Lenore Bayuk Honored

Lenore Bayuk and Husband John Stamey with her award – Click for larger image – Contributed photo

Lenore Bayuk was honored at the April 30th, 2014 San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1 (PHD) meeting for her outstanding leadership as the Board Chairperson from November, 2005 to March, 2014.

During her tenure there were many milestones. In 2005 the old Inter Island Medical Center (IIMC) began to slip into financial distress. A potential solution was to obtain designation as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). For that purpose, Beth Williams-Gieger first made a presentation to our Community and the Public Hospital District board in May 2006.

Under the leadership of Charlie Anderson and Tom Cable, the “San Juan Community Hospital Committee” was incorporated in May of 2007 to investigate establishing a CAH here on San Juan Island. In November 2007 Krista Mattox reported PeaceHealth’s interest in that possibility. Five years to the month later, Peace Island Medical Center opened its doors and replaced our IIMC, whose financial woes no longer could be eased by any additional sacrifice by staff or administration.

Michael Edwards, current Chairperson, with Lenore Bayuk and her award for 8.5 years of being the SJCPHD#1 Chairperson – Click to enlarge – Contributed photo

In 2013 San Juan Island EMS/MedEvac and Island Air Ambulance became CAMTS accredited. Later that year they received the ‘Fixed Wing Award of Excellence’ from the Association of Air Medical Services…this is a nationally acclaimed award (with only one per year).

Also in 2013, PIMC received AIA’s nationally acclaimed sole, annual “Healthcare Design Award” for a healthcare facility with a construction cost of less than $25M.

Through all these challenges and achievements, the PHD served under one Chairperson–Lenore Bayuk. Her astute, focused, soft-spoken leadership carried us through days when the PHD was criticized and misunderstood for its collective vision and dedication to sustain and improve our District’s health care.

The PHD Board sincerely thanks Lenore for her many years of talented leadership, and appreciates her ongoing service to our hospital district.

J. Michael Edwards
Rosanna O’Donnell
Mark Schwinge
Keri Talbott

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