Submitted by Public Hospital District No. 1 and PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center

The following is a joint statement released by Bill Williams, chair of San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1, and Merry-Ann Keane, chief administrative officer of PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.

San Juan County Hospital District No. 1 and PeaceHealth have jointly drafted an amendment to the subsidy agreement that details, among other things, the financial relationship between the two entities for the operation of PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.

Specifically, the amendment calls for a reduction of the subsidy paid to PeaceHealth by the hospital district, beginning Jan. 1. The amount of the reduction is approximately $50,000.

These funds will be available to the district to use at its discretion.

This amendment was generated by PeaceHealth leaders and hospital district commissioners in the spirit of collaboration and with the joint recognition that there may be services that the community requests that are outside of the scope of PeaceHealth Peace Island. Reducing the subsidy allows the district discretionary funds without compromising PeaceHealth’s ability to continue its service delivery.

The amendment to the agreement will be put to a San Juan County Hospital District vote on Nov. 23.