— from Melinda Milligan —
I’ve recently become aware of a petition to exempt the University of Washington clinic from the need to submit a proposal for the establishment of a health care system/practice on Orcas that meets the needs of our community — a system that sets up one established clinic to serve the entire island. The petitioners want to just “keep the U of W on Orcas,” as is, and continue to support them financially while disregarding the hard work the OIHCD has done to devise a plan for sustainable enduring quality health care on Orcas for all. It also, by the way, ignores the many Orcas residents who are not patients at that clinic.
When reading the petition, it seems that the main rationale to make an exception for U of W is that individuals have received good medical care there and appreciate the doctors and staff. Although I understand the importance of a trusting, continuing relationship with our health care providers (I am a recently retired provider myself and had been involved in health care on Orcas since the 1970s), I think that appreciating our providers is not the point.
Rather, the OIHCD commissioners have worked diligently to devise a plan to support a health system that will endure, be sustainable financially, and provide care through local providers and staff.
Any proposal submitted to OIHCD needs to outline plans to make access to electronic records a smooth process, plans to provide after hours care (telemedicine is woefully inadequate in many situations), and do so in a financially efficient way that puts our tax dollars to best use.
I do not believe the OIHCD timeline for proposals is unreasonable at all. The request for proposals went out some time ago. All health institutions have been stressed by the Covid 19 pandemic, but none of them are lacking the resources to put together a proposal in a timely fashion, if they sincerely want to provide health care on Orcas.
Rather than submitting a petition to OIHCD, I respectfully suggest that those individuals who want to see U of W continue their practice here submit a petition to U of W clinic- a petition that asks that the clinic immediately submits a proposal to OIHCD as requested.
I sincerely hope that OIHCD stays the course and timeline they have established. I am optimistic that this will lead to a future of stable, quality health care on Orcas.
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I support this practical approach
UW recently laid off 5000 employees due to financial difficulties, It would be a challenge for them to continue providing their service on Orcas Island !
No one seems to be focusing on the current budget of the District vis-à-vis current costs; the effect on property taxes (and therefore District revenue) that the current recession/depression will have, and what happens when the demands of UW exceed the ability of the District to pay.
Thank you Melinda! Well said.
We voted for leadership by the OIHCD, they have worked tirelessly. Please, let’s support them in the process we asked them to facilitate.
I totally support the path which OIHCD has taken and am most appreciative of the countless hours the Board has spent putting it together.
The OIHCD board has worked diligently and tirelessly to address the overall problem of providing stable health care for the island. They have studied the issues and have more knowledge of them than any one individual patient in any one of the clinics. We can’t afford more than one clinic. If UW wants to be that clinic, they need to cooperate with OIHCD and submit a proposal. A petition to OIHCD isn’t the solution – perhaps a petition to UW is.
I agree, it’s time to take a serious look at how health care works here on Orcas.
Thank you Melinda. Sound advice. It is reasonable and fair for them to submit a proposal.
I agree with Melinda. I originally opposed the Hospital District but I’ve changed my mind. The Hospital District Board is doing a good job finding a way to provide sustainable health care on Orcas. I think it is arrogant for UW Medicine to think they should automatically be part of the solution. If they want to be part of the solution, follow the rules like everyone else. I am confident the Hospital District Board will do what is in he best interests of Orcas Island. I am equally confident that UW Medicine will do what is in the best interests of UW Medicine.
Our OIHCD representatives have worked hard to come up with a sustainable health are system for Orcas. It is essential that UW submit a proposal as required by the committee.
I have been very impressed with the work of the OIHCD group and support their process. I don’t quite understand why the UW is unwilling to participate in that process.
I have been impressed with the work done by the OIHCD committee and support their decision as to the best way to try to solve this community healthcare dilemma.
I’m sorry the UW isn’t interested in participating.
Personally speaking, I really do not care what entity provides my medical services, here on our island.
I require only good fiscal management and good primary medical care.
But I care very strongly about who my physician is. Previously, it was the deeply experienced and completely conscientious Tony Giefer. Right now, it is the equally competent and very personable Mike Alperin.
The clinic itself may change partners in any way it might like, but I will strongly resist changing physicians in, so-to-speak, mid-stream.
I’m getting too damn old to make big changes comfortably, and to have to break-in a new doctor.
We may not keep UW, but I certainly will insist that, if at all possible, we keep Dr. Alperin!
I sorry but the “Medical Center” is just a glorified doctor’s office – there is no in house lab- no radiology except a wall mounted X-ray – and there is apparently no emergency service after 5 pm or on the weekends – which’ I found out when a person building on my property had an unexpected mishap two weekends ago – after going to the EMTs at the firehouse to determine the severity of his cut hand (it was deep but no tendon or muscle damage) the EMT contacted the “Medical Center’s” on call physician who declined seeing the injured person (no reason given) and was told to go Instead to the mainland or Friday Harbor – he was lucky and just made the FH ferry and had his hand sewn up and received pain medication and an antibiotic. We have a fine multi- bed Emergency Room, a well functioning family clinic. A lab, radiology, ultrasound, six bed mini hospital care unit and several specialists available during some days each week. It’s called Island Peace. Resent having to give any percentage of my van text TED or Chris medical center. It people want an on island doctor then that doctor is responsible for running a sustainable practice. Island Peace on San Juan island is what our taxes should be supporting! We would be much better off putting the million dollars that we spent bringing you WTF into a fund that could transport people easily to Friday Harbor if it is an emergency (By a private sea taxi, the police speedboat or even by airplane) it is easy enough also – with a little forethought and planning – to walk onto the ferry and be picked up at the FH dock by the Island Peace specialized volunteer taxi service,, and easily get to Island Peace and back to the ferry again.