Welcome Pediatrician, Dr. Evan Buxbaum
Island Primary Care – Orcas is excited to welcome pediatrician Evan Buxbaum, MD, MPH, who returns to Orcas Island after practicing for the past decade in California. Buxbaum received a Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Buxbaum completed his pediatric internship and residency at Vermont Children’s Hospital.

No stranger to island living, Buxbaum has practiced pediatrics in Alaska—including in Anchorage and at fly-in clinics in remote villages—and Hawaii—at an outpatient clinic and at a hospital on Kauai. Most recently, Buxbaum practiced pediatrics in Humboldt County, California.

Buxbaum says his care encompasses his patients’ physical as well as mental, emotional and environmental needs, and he has a special interest in developmental trauma and the effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on health and well-being.

“I enjoy working with young people and their families to maintain their health and well-being, including behavioral and mental health challenges, through holistic as well as conventional modalities,” he said.

Buxbaum returns with partner Valerie, their daughter Naia and their big dog Bombadil. The couple also have three grown children who live in the Pacific Northwest.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Buxbaum, please call 360.376.2561.
Employment Opportunity in the Medical Field –
No Experience Required
Interested in starting a career in healthcare? We are looking for applicants with a high aptitude for learning, great people skills for interacting with patients, and a strong work ethic to train with our dedicated team.

As a Medical Assistant – Registered, you will be trained by us and endorsed with the Department of Health to take vital signs, assist with patient care and make a difference for the patients you encounter each day. This is a terrific opportunity to be paid while you learn on the job. No medical experience needed. This can be the first step toward an expanded role if you decide to grow into a Medical Assistant – Certified or other healthcare role.  
Know Before You Go:
Courtesy Labs at Island Primary Care – Orcas
Island Primary Care – Orcas is happy to facilitate lab orders for an outside provider; but please note that we are not a walk-in lab. There are several things to keep in mind when requesting lab work from providers outside of Island Health.

  • Please plan ahead for courtesy labs from your specialists by allowing one to two weeks for scheduling and processing.
  • A current order must be brought in or faxed to our office at 360.466.6139 for phlebotomist review before an appointment can be scheduled and at least one week before the results are needed. There are some uncommon orders we may not be able to fulfill due to supply availability or special processing.
  • All lab appointments are scheduled from 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. The specimens are transported to the Island Health laboratory in Anacortes either by plane or by ferry each afternoon.
  • For courtesy labs, we function as a “draw facility” only; however, the results will appear in your myIslandHealth patient portal.
  • The provider ordering your labs is responsible for communicating your results to you. Please contact your physician's office directly if you have a question on your lab results.
  • Lab result times vary; each test requires different amounts of time to process. At a minimum, most results will take 12 to 24 hours to process although there are some exceptions. For example, a COVID test takes a few hours to process and upload once received by the Island Health lab, but a urine culture will need several days to show bacteria growth, appearing in the patient portal several days after the COVID results.

Thank you for your understanding when requesting lab work from outside providers.
Women's Healthcare Services
Susan Sandblom, ARNP, has increased access to women's healthcare on the island by providing Gynecology care in the clinic. Susan brings more than 15 years of women’s health practitioner experience from her time at Virginia Mason Medical Center. Susan will consult with our OB/GYN team (Dr. Garde and Dr. Joe Wilson) on any complex patient issues and refer patients to them as needed. The Island Health team all have access to our clinic patients’ medical records, which enhances collaboration and continuity of care.
Monkeypox Virus Resources
San Juan County Health & Community Services has provided detailed information on the treatment, testing and prevention of Monkey pox.
For information and resources, please visit: https://www.sanjuanco.com/1921/Monkeypox-MPV.
FAA Flight Physicals Now Offered at IPC-Orcas
Dr. Bob Wilson is now certified to provide FAA Flight physicals. If you’d like to schedule a flight physical with Dr. Wilson, please use the patient portal or call to schedule an appointment at 360.376.2561. 
In October we will offer a wide range of online courses, including: End-of-Life Paperwork, presented by Hospice of the Northwest; Breastfeeding Matters; Pelvic and Bladder Health; and Osteoporosis: Exercise and Nutrition. Sign up today!

All Health Education classes require registration unless specifically stated in the class description. Any health screenings currently offered take place on our main campus in Anacortes.

If you have any questions, please call the Health Education department at 360.299.4204.
We've Heard You: Updates to Our Phone Line
Island Primary Care – Orcas will now have a dedicated phone line into our call center. The phone number 360.376.2561 will now be reserved for our Orcas patients only, bypassing greetings and messages for other departments and clinics within Island Health. Patients needing to contact Island Health’s main campus or the hospital may call 360.299.1300. We are making this change to expedite service to our Orcas patients and better track the call volume for our Orcas clinic. 

7 Deye Lane
Eastsound, WA 98245
P: 360.376.2561