SJI Public Hospital District May 28, 2025
PHD Superintendent Butler reported they hired a new employee to manage board notes and reports. Medicaid was approved for Village at Home services. The Village at the Harbor has two vacancies and just filled a Medicaid unit. Chief Bishop is planning the EMS biennial mass casualty drill in June. The EMS building’s sewage system is still under repair, with parts arriving May 29; the system required a total redesign with a cost of $45 -50,000. EMS calls for April were well ahead of the past six years.
The Finance Committee reported they had approved the approach for the upcoming EMS union contract negotiations. The EMS reserve fund is in good shape.
The commission discussed renaming PHD to avoid confusion and correctly identify PHD as a provider of health care services. The SJC Public Hospital District #1 has nothing to do with hospital operations, yet many district constituents believe the PHD oversees Peace Island. The name can be changed using “doing business as” or dba designation. The Orcas PHD changed its name to Orcas Island Health Care District. Superintendent Butler noted the enormous across-the-board changes that a name change would generate. The Board tabled the issue to the June regular meeting.
San Juan Island fire district commissioners asked the PHD commission for a joint meeting. PHD Board Chair Lindstrum will meet with the Fire District chair to explore purpose and goals.
The Health Care Coalition received a grant from the district court for behavioral health in the court system. The county lacks a central resource directory for health care and related services. Commissioners Clary and Frazer, along with Superintendent Butler, will review the current PHD management structure and make recommendations.
The Commissioners approved a resolution accepting the mid-year revised 2025 EMS budget. The revised mid-year PHD budget is forthcoming, pending additional financial information.
During public access time a constituent spoke in favor of the name of the PHD to avoid confusion.
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