Look off-island for medical care

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Re: The recent op-ed by Dr. Mary Bergman (Hospital district will sustain island health care, Sept. 5)

First, if you are having a heart attack, call 911. If you fall out of a tree and can’t get your breath, call 911. Allergic reaction, call 911.

Burn yourself, cold water, apply bacitracin and a Band-Aid. Vashon has two primary care clinics.

These facts may surprise you. In Seattle, there are six primary care facilities within 4 miles of the Fauntleroy dock (Swedish and Franciscan) as well as three urgent care facilities. In Tacoma, there are six primary care facilities within 5 miles of the Point Defiance dock (Multicare, Kaiser and Franciscan) and an urgent care within less than a mile (Multicare). In Southworth, there are two primary care facilities within 7 miles of the Southworth dock as well as one urgent care clinic.

People in the U.S. often travel more than 20 miles to receive primary care. Average length of time in Washington state to receive care: 20.4 miles, 28.4 minutes. Average length of time in Washington State to receive urgent care: 22 miles, 30 minutes.

— George Wright