The future of Orcas Medical Center is moving into the limelight as ongoing affiliation talks between three mainland hospitals and four statewide healthcare systems raise questions about health care services at the small Orcas Island facility.

The Public Hospital Districts overseeing Island Hospital of Anacortes (which leases and operates Orcas Medical Center), Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital, will announce their joint decision about partnering with one of four large healthcare organizations: Peace Health, University of Washington Medical Center/Peace Health, Swedish/Providence Hospital and Virginia Mason Hospital.

The Boards of Commissioners of the public hospital districts associated with the three hospitals are concerned about the future financial viability of the three hospitals. People in the areas serviced by the hospitals, including the Orcas Medical Center, are concerned about future levels of reproductive and end-of-life services if the local hospitals are acquired by a medical group with a Catholic Church affiliation.

Community activists on San Juan Island raised questions about reproductive and end-of-life services at PeaceIsland Medical Center because PeaceIsland receives tax money through an agreement with the San Juan Island Public Hospital District and, as a Catholic institution, follows the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care promulgated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Other groups, including the ACLU of Washington, have stepped into the fray.

Concerned residents on Orcas Island have scheduled a community meeting with representatives from People for Healthcare Freedom, Orcas Medical Center, Orcas Medical Foundation, and Island Hospital on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Eastsound Fire Hall at 5 p.m.. An earlier forum in July in Mt. Vernon attracted a crowd of 400.

For more information, contact Jean Henigson, 376-6549, dance@rockisland.com or gretchen.krampf@processexperts.com.