Learn about our Vashon Health Care District
We are accountable for individual and community health through partnerships and collaboration.
The mission of the Vashon Health Care District is to promote and maintain the health of the residents of Vashon and Maury Islands by supporting accessible quality health care through community partnerships, shared decision-making, transparency and responsible stewardship of resources
Officially, Vashon Health Care District is King County Public Hospital District #5.
Public Hospital Districts are governmental entities authorized by Washington state law to deliver health services to the communities they serve. They are created by public vote and governed by elected commissioners. Districts are authorized to collect property taxes in compliance with limitations established in state law.
Public Hospital Districts tailor their services to their communities’ needs. While most do in fact operate hospitals, others, like ours, do not. They instead provide or support services such as primary care, emergency medical services, long-term care, physical therapy and wellness education.
Click here for a directory of Public Hospital Districts in Washington. (from AWPHD site)
Vashon Health Care District:
Sea Mar Vashon Medical Clinic provides family medicine and behavioral health services and is part of the larger Sea Mar organization. The Vashon clinic is open to all patients, Monday-Friday 8-5, and takes most insurances. Sea Mar Clinic is not a walk-in or urgent care clinic, and all appointments are scheduled. Sea Mar Vashon also provides after-hours phone consultation with providers for established Sea Mar patients with medical concerns.
Vashon Natural Medicine provides primary, integrative, holistic health care for all ages, including pediatrics, Monday- Friday, 9-5. Their team of naturopathic doctors (NDs) and ARNPs focus on finding the root cause of illness, offering services like hormone balancing, nutrition support, herbal remedies, and specialized care for digestive, mental, and chronic health issues.
DispatchHealth, funded by VHCD, provides mobile urgent care 365 days a year, 11-7, accepts most insurance, and treats 95% of the most common ER diagnoses at home.
Vashon Island Fire and Rescue (VIFR) EMT’s and paramedics provide limited emergency care and transport to off-island emergency rooms and other facilities 24 hours a day by calling 911.
Vashon Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), funded in part by the VHCD, provides community-based care that fills gaps between primary, urgent, and emergency care, Monday- Friday, 8-4:30, and is paid for by tax dollars, with no cost to patients. Staffed by RNs, a social worker, and a full-time physician assistant, Vashon MIH assists in managing chronic health conditions, navigating the healthcare system, or accessing social services.
Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS) provides mental health care to youth, adults, and families on the island. Their services include counseling, family support, community-based case management, substance use disorder treatment and crisis intervention. They collaborate with other agencies to identify community members with multiple support needs, and is receives funding from the VHCD.
Vashon Be Prepared is a federally recognized non-profit coalition of disaster preparedness organizations. It works in conjunction with VIFR and volunteer organizations to plan and train for emergency responses to island disasters. Among the groups is the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a volunteer group of healthcare professionals who respond to healthcare needs, most recently during the COVID outbreak.
Vashon DOVE Project provides counseling and support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as community education and violence prevention training. DOVE’s mental health therapists provide services to anyone affected by trauma, and receive funding from the VHCD.
Vashon Pharmacy now provides comprehensive clinical services, including the management of chronic conditions and the treatment of uncomplicated acute conditions, in addition to its traditional vaccination and medication dispensing services. They accept some insurance, and visits are available by appointment.
Neighborcare School Clinic provides medical, dental, and mental health services by appointment on weekdays throughout the school year, with availability before, during, and after school hours. The clinic operates on the school calendar and is closed when school is not in session, including holidays. Services are provided at no cost to students. The clinic bills insurance when available, but no student is denied care due to lack of coverage.
Vashon Island lacks a hospital and medical specialists, requiring residents to travel to the mainland for many health care needs. Four primary care practices closed between 2010 and 2018 due to economic pressures, leading community volunteers to gather petition signatures to place a Public Hospital District measure on the ballot in 2019. The campaign established three clear goals for the Vashon Health Care District:
• Enhance services currently provided on Vashon Island by either working with current providers or seeking new providers.
• Assess current needs, including primary care, extended hours, urgent care, and other needs not currently met.
• Sustain Vashon health services with local funds necessary to create and support long-term stability in health care operations and facilities.
In November 2019, voters approved the Vashon Health Care District (VHCD) by 71-29% and elected five Commissioners. The District immediately confronted the challenge of replacing the island’s primary care provider before tax revenue became available.
The District contracted with Sea Mar Community Health Centers, funding operations through a King County Treasury Department line of credit to minimize service disruption. The District set its first levy in November 2020 for tax year 2021.
Between 2021 and 2023, VHCD subsidized Sea Mar primary care operations, retired first-year debt, and acquired property in the town core for a future community use. Beginning in 2023, Sea Mar transitioned to independent operation and VHCD no longer subsidizes its primary care operations. The District negotiated a collaborative transition while maintaining a safety net for future health care needs.
As of Spring 2023, the District began a planning effort to identify and prioritize other unmet healthcare needs on Vashon that it might employ its resources to address. Those efforts resulted in the identification of three areas of priority for future action: 1) providing prompt, on Island care for acute, but not life-threatening, injuries, and illnesses (urgent care); 2) improving behavioral health services and outcomes for Island, children and youth; 3) addressing the needs of vulnerable adults: elderly residents, adults with disabilities, those facing chronic illness, and individuals with limited access to healthcare services.
In 2024, the District funded new behavioral health positions, partnered with organizations on youth-focused projects, and contracted DispatchHealth for mobile urgent care services. VHCD established a Vulnerable Adults Work Group to address senior and disability needs, designating this as a fourth core priority in 2025. The District expanded partnerships, executed Compassionate Care agreements for uninsured patients, and integrated emergency planning in response to federal health funding reductions. In February 2025, the District launched emergency planning focused on infrastructure strengthening, preparedness, and proactive community health protection strategies.
The emergency planning produced concrete results. The Vashon Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program added a physician assistant, filling gaps between primary and urgent care and further reducing off-island visits for both insured and uninsured populations.
The Vashon Health Care District will continue adapting and expanding services to maintain accessible, high-quality health care for all community members.
