Advance practice providers essential to health care on Whidbey
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 1, 2026
By CEO NATHAN STAGGS and
BOARD PRESIDENT MARION JOUAS
To our island community,
We are writing in response to the recent public comments during the WhidbeyHealth March 2026 Board of Commissioners’ meeting. A comment, written in response to an article in the American College of Physicians journal by one of WhidbeyHealth’s commissioners, regarding the role, education and oversight of advanced practice providers, known as APPs, in our community was brought forward and read by a member of the public.
We want to begin by acknowledging the commissioner’s perspective as a physician. These are important conversations. However, several assertions made in the comment warrant clarification to ensure our community has an accurate understanding of how care is delivered at our hospital and clinics.
First, on the issue of terminology: we agree that clarity matters. Patients should always know who is providing their care. In our organization, we are deliberate in identifying clinicians by their credentials — physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant — and we expect all members of our care team to introduce themselves clearly. Every employee of WhidbeyHealth is required to wear a name badge that identifies their credentials. Transparency is not optional; it is foundational to trust.
Second, regarding education and training: it is correct that physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants follow different educational pathways. It is not correct to suggest that APPs are untrained or inadequately prepared. Our APPs complete graduate-level education, national certification and extensive clinical training before entering practice. They also participate in ongoing continuing education, competency validation, and structured onboarding when they join our organization.
Third, with respect to oversight and collaboration: the assertion that there is “little or no supervision” does not reflect how care is delivered in our system. Our APPs practice within defined clinical frameworks that include physician collaboration, case review, and established protocols. In a rural Critical Access Hospital, care is delivered as a team — physicians and APPs working together to ensure patients receive timely, appropriate, and high-quality care. This model is not a workaround; it is a nationally recognized approach to sustaining access while maintaining standards.
Finally, on the broader concern about quality: we categorically reject the implication that care delivered by APPs represents a decline in quality. Our responsibility is to ensure that every patient receives safe, evidence-based and compassionate care. We monitor quality metrics, patient outcomes, and satisfaction closely, and we hold all clinicians — regardless of title — to the same high expectations.
Rural health care faces real challenges, particularly in recruiting and retaining physicians. Without APPs, access to care in communities like ours would be significantly reduced. The question is not whether patients should see a physician or an APP — the question is whether they can receive timely, competent care close to home. Our model ensures that they can.
We remain committed to transparency, quality and continuous improvement. We also remain proud of the physicians and APPs who serve this community with professionalism, skill and dedication every day.
Nathan Staggs is the chief executive officer of the WhidbeyHealth hospital district. Marion Jouas is president of the Board of Commissioners for the hospital district.
