PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center groundbreaking set for July 23, 2011

Monday, 11 July 2011 00:00

PRESS RELEASE: Healthcare in the San Juans takes a major step forward at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2011 with the groundbreaking ceremony for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center at 1049 San Juan Valley Road in Friday Harbor. Joining San Juan community members celebrating the new primary care and specialty clinic, and Critical Access Hospital will be federal, state and local leaders.

Visitors will be able to view both floor plans and external and internal building images. Markers will show the location of major features and medical services. Refreshments provided.

The grounds will be open from noon until 5 p.m. Access to the grounds and on-site parking will be available via Franklin Drive, the entry road to the Friday Harbor Airport.

"PeaceHealth is honored to become a part of the San Juan Island community and is looking forward to providing the highest quality on-island hospital care and expanded clinic and diagnostic services beginning in late 2012," said Jim Barnhart, Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. "The Design Committee has focused on developing the new facility with an island look and feel. We hope to see a large turnout on the 23rd joining in the celebration and taking a look at the design and services planned for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center."

The facility will include an expanded primary care and specialty clinic, an enhanced diagnostic services center, a cancer care suite providing on-island chemotherapy and cancer care services, a 24-hour emergency room and a 10-bed Critical Access Hospital. This will replace San Juan Island's existing clinic (the Inter Island Medical Center) which is 38 years old. The new facility is scheduled to open in late 2012.

"This is a very exciting event for us as a community," said Lenore Bayuk, chair of the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 Board of Commissioners. "I've been a Hospital Commissioner for more than seven years. Being a part of this process and the heartfelt work that all have put into making Peace Island Medical Center become a reality has been an honor."

The building incorporates the latest environmentally sensitive and sustainable design and construction concepts and will feature natural ventilation, a ground-source heat pump system, carbon neutrality and extensive day lighting. Architecture for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is by Mahlum. Construction is by Howard S. Wright Constructors.

"I am particularly pleased that we will offer a wide array of services to our islands’ cancer patients including advanced imaging, labs, diagnostics, oncology consults and on-island chemotherapy. No one suffers more the hardships of living on an island than our cancer patients and their families," said Charles Anderson, chair of the San Juan Island Community Foundation.

Local project fundraising, as well as support for the groundbreaking, is provided by the San Juan Island Community Foundation. In 2006 the Foundation recognized the need to address the local crisis in healthcare delivery and to assure better financial stability for island healthcare while expanding services. Through numerous community activities, the Foundation has been instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.

The groundbreaking ceremony is being synchronized with events at the annual Friday Harbor Airport Fly-In and Open House. Starting with a pancake breakfast and ending with a big-band hangar party, the Fly-In and Open House is an all day nostalgic trip to a place where airplanes are for fun.

There'll be plenty of interesting visiting airplanes to see, biplane and helicopter rides, in-hangar displays, fly-overs and more. The Friday Harbor Airport is adjacent to the site of PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.