A joint message from Brian Ivie, Chief Executive Officer for Skagit Regional Health and Frei Burton, Chair of the Public Hospital District 1 Board of Commissioners

Challenges, when viewed as opportunities, create a shift in perspective, motivating us to find solutions. Coming out of the pandemic, the past two years posed particular challenges for health systems everywhere: staffing shortages, limited access to care and the increased financial pressures for labor and supplies. In response, Skagit Regional Health (SRH) embarked on ambitious projects to meet patient demands for more access to doctors and to surgical services. SRH constructed, staffed and opened two new facilities in 2023: the Station Square clinic and the Mount Vernon Surgery Center.

Station Square opened in January 2023 and the Mount Vernon Surgery Center in December. With these facilities, we are delivering on our mission by expanding access to care to the community. Since opening, we have experienced record-breaking surgical volumes. It is an investment that has already proven to improve access to critical medical services.

With a strong financial improvement plan in place and hard work by our entire team, Skagit Regional Health returned to a positive financial position in 2023. Through financial stewardship and strong growth in patient volumes, SRH was able to recover the losses we experienced in 2022 and ended the year with a positive net income.

In February, we closed on a new bond issue, allowing SRH to execute on several key strategic initiatives that will increase access to health care. These include the purchase of the Station Square medical office building in Mount Vernon, equipping the Mount Vernon Surgery Center and partnering with Public Hospital District 3 for a new medical office building in Arlington. 

Planning for the future, SRH has begun a focused planning process to produce a multi-year strategic plan for the organization. This board-led effort will produce a multi-year strategic direction and associated priorities. The process includes a strategic assessment and analysis of internal and external environments, stakeholder focus groups, interviews and surveys to inform future planning.

Looking back, and as we move toward the future, we are encouraged by these accomplishments and the continued support of our staff, providers and the community we serve as a Public Hospital District.

Brian Ivie - Chief Executive Officer
Frei Burton - Chair, Board of Commissioners