Bond

What is being considered?
The Board of Commissioners for Ocean Beach Hospital & Medical Clinics (also known as Public Hospital District No. 3 of Pacific County) is discussing asking voters to consider a bond for facility maintenance, improvements, and upgrades to medical equipment sometime in 2023.

Why is this being discussed?
Ocean Beach Hospital & Medical Clinics (OBHMC) is a “critical access” health care provider for residents from Naselle to Ocean Park. Critical access care facilities ensure local access to health care for rural communities. Bond funding would increase space for specialty services, renovate our hospital, and replace high-cost medical equipment.

How will this improve access to health care for local residents?
OBHMC requires more space to develop a non-profit Urgent Care center, attract primary doctors, and offer specialty services locally (orthopedics, dermatology, podiatry, behavioral health, and diabetes care). Currently, there are long wait times, and residents have to travel long distances for their health care needs, which is a hardship to them and their families.

What else would the bond accomplish?
These capital projects will help our local economy by hiring local businesses, purchasing materials locally, and employing people in our community.

What are the capital projects that would be funded?
Adding space for specialty services, renovating the hospital, and upgrading medical equipment are the priorities. A full list of projects can be found here

What renovations will we see at our hospital?
Hospital patient rooms and bathrooms will be updated for safety, wheelchair access, and energy efficiency. The nurses’ station and pharmacy will be expanded to accommodate modern patient care. (Our nurse manager currently works in a broom closet.) We will replace cast-iron pipes as well as hospital HVAC and utility systems that are at the end of their usable lives.

Why do we maintain or renovate our facilities instead of replacing them?
Our facilities represent a significant investment for property taxpayers in our community. Maintaining and renovating facilities is significantly less expensive than building new ones and respects your investment.

What additional space will the bond fund to increase access to health care services?
OBHMC plans to offer a non-profit Urgent Care Center for medical concerns or injuries that don’t require a hospital emergency room. It also will expand the Ilwaco Clinic, the Wellness and Rehabilitation Center, and purchase other buildings for primary care and specialty services.

What medical equipment will be upgraded?
Our CT Scan machine requires replacement with either a Spectral CT or a Photon CT. We also want to purchase imaging equipment, such as a C-Arm machine, for surgery and an MRI to improve local access to health care services for our hospital and add a procedure room at Ocean Park Clinic to increase capacity and access for women’s health care.

How are public hospital districts funded?
Public hospital districts like OBHMC are primarily funded through patient revenue and an operations levy paid through property taxes. (OBHMC’s levy is $0.47 per $1,000 of assessed value.) Some revenue comes from grants and donations, but this is not enough to fund daily operations. Voter-approved bonds fund capital projects, such as renovating and maintaining facilities and replacing medical equipment.

Why is property tax revenue necessary to fund public hospital districts?
Historically, residents in rural communities have struggled to receive high-quality health and non-profit Urgent Care services. Property tax revenue provides access to quality health care locally, which people deserve regardless of where they live. Voter-approved bonds fund capital projects like facilities and costly medical equipment.

Did my public hospital district pass its last state audit?
The Public Hospital District has passed all its independent financial and accountability audits by the state.

How much will it cost?
The bond would last for 20 years and is projected to cost $0.17 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This equates to a projected $68 per year ($5.67 per month) for a home valued at $400,000.

Have we passed a bond before?
Yes, voters have a history of approving bonds for capital items. They last approved a 20-year bond of $0.35 per $1,000, which was paid off in 2021

I have more questions. Who can I contact?
OBHMC Interim CEO Larry Cohen (360) 642-6301 or lcohen@oceanbeachhospital.com) or Board Chair Nancy Gorshe (360-665-2368 or nancygorshe@reachone.com) welcome your questions!