August 2026

Family Medicine vs. Emergency Care

Orcas Island is a magical island that truly sparkles in the summertime. For residents and visitors alike, Orcas Island provides so many opportunities for activities such as whale watching, swimming at Mountain Lake or hiking up Turtleback to see the glorious views. On occasion, those activities can lead to a fall, a twisted ankle or other injury. We’re here for you!

Island Primary Care – Orcas is a Rural Health Clinic located in Eastsound on Orcas Island, offering primary care with family medicine and pediatrics to both island residents and visitors.

We're committed to clear communication about what to expect. We always hold same-day and next-day appointments for urgent needs and acute illness. For routine and wellness exams, we work hard to get our patients in quickly, though availability may be a bit farther out than for urgent needs. Island Primary Care – Orcas keeps appointment access above industry standards to better serve the community.

All of our advertised services remain available, including after-hours care. A provider is always on call when the clinic is closed. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

We care deeply about this community, and we know summer brings a lot of extra demand. Thank you for your patience as we work to see everyone as quickly as we can.

Take care and be safe out there!

Please note: Island Primary Care – Orcas is not federally designated as an Urgent Care or Walk-In Clinic and is not an Emergency Department. This can affect billing for visitors to the island.

Welcome, Paula Whitmire, MD

Island Health is excited to welcome Paula Whitmire, MD, to Island Primary Care – Orcas this September. Dr. Whitmire completed her family medicine residency through Swedish Cherry Hill's Rural Training Program in Port Angeles, with a special focus on rural and community health. She's passionate about caring for patients of all ages—from newborns to older adults with complex chronic conditions—and brings particular interest in preventive care, LGBTQIA+ health and supporting patients with substance use disorder. Outside the clinic, Dr. Whitmire enjoys knitting, quilting and exploring the outdoors. She is looking forward to settling into life on Orcas Island. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Whitmire!

Calling and Texting 360.376.2561

Did you know we offer text messaging to communicate about appointments?

Patients can text 360.376.2561 to let the clinic know if you are:

Running late
Need to reschedule
Have a question about your visit

This texting service is not intended for clinical questions. We are excited to offer this service to enhance our patients' experience and satisfaction.

Please be aware that this line is not monitored outside of clinic hours, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. Our staff will see your text message when the clinic is open on the next business day.

This is the same line that you will get text messages from for appointment reminders. You can simply reply to those reminders to make scheduling and communication easy!

A New Way to Stay Informed About Your Prescriptions

Starting August 10, Island Health is introducing RxInform, a free, secure text service that keeps you informed about your prescriptions.

What you'll get:

A text confirming your prescription was sent to the pharmacy
Easy access to your prescription and pharmacy details
Available discounts and copay savings cards
The option to set a pickup reminder

Your information stays private—RxInform is HIPAA-compliant, and no personal health information is stored on your device. You can opt out anytime by replying STOP to the text message.

Look for a text message the next time your provider prescribes medication after August 10. We hope this makes managing your prescriptions easier.

Prescription Refills

If you need a prescription refill, please contact your pharmacy first as you may have refills available. They will reach out to your provider directly to get your refill started. This is the fastest way to fulfill your request!

The following are helpful reminders for patients with prescriptions:

New medications cannot be prescribed without an appointment with a provider.
If you are planning a vacation, please plan to have enough medication for your trip.
If your medication was prescribed by your specialist, please refill through the pharmacy, or contact the specialist’s office.
Plan before your medication runs low. Contact your pharmacy and stay up to date on your refills.
Allow 48-72 hours for refills and up to 10 days if it requires prior authorization.
You can also refill your current, active medications that have been prescribed by an Island Primary
Care – Orcas provider via the myIslandHealth Patient Portal.

Specialist Lab and X-ray Orders Reminders

Island Primary Care – Orcas is happy to facilitate lab and X-ray orders for an outside provider.

For more information on our outside lab protocols, visit: https://islandhealth.org/department/island-primary-care-orcas/.

Lab Scheduling Tip: Please allow at least two weeks for scheduling and processing of your lab work.

If you need your labs drawn urgently, the Island Health Laboratory has walk-in availability.

Island Health Main Campus

1211 24^th Street

Anacortes, WA 98221

Monday–Friday: 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Pre-employment drug screens, Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Closed Christmas and New Year's Day.

Sending Us an Order

Orders from providers outside of the Island Health system must be brought to our office or faxed to 360.466.6139 for review before an appointment can be scheduled.

Communicate with Your Ordering Provider

The provider who ordered your lab work or X-ray is responsible for communicating your results to you. Your results will also be available in the patient portal.

Free Taxi for Islander Appointments at Island Health

Patients who live in San Juan County can receive free round-trip taxi service when obtaining medical services at Island Health in Anacortes. Call Mert’s Taxi the day prior to your appointment to arrange this service, 360.708.6358

Back to School: Are Your Kids' Vaccinations Up to Date?

As summer starts to wind down, many parents and guardians are looking at their to-do lists for getting children ready for school in September. Don’t forget to include an appointment to ensure vaccinations are current. Island Primary Care – Orcas can also complete any sports physicals that may be needed for fall sports. Call or text us today to schedule an appointment: 360.376.2561.

Washington State Ferry Medical Preferential Load Program

Summer ferry traffic and travel challenges make traveling off island for medical appointments extremely difficult. Plan ahead and make your reservation as soon as you have an appointment date.

The Washington State Ferries Medical Preferential Loading program is for patients who will suffer detrimental health risks if they must wait for an extended period of time in line for the ferry. If a patient has a general medical appointment, a routine exam, or can wait in line for the next ferry, they do not qualify for the preferential load program, as outlined by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

For more information, visit the WSDOT Medical Preferential Load rules and regulations:

https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/WSF-MedicalPreferentialLoadProgram-RulesRegulations.pdf

Get In Contact

7 Deye Lane

Eastsound, WA 98245

P: 360.376.2561