From the Community, for the Community:
Cutting-edge Diagnostic Technologies
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Island Health’s Diagnostic Imaging (DI) team launched several new technologies over the last few weeks after receiving funds from the Island Health Foundation’s Heartstrings Raise-the-Paddle Appeal at the 20th Annual Gala of Hope in April. Thanks to the generous support of guests at the Gala, $328,000 was raised specifically for diagnostic technologies, including upgrades to mammography, MRI monitors and portable X-ray detectors. | |
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Highest Resolution in Mammography:
Now at Island Health
With Foundation support, Island Health has upgraded their mammography technology, Hologic® Clarity HD+, to offer the latest technology and highest resolution. Click the button below to learn more about how these advances in technology will benefit the patient and the provider, accelerating detection of breast cancers and improving the precision of screening mammograms.
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Island Health welcomes six new providers to their expert team of physicians, expanding access to care for patients in Anacortes. | |
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Jason Blair, MD
Family Medicine with Obstetrics
Island Primary Care – M Avenue is excited to announce new provider Jason Blair, MD. A family medicine with obstetrics physician, Blair was most recently providing care at Clinica Medicos OB/Gyn in Memphis, Tennessee, where he provided bilingual, adult, pediatric, obstetric and same-day care to families.
In this recent interview, Dr. Blair shares what brought him to Island Health.
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Sarah Van Gaasbeek, MD
Family Medicine with Obstetrics
Dr. Sarah Van Gaasbeek joins our Island Primary Care – M Avenue team, specializing in family medicine with obstetrics. Van Gaasbeek was a Resident Physician and OB/Pediatric Chief Resident at UC Health Family Medicine in Fort Collins, Colorado where she diagnosed and treated a wide variety of diseases in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.
In a recent interview, Dr. Van Gaasbeek shares what she enjoys most about her job.
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Julie Watters, DO
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Island Obstetrics & Gynecology – 24th Street Clinic welcomed Dr. Julie Watters to its clinic on September 18. Watters most recently served as Interim Department Head and staff Obstetrician/Gynecologist at the Naval Hospital on Camp Pendleton in California before finishing her Naval career this summer.
In an interview with Dr. Watters, she shares her passion for serving women.
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Island Health continues to expand this fall with the addition of three providers in November. Click the button below if you need help finding and establishing with a primary care provider. | |
Emergency Services Project Update | |
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Many of you may have noticed the construction in our Main Entrance lobby, seen some activity on the hospital rooftop or watched the excavation outside of the Emergency Department (ED) ambulance bay. This construction is all part of our Emergency Services Project, which officially began July 2023.
The Emergency Services Project came to fruition through a federal grant that was applied for in 2019 and received in 2022. The grant, sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell, along with generous funding from the Island Health Foundation, has enabled Island Health to relocate the helicopter pad from the north parking lot to the roof of our Acute Care Unit, closer to the ED.
Click the button to read more about how we're improving our facilities and access to care.
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5-stars from Medicare, two years in a row! | |
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For the second year in a row, Island Health has received a 5-star rating from Medicare—the highest ranking possible. This means Island Health is:
- In the top 9% of hospitals in the nation
- One of only eight hospitals in Washington state to receive five stars
- Only hospital north of Seattle to receive this rating
As a public hospital district, Island Health’s 5-star rating shows our commitment to advancing the health and wellbeing of the community we serve. The highest care is right here in Anacortes!
Before you schedule a healthcare service elsewhere, be sure to compare quality and affordability with the Medicare Hospital Compare tool.
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Island Primary Care – M Avenue and 24th Street clinics are set to provide flu shot appointments for established patients in October (details below). These clinics will offer pediatric (6 months+) and high-dose (65+) vaccines. Appointments are required. Call 360.293.3101 to schedule your appointment today!
Island Primary Care – M Avenue
Saturdays, October 7, 14, 21 & 28
Island Primary Care – 24th Street
Thursday, October 5
Wednesday, October 11
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8:30–11:00 a.m. and 1:00–4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 25
COVID-19 Vaccines
A newly updated COVID vaccine for children and adults has been approved by the CDC and will be available this fall. Patients are encouraged to check with local pharmacies for COVID vaccine availability or utilize this search tool to find a location nearby: https://www.vaccines.gov/search/
When available, COVID vaccines will be offered to patients with scheduled appointments with their primary care provider.
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Proliance Surgeons Skagit Northwest Orthopedics
As a small public hospital, Island Health collaborates with a number of specialty providers in our region to improve access to care for our community. We are proud to partner with Proliance Surgeons Skagit Northwest Orthopedics to provide exceptional joint replacement and spine surgery here on the Island Health campus. Their expert orthopedic surgeons combined with our award-winning surgical team—5-stars by Medicare—ensures you have access to the very best in orthopedic surgery.
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It is our pleasure to welcome, Dr. Eric Secrist with Proliance Surgeons Skagit Northwest Orthopedics to the area!
Dr. Secrist specializes in:
- Knee and hip replacements and revisions, particular focus on the anterior approach to the hip
- Orthopedic trauma
Click the button to learn more about Dr. Secrist.
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Island Family Physicians, Part of the Family Care Network, Welcomes New Providers
Island Health collaborates closely with local primary care clinics to ensure that continuation of care and ancillary services are well coordinated, when needed, for all patients in our community. We understand that a primary care provider is the first stop in a person’s health journey. With that in mind, we are proud of our strong relationship with our neighbors at Island Family Physicians (IFP), part of the Family Care Network, and give a warm welcome to two new IFP providers, Erin Flanigan, ARNP, and Coralie Meslin, ARNP.
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1211 24th Street
Anacortes, WA 98221
P: 360.299.1300
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