Island Hospital, along with Skagit Valley Medical Center and Cascade Valley Hospital in Snohomish County, are looking for a strategic partner to help improve the quality of care and range of services while staunching financial losses.
Two of the four responding hospital systems, PeaceHealth and Providence-Swedish, are Catholic-run health care systems, which has caused some in our community to warn of a potential loss of medical services if they end up being the partners.
Many residents testifying at a recent Hospital District Board meeting at City hall supported proposals by the other two responding hospital systems, UW Medicine and Virginia Mason, because they have received national recognition and are not religion-based.
You can find the four proposals on the Island Hospital Web site. Check the bottom of the page. All have executive summaries.