Island Hospital management of the Orcas Medical Center (OMC) practice took effect on Aug. 16, and the center’s staff are now employees of Island Hospital.

Orcas Medical Center has released an update on the process.

The affiliation, planned in May, will reportedly boost the center’s finances. Island Hospital’s purchasing power should reduce expenses for medications, supplies and equipment while the hospital affiliation increases the size of insurance and government reimbursements for services.