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Basic medical care is available in Port Angeles at OMC (Olympic Medical Center). It's difficult to establish as a new patient with primary care here. Many/most (if not all) of the FP's are not accepting new patients, particularly for Medicare/caid. Specialty care requirements generally mandate a trip to Seattle/Tacoma.
If specialty medical care is in the mix for you, you might want to also check out towns a little "closer in" such as Poulsbo, Silverdale and so forth.
Jamestown clinic will accept both new medicare and medicaid patients. Its a large clinic, that is run and supported by the Jamestown Indians, that provides to all almost all medical doctors, x-rays etc. Also the Sequim Medical Center which specializes in Heart problems and cancers is a partner to OMC in PA.
As far as specialty doctors, it true not many have a full time practice in the area but most come here a day or so to attend to the area needs.
Remember this area is not Seattle with about million people, and our 20-30 thousand or so can't support full time specialty doctors. Its a trade off that works for most of the people here.
Freepelican, your comment about the hospital in PA concerned me so I did some research using several respected hospital ratings vehicles. OMC ranks average in most areas, worse than average in a few and better than average in a few. As high or higher than the national average in patient satisfaction. Pretty much comparable to most hospitals and certainly comparable to the community hospitals in our current stomping grounds. Based on these results and barring a preponderance of negative anecdotal evidence (if you have any I'd love to hear it), I'd feel comfy with that 20 minute drive to OMC for routine hospital care. That actually seems fairly convenient to me...individual's perspectives can be so different. :-) We will be prepared for a Seattle hospital stay for the dicey stuff which we hope and pray never happens!
Last summer I unexpectedly wound up in our local community hospital (comparable to OMC on the ratings) for a few days and my care was, for the most part, excellent. My hubby advocated for me when necessary. One does need an advocate these days no matter which hospital we are talking about. Sad but true.
The biggest draw back in medical care on the Peninsula is if something like a serious auto wreak or bad heart attack etc. happens you will be transported to usually Harbor View in Seattle usually by helecopter. Can't image the cost of that. That applies to all of Clallam and Jefferson counties. Neither the hospitals in PT or PA can handle serious health issues. Although PA has an excellent ER. In the PT hospital if you are interested in Yoga classes or getting a band aide that the place for you.
Freepelican, your comment about the hospital in PA concerned me so I did some research using several respected hospital ratings vehicles. OMC ranks average in most areas, worse than average in a few and better than average in a few. As high or higher than the national average in patient satisfaction. Pretty much comparable to most hospitals and certainly comparable to the community hospitals in our current stomping grounds. Based on these results and barring a preponderance of negative anecdotal evidence (if you have any I'd love to hear it), I'd feel comfy with that 20 minute drive to OMC for routine hospital care. That actually seems fairly convenient to me...individual's perspectives can be so different. :-) We will be prepared for a Seattle hospital stay for the dicey stuff which we hope and pray never happens!
Last summer I unexpectedly wound up in our local community hospital (comparable to OMC on the ratings) for a few days and my care was, for the most part, excellent. My hubby advocated for me when necessary. One does need an advocate these days no matter which hospital we are talking about. Sad but true.
I'm sure the Port Angeles hospital is okay, not great, for things like breaking a bone. However, if you had a serious injury like a head injury, a life threatening heart attack, or kidney failure, I've never heard it described as above average or great. There seems to be a consensus opinion that there is a lot of room for improvement.
Many of the medical issues older adults face are not supported all that well on the Olympic Peninsula and many, if not most, have to go elsewhere for medical services. That is a indisputable fact. However, there are general doctors, dentists, etc. I think most people have trouble getting established.
20 minutes is a bit optimistic by the way... probably more like 30 or even 40, depending on exactly where you are coming from and traffic and road work.
Also, keep in mind that hospitals ratings are based on things like how well they comply with certain regulations, "efficiency," etc... not on patient perceptions/experience. I found this out while reading nursing home reviews for a relative... they were WAY WAY off. Some of the very worst got high ratings.
My sense is that you are determined to build a house on the Olympic Peninsula no matter what so I do wish you well. There are obvious positives to the area but the area also has serious practical issues that are unavoidable no matter how you rationalize it or turn a blind eye toward it. I believe this is especially true for the those retiring on the peninsula. I've had too many heart to heart conversations with people who had to move away not to know this.
The previous post reflects my experience. I would not let medical care deter me from living here. What has been hardest for me has been the unfriendliness. I do not go to church and that seems to be a prerequisite to meeting ppl here. Many ppl have relocated here so it is not a local thing it is just some kind of clique thing which I have never experienced in my life. This is a very beautiful area, just not very welcoming.
I am not religious in any way and I think you need to volunteer or join one of the many clubs in the area.
The SARC pool, weight rooms, and gym exercise classes, all kinds of difference class from art to fitness. This a very friendly place and its easy to meet people there.
Don't know your age but the senior center is another place to meet people.
But where ever you go its your responsibility to take the first step.
