Answer: Skagit Regional Health is legally known as Public Hospital District No. 1 Skagit County and is governed by seven commissioners who are publicly elected by community members who reside within the voting district. Public hospital districts are governmental entities established by Washington State statute (RCW 70.44), which states: Only a registered voter who resides in a commissioner district may be a candidate for, or hold office as, a commissioner of the commissioner district. 

 

Simply put, residents of Island and Snohomish County do not reside inside the voting district for Public Hospital District No. 1 Skagit County, so are legally not able to serve as board members. Additionally, Skagit County residents in Burlington and Sedro Woolley, for example, are outside the voting district and are also unable to serve as board members.    

 

Skagit Regional Health (aka Public Hospital District No. 1 Skagit County) operates Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington and has a close working relationship with Public Hospital District No. 3 Snohomish County, which also has a separate, publicly elected Board of Commissioners.

 

Skagit Regional Health has a number of community members who serve on committees across the system and is currently recruiting volunteers to participate in a Patient and Family Advisory Council. If you are interested in volunteering your time to serve on this council, please contact the Regional Director of Patient Experience at 360-814-5825 or by email.