Family Care Network, the largest provider of primary care medical services in Whatcom County, has reached a preliminary agreement with North Cascade Family Physicians in Mount Vernon for a new affiliation that could be complete by the end of the year.

Under the agreement, the Mount Vernon practice, which has seven physicians and three mid-level practitioners, would become the newest practice site location of the Family Care Network.

Both organizations are now working to harmonize their systems for medical record keeping, clinical care, contracting and billing, according to a press release. When the alliance is completed, owner physicians at North Cascade Family Physicians will become physician partners with FCN, and part of the shared governance of Family Care Network.

The Whatcom County-based Family Care Network was founded in 1999 by a group of local family physicians. It currently has 59 family physicians, 14 mid-level practitioners and more than 300 employees located in 10 offices throughout the area.

The organization’s offices include: Bellingham Bay Family Medicine, Birch Bay Family Medicine, Center for Medical Testing and After Hours Urgent Care, Everson Medical Clinic, Family Health Associates, Ferndale Family Medical Center, Lynden Family Medicine, North Sound Family Medicine, Squalicum Family Medicine, and Whatcom Family Medicine.

Family Care Network is online at www.familycarenetwork.com.