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 allow.

Why it matters: Residents and local emergency responders said they expected a walk‑in clinic that would reduce pressure on the fire department and the hospital emergency department. Several speakers said the city used federal ARPA funds and public momentum to secure a clinic with the expectation of immediate walk‑in access; some audience members reacted with surprise and frustration when presenters described an appointment‑first opening.

Hospital officials outlined services currently offered in the regional system and recruiting efforts to staff new clinics. Tom Jensen, of Harbor Regional Health, and Temperley described Warren Medical Services and other clinics in Montesano, Hoquiam and Westport, and said the Ocean Shores site would be staffed as clinicians are recruited. The hospital also highlighted recent capital and clinical investments — including a cardiac catheterization lab that has been operating about five years and a new MRI — and said it is moving to a single electronic health record to improve continuity between inpatient and outpatient care.

Financial and regulatory context: Hospital leaders warned that Medicaid reimbursement and a paused federal direct‑payment program have significant budgetary impact. Jensen described the hospital’s payer mix and said changes to the state safety‑net assessment and federal programs could swing hundreds of thousands of dollars month to month. Hospital staff urged residents to contact federal and state legislators about funding risks.

Community reaction and next steps: Residents repeatedly asked whether the Ocean Shores clinic would accept walk‑ins and treat common acute complaints such as lacerations, respiratory illness and ear infections. Temperley said, "So we will be providing primary care services. Initially ... it will be by appointment only," and added that walk‑in or prompt‑care‑style access could follow if staffing and community demand support it. She also noted that Harbor Regional’s PromptCare service was converted to a walk‑in model in October 2023 for its existing locations, meaning patients do not have to be previously established with the hospital to receive care there.

Fire Chief Brian (introduced in the meeting as "Brian, the fire chief") told the group that the fire department supports expanded local care to reduce ambulance transports. Several residents pushed hospital leaders and city officials to negotiate a clearer schedule for walk‑in hours, at least seasonally, and asked for more transparency about how ARPA funds and the city’s expectations align with the hospital’s operational plans.

Hospital and city officials left the meeting without setting a firm opening date or definitive hours. Temperley and Scott Anderson said they would continue discussions with city leaders to explore phased or hybrid options that could add walk‑in hours as clinician recruitment and demand allow. The Department of Health construction review and the hospital’s staffing timeline were identified as key milestones before the clinic can open.

Ending: Harbor Regional Health said it will continue working with Ocean Shores on architecture, state approvals and staffing; residents said they expect follow‑up conversations and more concrete timelines. The hospital also promoted an upcoming foundation gala and volunteer opportunities that it said have helped fund recent equipment purchases such as the new MRI.