History & Mission
History of IIMC
Inter Island Medical Center was formed in 1955 as a fund raising organization. At that time there was just one doctor on the island. In 1976 the present medical center was built with Hill-Burton funds. This resulted in a clinic with hospital sized hallways and doors and an obligation to provide free care to indigent patients to pay off the debt. Our Hill-Burton obligation has since been met. It also changed Inter Island Medical Center's role into one of management. This organization was replaced by San Juan Hospital district No. 1 in 1991. The District is run by an elected five member Board. The Board hires a Superintendent to handle District matters and an Administrator to manage the Medical Center.
Several years later, we are proud of the full service medical care we furnish to San Juan Island. We provide comprehensive, family practice oriented medicine along with 24 hour urgent care. Our physicians remain Board Certified and maintain their continuing education and specialty certification. In addition to emergency care, visiting specialists from off-island have office hours in our clinic on a periodic basis.
As our schedule of services offered and patient base continue to grow, we look forward to further expanding and improving our facility to serve you. Information about the San Juan Community Hospital project can be found at: link here.
Our Mission Statement:
"Caring, Healing, Serving, Our Mission is You."
The mission of Inter Island Medical Center is to provide high quality, safe, efficient health care to residents and visitors of San Juan County. Under the governance of San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1, we strive to provide continuous, fair, and equal health care in our facility as we promote health choices and behaviors through community education.
We aim to practice in a positive, stable work environment based on customer service, employee satisfaction, and teamwork. We value flexibility and the ability to make changes in response to a dynamic health care system.Frequently Asked Questions
Types of Care
What is primary care?
Primary care is the idea that patients benefit from having their own "personal physician" to assist them in managing all aspects of their care. The primary care setting is a patient's first point of entry into the health care system and serves as the continuing focal point for all needed health care services. These services may include health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, and diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. Patients for whom diagnostic or consultative care is required will be referred by the Primary Care Physician to the appropriate specialist. The results of these consults and/or studies will be forwarded to your PCP to manage.
What are the benefits of a Primary care practice?
- Primary care practices are organized to meet the needs of patients with undifferentiated problems, with the vast majority of patient concerns and needs being cared for in the primary care practice itself.
- Primary care practices are generally located in the community of the patients, thereby facilitating access to health care while maintaining a wide variety of specialty and institutional consultative and referral relationships for specific care needs.
- Primary care promotes effective communication with patients and encourages the role of the patient as a partner in health care.
What is preventative care?
Preventative medicine is the practice of screening patients, who are otherwise healthy, to identify the likelihood of a particular disease. These screenings include Well Adult exams, Well Child exams, Pap smears, Mammograms, etc. Preventative care is strongly recommended as an excellent method for preventing illness.
What is travel medicine?
One third of people who travel abroad experience a travel-related illness, usually diarrhea or an upper respiratory infection. Travel medicine is designed to help prevent these illnesses for patients planning trips abroad. The consultation is individually tailored for each patient's travel destination, and is based on the most current expert recommendations from the Center for Disease Control. Routine immunizations such as tetanus and influenza should be updated, and the patient should be advised about preventing and treating minor illnesses such as travelers' diarrhea and environmental exposures.
Ideally the initial consult should occur at least six weeks before the patient's departure to allow time for immunizations and assessment of any adverse reactions. Routine dental and medical care should be updated before the trip. In addition, patients should be sure to have a sufficient supply of routinely taken medications. Patients must know what their medical insurance covers, including medical evacuation, if they become sick or are injured overseas.
The information above was adapted from the American Academy of Family Physicians website: www.aafp.org
Procedures
**You must have an order from a Physician for any diagnostic study.
MAMMOGRAMS
• Do not wear any perfume, deodorant, or powder, as many of these contain metallic bases that will affect your results.
• Please bring your prior mammogram films with you to your appointment, or order them from your previous provider so that we may have a comparison.
BONE DENSITY STUDY
• Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes with no metal snaps, zippers, or buttons/buttonholes.
• A gown will be provided if you do not meet these requirements.
FASTING LABORATORY TESTS
• No food or liquids for 10-12 hours prior to your lab draw. The only exception is clear water with no additives. Typically the test will be much more comfortable for you, and easier for the lab technician to perform, if you are well hydrated.
CARDIAC TREADMILL STRESS TESTING
• Eat a lighter meal 1-2 hours prior to your test. Wear comfortable clothing and tennis shoes that you can exercise in. For women, it is helpful to wear a sports bra, if you have one.
ULTRASOUNDS
• ABDOMEN:
Do not eat anything before the exam. If you need to take medication for any reason, you may do so with water only. If your abdominal ultrasound is in the afternoon, you may eat a light breakfast before 7am; without milk or fatty food items. Refrain from smoking or chewing gum for 8 hours prior to the exam.
• KIDNEYS & BLADDER:
Do not eat anything after midnight before your examination. A small amount of fluid is necessary to evaluate the bladder wall. Drink 16 ounces of non-carbonated liquid 1 hour before your exam. Acceptable beverages are water, tea, clear juices, or coffee without milk. Do not empty your bladder until instructed to do so.
• OBSTETRICAL OR PELVIS:
A full bladder is necessary for the exam. Drink 32 ounces of water one hour before the exam. Finish drinking the water 45 minutes before the exam. Do not empty your bladder until instructed to do so.
• DOUBLE EXAM – ABDOMEN & PELVIS:
Do not eat anything after midnight before your examination. Drink 32 ounces of water 1 hour before your exam. Do not empty your bladder until instructed to.
• MISCELLANEOUS: (Breast, scrotum, thyroid, etc.)
No prep necessary.
• ARTERIAL/ LOWER OR UPPER EXTREMITY/ VENOUS/ CAROTID:
No prep necessary.
• ABDOMINAL AORTA:
Do not eat anything after midnight before your examination. If you need to take medication for any reason, do so in the morning with clear liquids only.