Orcas Island Health Care District Commissioner, Art Lange, resigned from Position #3 on the Board on April 6. Dr. Lange was instrumental in getting the creation of San Juan County Public Hospital District #3 on the November 2018 ballot and in passing that ballot measure. Since then, Lange has served as Board president and on the Board’s Communications Committee. He played a leading role in helping consolidate several medical practices on Orcas Island and securing the current partnership with the Island Health Primary Care – Orcas clinic.

“I have chosen this time to resign because I believe the District and the Island Primary Care – Orcas clinic are well-positioned to deliver on its originally stated purpose to ensure that all the members of our community have access to high quality primary and acute care including after-hours acute care in a financially sustainable and cost-effective manner, and also to identify and ensure the provision of other healthcare needs the district and taxpayers might support,” Lange said.

Commissioners had conducted a search for former Commissioner Richard Fralick’s replacement and will select Art Lange’s replacement from among those candidates. To learn more about the role of Public Hospital District commissioners, see the commissioner’s guide posted at: SECTION I – What are Public Hospital Districts (awphd.org). For more information about Orcas Island Health Care District please see: Orcas Island Health Care District – OIHCD (https://oihcd.specialdistrict.org/).