PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center has hired a locum tenens physician as a member of its permanent provider staff, Chief Physician Officer Dr. Allen Chen told the board of commissioners Wednesday.

Dr. Calvin Kuo, a family medicine physician, will start in August after his locums contract ends, Chen said.

“When he signed his contract and sent it back to me, he said in an email, ‘I’ve never worked for an organization, a more supportive or more caring group of providers. That speaks volumes and what I want to hear.”

OMC has been trying to ease its reliance on expensive locum tenens — or “locums” — who are temporary health care professionals like physicians, physician assistants and nurses. It is a competitive hiring environment, and attracting candidates for positions across OMC has been challenging.

“We have made significant inroads in terms of recruiting,” Chen said. “I see approximately five to seven people on a weekly basis and have one hire every two weeks or so.”

The board also heard a report on updates to OMC’s compliance program from consultants Debbie Troklus and Sheryl Vacca. The compliance and risk management professionals have been working with OMC staff to revise the hospital’s code of conduct, develop a compliance training program, develop a robust conflict of interest policy and evaluate its patient privacy program.

OMC has hired a compliance specialist and is in the process of recruiting a compliance officer.

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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.