I am not religious in any way and I think you need to volunteer or join one of the many clubs in the area.
The SARC pool, weight rooms, and gym exercise classes, all kinds of difference class from art to fitness. This a very friendly place and its easy to meet people there.
Don't know your age but the senior center is another place to meet people.
But where ever you go its your responsibility to take the first step.
Have you counted the number of churches in Sequim? Compared to the population, it is huge.
Anyway, I came to this thread to share information, and my experiences seeking medical care here, not to be lectured.
To freepelican, this area is fairly remote, and no remote area in the USA has a plethora of topnotch medical care at your fingertips. You make choices. Go rural and take your chances or stay in an urban area. I have done both. When I lived in an urban area (San Diego) there were many great docs and facilities but the docs were overbooked and there was always terrible traffic to get anywhere. I have had my share of health issues since I moved here and it turned out OK. If you really want to live here, you will work it out.
Freepelican,
Indeed ratings for hospitals are only one aspect of quality health care.... I spent many years back and forth across the country in just about every state and every hospital large and small...
As far as emergencies, I do not underestimate the life saving ability of dedicated, passionate staff at many small rural community/county hospitals to get you stabilized and transported to the most appropriate facility for your specific trauma.
Matter of fact, it is some of the midsize chain hospitals, that sometimes have heavy politics internally, with professionals that are not always that happy, and tend to resist transferring patients out of their "network".
I grew up in the region where the OP comes from... Their are a couple of hospitals, I would always joke saying... "If I got enough blood in me just keep driving... Don't stop at that hospital!"... (Matter of fact, I have pains 40+ years later from getting "doctored up" at one of them just west of her. Oh I could rant about bad hospitals....)
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Ranquility.. Port Townsend hospital is growing, and moving the right direction... Yes, rural county hospitals have their challenges, but Jefferson is moving in the right direction with the $15M emergency/specialty service expansion.
I hear good things about Jamestown clinic.. (We used a native health facility in N. Wisconsin, top of the line technology, and really good staff! Casino money put to good use..)
I have been lurking, need to speak up now. We moved to PA/Sequim area 3 years ago in prep of retirement. We had a very hard time finding a decent family practice doctor because there are so few and their practices are so full but we finally did find one and she is very good, probably the best I have had, and I came from an urban area with many medical centers and several medical schools. I also found a good dentist and a good specialist for a chronic medical condition. It took some time to do this but no more time than it did where I lived before. Referrals from locals were useless. One year after we moved here, I had an eye condition that could have rendered me blind. I went to the local ER, who referred me to a specialist that came to Sequim but also had an office in Silverdale, 60 miles from here, across the Hood Canal. However, he treated me in Sequim and my vision is fine. I received top-drawer care from him. Right after that, I sustained a work- related injury and received very poor care from a specialist in Port Angeles. He had a real problem with treating workmens comp- related injuries so I ended up seeking treatment in Seattle. I had to drive about 30 miles to Kingston and take the ferry to Edmonds, then drive another 15 miles to the surgeon in Seattle. I would make a day of it, have something to eat, etc. Spouse went with me. Medical care in Seattle is world class.
My spouse worked in Silverdale, suburb of Bremerton, for 2 years, having just recently quit . It was not part of our plan , it just happened, you do what you have you have to do. He commuted from Port Angeles in all weather, worked 40 hour weeks, crossed the Hood Canal Bridge twice a day, encountered black ice, saw elk and bear along Highway 104. It can be done bit it wore him out and I would not recommend it.
Thanks for your post, Thisplacesucks. Your doc search experience sounds typical for most areas and I would expect it to take some time to find the right fit. Spoke to my stepsister last night cause she was checking out some property for us...she works at Harrison MC in Bremerton and at a private clinic in PA...and she said Harrison, which is only an hour away from Sequim, would be good for everything but certain specialty issues. That's a comfort.
And now that I actually see where Bremerton is on the map, I realize that my nephew who lives in Bellingham does not work in Bremerton as I had previously guess-posted. He works near Sedro-Woolley on the Skagit River.
I have a friend here who has had two work related injuries and her experience has been that many docs...she has seen many for both issues and was happy with only one or two...are not as user friendly as one might expect treating patients under Workman's Comp.
Too bad your spouse had to do all that driving...yuk. Must be quite a relief now.
Curious about your user name....does it describe you or where you live or something else? It's pretty strong.
The previous post reflects my experience. I would not let medical care deter me from living here. What has been hardest for me has been the unfriendliness. I do not go to church and that seems to be a prerequisite to meeting ppl here. Many ppl have relocated here so it is not a local thing it is just some kind of clique thing which I have never experienced in my life. This is a very beautiful area, just not very welcoming.
Thisplacesucks...have you tried volunteering in an area which is dear to your heart? Maybe assisted living/memory care/hospice or at risk kids or prison or neonatal intensive care as a baby cuddler...the list goes on and on. That is a great way to meet kind folks with whom we share an interest no matter where we live. :-)
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