CONTRACT APPROVED FOR NEW INTEGRATED MEDICAL CENTER

On March 18, 2009 the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a long-term service contract with PeaceHealth, a Northwest-based not-for-profit healthcare system, to significantly expand healthcare services for San Juan County Hospital District residents and Island visitors. The PeaceHealth Board of Directors approved the contract last week.

The contract is the first step in the creation of a new, fully Integrated Medical Center (IMC) located in Friday Harbor. The IMC will provide expanded primary care and specialty clinics, more diagnostic services, 24-hour emergency service and limited inpatient care in a small Critical Access Hospital.

As part of the 50-year contract, PeaceHealth will build, own and operate the new Integrated Medical Center which will provide on-Island healthcare services in a high-quality, intimate environment. The new IMC is scheduled to open in the summer of 2012. The Hospital District will operate the Inter Island Medical Center until the new facility is opened and will continue to have full responsibility for the Emergency Medical Service. 

The current Inter Island Medical Center offers a family practice and internal medicine clinic, 24/7 emergency services, and some diagnostic equipment and services, but patients needing additional diagnostic testing, procedures, and inpatient care must travel off-Island. The Island population has more than doubled since the current medical center was built 35 years ago, and there is now limited space for patient care and clinic operations and no additional space for upgrading, modernizing or adding needed services.

The new Integrated Medical Center will increase the number of physicians serving the District’s residents and will nearly double the number of other healthcare professionals serving the Island community. The Critical Access Hospital component of the new Integrated Medical Center will require a Certificate of Need and licensing approval from the State of Washington.

To learn more about the contract approval, click here.

January 21, 2009

PROPOSED CONTRACT BETWEEN SJCPHD#1 AND PEACEHEALTH

After the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 Board and the Board of PeaceHealth signed a Letter of Intent in May, 2008, detailed discussions were begun. Representatives of both Boards, Committee chairmen, experts from PeaceHealth, and legal counsel for both Boards investigated all aspects of a possible long-term relationship leading to the creation of a new Integrated Medical Center to be established in Friday Harbor. The result of these discussions is a proposed contract.
FULL UPDATE

June 26, 2008

EXPLORING OPTIONS - Discussions with PeaceHealth

At the regular monthly meeting of the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 Board of Commissioners, a vote was taken on whether to proceed with a Letter of Intent to continue discussions and negotiations with PeaceHealth toward a formal agreement to develop a new integrated medical center for San Juan Island. The same letter of intent must now be approved by PeaceHealth before it becomes effective.
FULL UPDATE

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