— from Anne Presson (OIHCD Superintendent)–
The Orcas Island Health Care District’s (OIHCD) focus is to enable access to affordable, high-quality primary and acute health care. As part of their due diligence, the Board went through a process to assess the status of equipment at both island clinics. During that process, it was confirmed that the x-ray machine in the UW Medicine Clinic does not function reliably, does not generate quality images, and needs full replacement. As a result, UW patients could face situations that require they travel off island for x-rays that were historically available at the UW Medicine Clinic site. Recognizing the cost and inconvenience for patients, the OIHCD Board has been working with UW Medicine leadership and Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC) to understand all available options.
Over the course of the past few months, the OIHCD Board gathered data to determine the cost of replacing the current machine. The replacement cost estimates ranged from approximately $60,000 for a used, refurbished machine, to $90, 000 for a new machine. The Board also explored the feasibility of sharing an x-ray machine between the two Clinics. They went through an extensive process to evaluate the x-ray machine at OFHC, including assessments by UW clinical engineering.
After gathering all the facts on quality and cost for the various options, combined with an interest in making best use of island resources, the OIHCD Board recommended implementation of a shared x-ray service between UW Medicine Orcas Island Clinic and OFHC on a trial basis. This means all UW patients needing x-rays will be referred to an external provider, including OFHC as one option. The Board and both Clinics are working together to minimize care disruption and make the new process as easy as possible on patients and providers. The OIHCD Board will continue to work with both Clinics to monitor how things are going to make sure this approach is serving the needs of the community.
As always, OIHCD welcomes your feedback and suggestions. Community members are encouraged to attend the Regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners. Please visit www.orcashealth.org for details on meeting dates/times and to see a list of emails for Commissioners and the Superintendent. On the Contact Us tab you will also see a form to submit feedback directly on the website.
The OIHCD Board of Commissioners appreciates the community’s continued support.
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Thanks to everyone involved in making this possible. I hope this cooperative arrangement between OFHC and the UW clinic will prove to be highly successful.
Good solution. Why should you spend another $90,000 instead of a 2 minute drive. At a hospital it would take you 2 minutes to walk to the Xray lab. Good small island solution.
So, tell me, how do UW patients feel about this? How do the (local) UW providers feel about this? Will OFHC be able to do any different exams than UW Orcas has already been doing? Is OFHC equipment a substantial increase in quality? What is the time this is going to take to accomplish (for each patient)? How many times is my insurance going to get billed?
I’m a UW Orcas patient. Should I need X-rays, I will be taking my money off island until the district comes to its senses.
Shame on the hospital district for limiting one clinic only benefit the other. This is not patient care, this is bias and is not what I voted for.