Harbor Regional Health to open Ocean Shores primary‑care clinic; residents press for walk‑in hours

Harbor Regional Health presented plans on Thursday to open a primary‑care clinic in Ocean Shores, but hospital officials and city residents clashed over whether the site will offer immediate walk‑in services.

Scott Anderson, the City Administrator for Ocean Shores, opened the session and turned the presentation over to Harbor Regional Health. Commissioner Lynn Sonata, a hospital district commissioner, told the audience that the clinic project has been a multi‑party effort. "There's going to be a clinic here, as you all know," Sonata said, adding that the district and hospital worked with city leaders and community members on the effort.

Hospital leaders said the new Ocean Shores site will initially provide primary‑care services and that the facility still must complete architectural work and state review. Elizabeth Temperley, executive director for outpatient clinics and physician services at Harbor Regional Health, said the Department of Health must review construction plans and "has up to 75 days to review them." She described the clinic as starting with primary care and said it could expand if staffing and demand…