Director of San Juan County’s Department of Health and Community Services, described assessments that have been done in past years and are planned for the next few years. Tompkins hopes to conduct a countywide community health assessment beginning in 2019, once a new Health Community Services Manager is in place. The assessment would make use of existing data and seek input from communities on all the islands. The OIHCD commissioners were interested in how they could coordinate their efforts to determine needs specific to Orcas with the County’s broader assessment. Commissioner Patty Miller suggested that representatives of both groups get together early to discuss scope and timeline of the project, so they could plan how to work together.

Miller and Commissioner Art Lange have set up a meeting on February 4 in Seattle with senior leadership from UW Neighborhood Clinics (UWNC) to discuss ongoing issues with the contract between OIHCD and UWNC. OIHCD had proposed extending the current Interim Funding Agreement through June, but UWNC was concerned that clinic providers might be worried about not having a final contract in place. Two of the commissioners are also getting together with the regional UWNC representatives on February 28 and 29 to discuss the most recent data tracking efforts and the status of after-hours care.

Data tracking for after-hours care is under way at Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC), although an injury to Dr. Shinstrom has slowed the rollout of a new patient satisfaction survey somewhat. The sharing of OFHC’s x-ray machine for use by UWNC patients is going smoothly. Once its new refrigerator/freezer is calibrated, OFHC will begin childhood vaccinations, probably in March.

Commissioner Pegi Groundwater has developed a request for proposal for bids to replace the UW clinic roof. The Commission expects to ask for receipt of bids by February 15 and discuss them at its
February 19 meeting.

Finally, District Superintendent Anne Presson reported that discussions with Kaiser regarding air transport of patients for off-island care are going well. She noted that both Airlift Northwest and Island Air have patient advocacy services, so anyone who has been denied coverage of air transport costs should contact her or Orcas Island Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Williams for details.

The next regular OIHCD meeting is scheduled for
February 5 at 4 p.m. in the Eastsound Fire Hall.