Well, it’s official. After months of waiting and planning and worrying, Vashon’s largest medical clinic will reopen under new management on Monday, Sept. 26. While this is the culmination of efforts on the parts of countless people from the island, county and state, it is not the end point. In fact, this is just the beginning for the islanders who will be the ones actually using the clinic for everything from day-to-day care to emergencies.

It’s time to get to know the clinic, what it offers and how it can best be utilized. Many of Neighborcare Health’s clinics go beyond medical care, offering dental care, counseling services, nutrition and substance abuse services and social work. This island has broad healthcare needs, but limited resources that some island organizations struggle to maintain. Neighborcare has a large network and considerable expertise. In the coming months, it will be time to figure out how Neighborcare can meet island needs.

For now, the focus is on more immediate concerns, and a group of islanders have set up an information station at the vacant storefront north of Glass Bottle Creamery that is staffed Monday through Friday. It’s time to go ask questions, absorb information and gear up to use this clinic to the best of everyone’s ability.

In the same vein, it’s time to get down to business and get records from CHI Franciscan and Fulton Family Medicine transferred. Forms are available online and at the downtown Information Station for former Franciscan patients, and previous Fulton Family Medicine patients can stop by the office Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to transfer records.

Also coming up, two islanders who have been involved in the clinic process will give a presentation at the Land Trust building on Thursday and field questions about the clinic.

Islanders have answered the financial call and raised enough money to allow the clinic to be viable for at least the first two years, but a secondary effort is underway to raise money for an X-ray machine that the Sunrise Ridge facility is without — and will cost more than $100,000. Islanders who can support this purchase, should, but all islanders, regardless of financial status, should get educated and get records in line.