PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center commissioners are set to vote tonight on whether to authorize formal negotiations with potential healthcare partners, a major step in their ongoing effort to secure the hospital’s long-term sustainability.
The vote follows a decision made late last year by the board to begin exploring whether a strategic partnership or continued independence would better support OMC’s future. The move came as the hospital faced growing financial challenges, including rising labor and equipment costs and low Medicaid reimbursement rates—roughly 80 cents on the dollar.
In announcing the partnership exploration, Commissioners and hospital leaders said they were determined to find a solution that protects local care access, supports staff, and ensures long-term financial stability.
Chicago-based Juniper Advisory has been guiding the process and recently completed a round of evaluations with potential partners. Tonight’s vote would allow OMC leadership to begin negotiating one or more letters of intent that outline the terms of a potential affiliation. No potential partners have been named yet, and any agreement would still require future approval by the board.