As Fire Chief of Vashon Island Fire and Rescue (VIFR), I’m writing to address our community’s urgent care needs and propose a solution that keeps our healthcare local, efficient, and tailored to our unique island environment.

Since 1942, VIFR has been dedicated to providing fire, emergency medical, and all-hazards services to Vashon and Maury Islands. In February of this year, we launched our Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program, delivering in-home healthcare through our registered nurse and EMT. In less than five months, we’ve served more than 100 patients, demonstrating the program’s success and the community’s need.

Building on this success, we propose expanding our MIH program to include urgent care services. This expansion represents a wise investment of your tax dollars, leveraging our established infrastructure and expertise to meet Vashon’s specific healthcare needs.

Why choose VIFR for urgent care?

1. Existing Infrastructure: Fire Station 55 on Bank Road already provides walk-in urgent medical care to more than 250 islanders annually. Our ongoing renovation project includes a new urgent care medical treatment room, positioning us to seamlessly integrate these services.

2. Local Expertise: Our team of VIFR responders, MIH staff, and King County paramedics serve our community 24/7. No one understands Vashon’s urgent care needs better than we do.

3. Trusted Care: You trust VIFR with emergency services for you, your family, and your neighbors. This same dedicated team will develop and deliver high-quality urgent care services.

4. Fiscal Responsibility: By choosing VIFR, your EMS levy tax dollars remain on Vashon, supporting our local services rather than off-island for-profit healthcare providers.

5. Comprehensive Care: Our model includes a multidisciplinary team of physician assistants, registered nurses, EMTs, and a licensed independent clinical social worker, ensuring holistic care tailored to our community’s needs.

6. Seamless Integration: Our program offers smooth transitions between urgent care, emergency services, and follow-up treatment through our existing MIH services.

The risks of off-island solutions

Contracting with off-island providers such as DispatchHealth poses several risks:

• Diversion of Vashon EMS levy tax dollars away from Vashon, leaving them spent elsewhere in the county

• Reduced much-needed funding for our MIH and Basic Life Support ambulance programs

• Loss of federal Medicare funding through the Ground Emergency Medical Transport program

• Fewer professional development opportunities for our local staff

• Lost opportunities to develop jobs on Vashon

Our commitment to Vashon

VIFR is committed to addressing the need for improved access to urgent care while alleviating pressure on primary care providers. Our island-based program ensures:

• A deep understanding of Vashon’s unique healthcare landscape

• Creation of local jobs

• Retention of tax dollars within our community

• Adaptability to evolving community needs

As stated in our Vision Statement, VIFR will “adapt to the evolving needs of the community and exceed expectations through high-quality service, professionalism, and continuous improvement.”

We have a tremendous opportunity to expand medical services on Vashon Island. By choosing VIFR for urgent care, we can ensure these vital services remain local, efficient, and tailored to our community’s needs. Let’s work together to keep Vashon’s urgent care local and build a healthier future for our island.

Matt Vinci is the fire chief of Vashon Island Fire & Rescue.