At the December board meeting, Island Health Commissioners reviewed the results of its 2025–2027 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and approved three healthcare priorities to focus on over the next three years. The CHNA outlined several health priorities affecting residents across Island Health‘s primary service area, which includes the communities in western Skagit County, as well as those in the San Juan Islands and on north Whidbey Island.

The key health priorities approved by Island Health Commissioners include: access to care, healthcare services and supports for seniors, and care coordination through data sharing and electronic records. The assessment reflects extensive input from community members, public health experts and local organizations, and it will guide Island Health’s strategic health initiatives over the next three years.

“The key priorities identified by our community are well aligned with our strategic plan, which means we can hit the ground running to implement strategies and projects to best meet the healthcare needs of our community,” said Island Health CEO Elise Cutter.

The assessment was conducted by an independent consulting firm and included analysis of public health data, surveys of community residents, interviews with community leaders, and collaboration with local health departments and nonprofit organizations.

Based on the findings, Island Health will develop and implement a Community Health Improvement Plan outlining specific strategies, programs and partnerships to address the identified priorities. These efforts will include continued growth of access to services which align with our community’s demographics, enhanced care coordination with external healthcare organizations and continued updates to the content and functionality within the patient portal.

“Improving community health starts with understanding and responding to our patients’ most critical needs,” said Cutter. “By following the CHNA and executing our strategic plan, we reaffirm our purpose to be the best healthcare partner for the communities we serve.”

The full Community Health Needs Assessment report is available at www.islandhealth.org/public-documents.