Within 18 minutes of the call to San Juan EMS notifying them of a possible stroke, the patient was rolling out of the CAT scan at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor.
This is one of the dramatic changes in healthcare for island residents since the critical access hospital opened November 26, 2012.
At least eight islanders have avoided flights to mainland hospitals said Dr. Michael Sullivan. In the past the need for a CAT scan, for example, to rule out a serious injury made an expensive ($20,000) and time-consuming medevac necessary.
PIMC has had five overnight patients which qualifies the facility for accreditation according to Beth Geiger. The accreditation team now needs to come to the island to complete the process.
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