Island Medical Center Groundbreaking Set for July 23

From PeaceHealth

Healthcare in the San Juans will take a major step forward at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 when the groundbreaking ceremony for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is held at 1049 San Juan Valley Road in Friday Harbor. The San Juan community will be joined by federal, state and local leaders in breaking ground for this new primary care and specialty clinic, and Critical Access Hospital.

The community will celebrate the start of construction by touring the building site where markers will show the location of major features and medical services. Visitors will be able to view both floor plans and external and internal building images. There will be refreshments provided.

The grounds will be open from noon until 5 p.m. Access to the grounds and on-site parking will be available via Franklin Drive, the entry road to the Friday Harbor Airport.

“PeaceHealth is honored to become a part of the San Juan Island community and is looking forward to providing the highest quality on-island hospital care and expanded clinic and diagnostic services beginning in late 2012,” said Jim Barnhart, Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. “The Design Committee has focused on developing the new facility with an island look and feel. We hope to see a large turnout on the 23^rd joining in the celebration and taking a look at the design and services planned for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.”

The facility will include an expanded primary care and specialty clinic, an enhanced diagnostic services center, a cancer care suite providing on-island chemotherapy and cancer care services, a 24-hour emergency room and a 10-bed Critical Access Hospital.

This will replace San Juan Island’s existing clinic (the Inter Island Medical Center) which is 38 years old. The new facility is scheduled to open in late 2012.

“This is a very exciting event for us as a community,” said Lenore Bayuk, Chair of the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 Board of Commissioners. “I’ve been a Hospital Commissioner for more than seven years. Being a part of this process and the heartfelt work that all have put into making Peace Island Medical Center become a reality has been an honor.”

The building incorporates the latest environmentally sensitive and sustainable design and construction concepts and will feature natural ventilation, a ground-source heat pump system, carbon neutrality and extensive day lighting. Architecture for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is by Mahlum. Construction is by Howard S. Wright Constructors.

“I am particularly pleased that we will offer a wide array of services to our islands’ cancer patients including advanced imaging, labs, diagnostics, oncology consults and on-island chemotherapy.  No one suffers more the hardships of living on an island than our cancer patients and their families,” said Charles Anderson, Chair of the San Juan Island Community Foundation.

Local project fundraising, as well as support for the groundbreaking, is provided by the San Juan Island Community Foundation. In 2006 the Foundation recognized the need to address the local crisis in healthcare delivery and to assure better financial stability for island healthcare while expanding services. Through numerous community activities, the Foundation has been instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.

The groundbreaking ceremony is being synchronized with events at the annual Friday Harbor Airport Fly-In and Open House. Starting with a pancake breakfast and ending with a big-band hangar party, the Fly-In and Open House is an all day nostalgic trip to a place where airplanes are for fun. There’ll be plenty of interesting visiting airplanes to see, biplane and helicopter rides, in-hangar displays, fly-overs and more. The Friday Harbor Airport is adjacent to the site of PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.

Further material about PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is available at www.peacehealth.org/peace-island .

San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 is a tax-supported agency that provides clinic-based medical services and 24/7 urgent care services at the Inter Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor. It also operates San Juan Island EMS which provides emergency medical services, critical care transport, and injury and accident prevention programs. The District is comprised of San Juan Island, Town of Friday Harbor, Brown Island, Stuart Island, Johns Island, Speiden Island, Pearl Island and Henry Island in San Juan County, Washington.

San Juan Island Community Foundation was established in 1994 by a group of visionary island residents who sought a way to encourage and support the work of local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation explores the needs and concerns of these organizations, looking for both traditional and innovative ideas. By pooling donations from generous islanders, the Foundation makes grants to help cover those needs. The Foundation also identifies and provides leadership in meeting a variety of community challenges. Foundation donors are assured that their charitable giving makes a difference in the quality of life on our island.

PeaceHealth is a Washington-based not-for-profit healthcare system serving multiple rural and urban communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, PeaceHealth has provided exceptional medicine and compassionate care to Northwest communities for more than a century, including serving the needs of small and remote communities through the operation of three successful Critical Access Hospitals. Research published in the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety ranked PeaceHealth as one of the top five quality of care healthcare systems in the country, and the leading system in the West. PeaceHealth is frequently named as one of the region’s best employers.  For more information, visit www.peacehealth.org