Frequently Asked Questions About the Recommendation of our Preferred Partner: Sea Mar Community Health Centers
QUALITY HEALTH CARE
From initial discussions, we anticipate Sea Mar would offer similar hours of operation and services as a minimum. Sea Mar has responded positively to a future exploration of expansion of services, including closer coordination with Lopez Fire/EMS.
We expect Sea Mar to operate the clinic Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, at a minimum.
Sea Mar has agreed that at least one of the Lopez Clinic medical providers will be a doctor. After a final contract is signed, Sea Mar will work to recruit a doctor for the Lopez Clinic.
Sea Mar has agreed to honor preferences in referrals.
Epic/MyChart is the records system used by Sea Mar health clinics, so we anticipate a smooth transition between UW and Sea Mar.
Sea Mar has agreed to offer a position to all current clinic staff and match their current salary. Sea Mar has a proven record of recruiting medical providers in small communities and remote rural areas and offer programs to attract staff, such as paid training programs for medical assistant prospects.
In initial discussions, we have emphasized how important these connections are to Lopez and Sea Mar has responded positively.
Patient experience surveys shared by Sea Mar from 2025 indicate high levels of patient satisfaction, especially interactions with providers.
Sea Mar accepts many major types of insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, Ambetter, United HealthCare, WellPoint, Molina, and CHPW. We are working on a complete list. More soon!
Patients will call the Lopez Clinic directly to schedule appointments and for other needs.
Sea Mar is actively discussing a strong working relationship and contracts with the Pharmacy and Physical Therapy, and has met with Lopez-based dentist Dr. Christine Aufderhar.
Sea Mar has agreed to grant 24/7 access to the clinic for use by Lopez Fire/EMS.
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Through careful financial management, the Lopez Island Hospital District has built up a reserve that is sufficient to cover anticipated start-up costs. The District’s reserve stands at $600,000 as of January 2026.
Sea Mar is a Federally Qualified Health Center, which would enable the Lopez Medical Clinic to receive additional federal resources.
A reduced subsidy from the Hospital District suggests that no additional tax levy would be anticipated and funds may be available to explore investments in other services such as after-hours care.
INFORMED BY LOPEZ VIEWS AND VALUES
Operating more than 90 community-based clinics, Sea Mar has a 48-year history of delivering quality primary health care to diverse communities in Washington State. Many Sea Mar clinics are located in small communities and rural areas.
Sea Mar was one of the first community health centers accredited by Joint Commission and has received the Gold Seal of Approval by demonstrating compliance with national standards for health care quality and safety. Reviews of their quality outcomes indicate high quality health care at a reasonable cost.
Sea Mar is a nonprofit corporation founded by Latino community activists and health advocates who sought to establish a Seattle health center, with satellite clinics in rural communities. In 1978, Sea Mar opened its first clinic in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood and in 1985, it opened a second clinic in Mount Vernon in the Skagit Valley. Today, Sea Mar operates eight Skagit clinics in Mount Vernon, Anacortes and Concrete, including Primary Care, Women’s Clinic and Maternity Services.
Serving the health care needs of a small, remote community is in keeping with Sea Mar’s mission of delivering high quality health care to underserved communities. Sea Mar is enthusiastic about the prospect of operating the Lopez Clinic, which would be aligned with their thriving Skagit County practice. Sea Mar has indicated that they are planning for the long-term and would like to attract more Lopezians to use the Lopez Clinic.
Sea Mar has many clinics operating in small communities and rural areas. A few examples in Northwest Washington include:
Skagit County:
Mount Vernon Women’s Clinic
Mount Vernon Medical Clinic
Mount Vernon Maternity Services
Mount Vernon Dental Clinic
Mount Vernon Health Care for the Homeless
Anacortes Behavioral Health Clinic
Concrete Medical Clinic
Island County:
Oak Harbor Dental Clinic
Oak Harbor Behavioral Health Clinic
Whatcom County:
Everson Medical Clinic
Ferndale WIC and Maternity Support Services Clinic
Clallam County:
Port Angeles Dental Clinic
Snohomish County:
Monroe Medical Clinic
Monroe Dental Clinic
Monroe Maternity Services
INDEPENDENT CLINIC
While negotiations with Sea Mar are underway, exploration of the option of an independent clinic continues.
A joint committee of the Hospital District and the Catherine Washburn Medical Association vigorously explored the option of establishing an independent clinic on Lopez. An independent clinic would operate without support from a larger off-island partner for back office and clinic operation expertise.
This exploration included consultations with outside consultants with legal and financial expertise and revealed significant legal and administrative hurdles to establishing an independent clinic under Washington state law.
Extensive research by community members and expert consultants has revealed several daunting requirements for an independent clinic, including developing a new business structure and identifying affordable sources for required centralized systems. Research into Washington State law revealed that the Hospital District cannot by law operate the clinic or hire medical personnel directly.
Of the eight health systems responding to our request for proposals, all but Sea Mar have either withdrawn from consideration to provide a long term solution or it has been determined they are unable to meet the community requirements to operate the clinic.
An independent clinic remains an option if the negotiations with Sea Mar are not fruitful.
The LIHD and CWMA are continuing to review with Sea Mar the required and desired services identified through a community survey and listening sessions with key community leaders and health care partners. So far, discussions with Sea Mar suggest that it could meet our needs. However, negotiations are still in progress, so the LIHD and CWMA feel it is wise to continue to explore how to overcome the complexities of an independent practice if partnership negotiations aren’t fruitful.
NEXT STEPS
Yes, we had a Town Hall on February 23, 2026 to give Lopez residents the opportunity to learn more about Sea Mar and ask questions.
We will inform the community of any Special Meetings or Town Halls that we will have as we work toward a finalized contract in early March and then transition the clinic in June 2026.
The community is always also welcome at our Regular Board Meetings where we conduct the business of the Hospital District and hear and give reports regarding our community partners. We generally also have a brief report about the clinic transition around 5:00 pm at these meetings. Scheduled for February 25, March 25, April 22, May 27, and June 24 from 4:00-6:00 pm at the LIFRC Meeting Room and by Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3903428884
In February, LIHD convened a special meeting, a town hall, and a regular board meeting to review, discuss, and potentially approve moving forward with securing a contract with Sea Mar. In March, LIHD and Sea Mar counsel will be creating a Definitive Agreement (operating agreement/contract) for the LIHD board to review and sign.