Williams to limit his clinic hours

Twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week medical coverage on Orcas Island remains firmly in place.

But Orcas Island physician Stan Williams will be limiting his hours working at the clinic to Saturdays and one week night. Williams will reserve those time periods for regular patients of his who wish to see the doctor in a clinic environment, according to Vince Oliver, chief executive officer of Island Hospital, manager of the clinic. He will also continue to join with clinic physicians Diane Boteler and David Shinstrom in providing after hours coverage and medical control for the Emergency Medical Services branch of the Orcas Island Fire Department. These are the terms of an agreement ironed out between Williams and Island Hospital last week.

Oliver feels the new arrangement is a good one, even though it means that just two physicians, Boteler and Shinstrom, will be seeing patients at the clinic during regular business hours. The two doctors have told Oliver they may need additional help, particularly during the summer. Oliver agrees that this could become a problem, and says that Island Hospital may assign a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner to the clinic during the busiest months of the year.

Clinic finances continue to be a concern. Island Hospital has applied for a $50,000 state grant that, if funded, would go entirely for Orcas’ 24/7 medical coverage. Oliver acknowledges that there will be lots of competition for the funds, but he remains hopeful that the money will be forthcoming.

The Orcas Island Medical Center Association (OIMCA) is also committed to improving the clinic’s finances. The organization is presently in the midst of a membership drive, with the goal being to raise enough money to provide Orcas with the “most patient friendly clinic in Western Washington.” That’s the word from Dave Grumney, who is heading up the drive with Lance Evans.

Those wishing to obtain a membership can call Grumney at 376-2066.

— Ted Grossman is editor of islandssounder.com and The Islands’ Sounder. He can be reached at (360) 376-4500 or email.

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