To Our Lopez Island Community 

We’re writing to ask for your support in fostering a more constructive and respectful tone in our conversations—especially online—as we navigate a critical moment for healthcare on Lopez Island. 

As many of you know, the Catherine Washburn Medical Association and Lopez Island Hospital District are actively engaged in identifying the options for maintaining and growing the Clinic, as UW prepares to transition out. The stakes are high, and the decisions ahead will have long-lasting impacts on our community. Every step is being taken with care, supported by some of the top healthcare consultants in the state. We’re juggling multiple complex options, and while the process is stressful, we are making real progress. 

In just a few weeks, we’ll be ready to share the findings so far about potentials for partner healthcare systems as well as for an independent, locally owned and operated clinic. We look forward to opening this next phase of community conversation—grounded in facts, focused on possibilities, and guided by the shared values that make our island strong. 

We ask that, in the meantime, we all work together to maintain an atmosphere of respect. Online negativity—particularly when it becomes personal or political—does not help this process. In fact, it can hurt our ability to build the partnerships we need. Potential healthcare partners are watching. The impression our community makes matters. 

Please remember: behind every decision are real people with real concerns—about jobs, about access to care, about whether their insurance will cover the services they need next year. These are valid fears, and they are top of mind for us. We hear you, and we are working hard on solutions. To stay informed and learn more about the work underway, please visit the Clinic Transition page of our website at https://lopezislandhd.org/transition/. 

Now more than ever, let’s commit to supporting one another and keeping our minds open. The future of healthcare on Lopez depends on it.  

With respect and gratitude, 
CWMA & LIHD