In August, PeaceHealth and CHI announced plans to create a regional healthcare system. The partnership would combine seven CHI hospitals in Washington and Oregon with nine PeaceHealth hospitals in Washington, Oregon and Alaska.
Some community members are concerned a merger with a Catholic-affiliated system would restrict women’s services. At the hospital commission meeting, Jim Barnhart, CEO of Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor, Wash., vowed to continue to provide all women’s healthcare services, according to the report. Attendees of the meeting were not convinced and expressed the need for women of San Juan Island, Wash., which includes Friday Harbor, to be assured that tax money will not be used to restrict women’s healthcare rights or advance the religious agenda or doctrines of CHI, according to the report.
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