PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center’s Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to move forward in the process of exploring a potential affiliation with UW Medicine.
The board authorized OMC leadership to finalize a letter of intent (LOI) with UW Medicine. This agreement allows both organizations to begin formal discussions about what a future partnership could involve.
According to OMC, the decision followed a review of available options and consideration of long-term healthcare needs on the North Olympic Peninsula. The LOI is not a binding agreement but signals the intent to continue exploring an affiliation.
“There are still many steps before anything would become final,” said Ann Henninger, OMC Board President. “The Board felt [UW Medicine] was the right organization for us to move forward with in this exploration process.”
Brad Simmons, President of Hospitals & Clinics at UW Medicine and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Washington, said the organization looks forward to continued discussions.
“We understand the importance of patients having access to high-quality care close to home, and we look forward to seeing how we may be able to work together,” Simmons said.
In the coming weeks and months, OMC and UW Medicine will work to identify next steps. Juniper Advisory, a firm specializing in healthcare partnerships, will continue to assist OMC in the process.