ARLINGTON — To demonstrate its commitment to its affiliation with the Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics, Skagit Regional Health pledged a $72 million investment, over the next five years, to installing a new electronic health record system.

“This will be better not only for our doctors and nurses, but also our patients,” Skagit CEO Gregg Davidson said. “It will provide better connectivity.”

As the Arlington organization prepares to transfer its operations to Skagit by June 1, Cascade Valley CEO Clark Jones promised that its patients wouldn’t lose what they’ve come to love and rely on from their hometown hospital.

“This guarantees the continuation of our current medical services with an eye toward providing more, while retaining our employees,” said Jones, who noted that the agreement of affiliation has received Department of Health approval. “When they reviewed our plans, they determined this would promote continuity and avoid fragmenting services that they deemed an integral part of North Snohomish County.”

Jones expressed optimism to the city and school district, predicting “resources we’ve only dreamt of before,” as well as far fewer challenges in recruiting and retaining medical personnel, which in turn should lead to increased services.

He confirmed these details during the hospital’s joint meeting with the city and school district of Arlington Feb. 29, after recalling how previous affiliation efforts with PeaceHealth had failed.

Jones explained that by November of 2014, “The argument in favor of joining a larger organization was stronger than ever,” which was what led to Cascade Valley and Skagit’s three-way clinical affiliation with University of Washington Medicine.

From the first, Cascade Valley and Skagit agreed to coordinate patient care between them, and by December of last year reached an agreement for Skagit to lease and operate Cascade Valley.

Davidson pointed out that both organizations are public hospital districts with elected commissioners, so Skagit understands the challenges facing Cascade Valley.

“We know the dance you have to go through,” Davidson said. “But we will be stronger together.”