Each week the Orcas Island Health Care District commissioners inch closer to their goal of supplementing medical services on island. OIHCD passed a resolution during its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 10 to hire its first employee, Orcas Islander Anne Presson, as part-time superintendent.

“Anne brings a wealth of knowledge and tremendous enthusiasm to the job, which will be a great help to the board as we tackle the challenges of assuring that we continue to have access to quality health care on Orcas,” OIHCD President Richard Fralick told the Sounder. “Her knowledge of the health care industry will be invaluable, and her collaborative approach will ensure that she works well with our board.”

The commission had decided at its prior meeting to extend the employment offer to Presson. Regulations require action be taken at two consecutive regular meetings to appoint a superintendent. The superintendent is responsible for the administration of district affairs.

Presson has lived on Orcas full-time since 2015 but has spent a lot of time over the past 15 years visiting the islands. In December, she was selected by the Lopez Island Hospital District to serve as its part-time hospital district superintendent.

According to Presson’s LinkedIn profile, her employment history includes working for Pacific Business Group on Health, UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser Permanente and Alliant Insurance Services often in Vice President roles.

She is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist with a bachelor’s in economics from the University of California, Davis, and holds an Executive MBA from the University of San Francisco.

Presson served as chairwoman of the Ballot Work Group of the Coalition for Orcas Health Care. The COHC was a group of Orcas citizens dedicated to the concept of comprehensive, sustainable health care services for all Orcas residents and visitors. The coalition was instrumental in the formation of the hospital district.

Another topic on the docket for the district at the July 10 meeting was a discussion of long-term financing options – since the $400,000 county loan will only fund the district through the end of the year and tax monies aren’t set to begin collection until April 2019.

Bond attorney Cynthia M. Weed of K&L Gates conference-called in for the conversation. The commissioners have not yet made a decision on how to finance the district for the months of January through April 2019.

The Orcas Island Health Care District board of commissioners meet weekly from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Eastsound Fire Station.