With the passage of the 2025 Maintenance and Operations Levy, the Anacortes community has taken a major step in securing access to local healthcare. The levy funds empower Island Health to move forward with several critical facility projects that directly support the strategic plan and the Community Health Needs Assessment.

These initiatives are designed to make the most of our campus space while improving patient flow, ensuring care is both efficient and easy to access. Over the next few years, three key projects will take center stage in the Master Facility Plan, shaping the future of healthcare in our community.

Improving Timely Access to Urgent C-sections
In 2024, Island Health performed 119 cesarean sections, of which 44 were urgent or unscheduled. Establishing a dedicated C-section operating room within the Island Birth Center will provide immediate access to lifesaving care. This allows us to offer high-level obstetrics while maintaining the operating room schedule. The suite will be constructed within an existing courtyard to minimize impact on current surgical space. The estimated cost for construction and equipment for this project is approximately $1.6 million.

Improving Timely Access to Colon Cancer Screenings
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. With the addition of a new, full-time gastroenterologist, this project will renovate an existing space into modern outpatient endoscopy suites, allowing for a significant increase in endoscopy procedure capacity while enlarging the recovery area for post-procedure patients. These enhancements will improve the overall patient experience and streamline the discharge process for outpatient surgeries. The estimated cost for construction and equipment is approximately $4 million.

Integrating Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Physiatry, Physical Therapy and Diagnostic Imaging
Island Health currently offers several orthopedic specialties that are dispersed across campus due to space constraints. Renovating the top floor of the 25th Street Building will enable the development of a comprehensive orthopedics clinic, consolidating multiple specialties and services into a single, integrated location.

This consolidation will enhance workflow efficiency, improve functionality and elevate the overall patient experience. Plans are in progress for the building that currently houses Island Orthopedics, which will be utilized to expand services for the community. The estimated cost for construction and equipment is approximately $9.8 million.

Project timelines and plans are underway, and we look forward to keeping the community updated as each project moves forward.