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Prosser Memorial Hospital – a part of Prosser Memorial Health – has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in computed tomography (CT) from the American College of Radiology (ACR). This reaccreditation was awarded following a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians, who assessed Prosser Memorial’s image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.

CT scanning is a noninvasive medical test that specifically provides clear pictures of bones and particularly soft tissues, which an ordinary X-ray doesn’t show. CT scans assist providers in diagnosing health problems such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease and trauma and musculoskeletal disorders. The accreditation was specifically for head, neck, chest and abdomen testing in adult patients.

“This [American College of Radiology] accreditation for CT reflects our organization’s dedication to providing our patients with top-quality imaging services in a safe environment,” Prosser Memorial CT Technologist Mandy Hibbs, ARRT RT (R) (CT) (BD), said.

The ACR, founded in 1924, is a professional medical society dedicated to serving patients and society by empowering radiology professionals to advance the practice, science and professions of radiological care.

Source: https://prosserhealth.org/2018/05/30/ct-earns-national-accreditation-for-quality-patient-safety/

On March 28, a Kia Soul was placed on the third-floor patio of the Benjamin H. McGough, MD, Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Unit at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. The Kia, donated by Vancouver’s Dick Hannah Dealerships, will aid PeaceHealth rehabilitation therapists in training patients dealing with newly acquired functional impairments to safely exit and enter a vehicle.

“This is an important component for our patient’s safety, independence and lifestyle after returning home into the community,” said Conny Miller, manager of rehabilitation services at PeaceHealth Southwest. “We are excited to have this tool on our floor for patients to practice with.”

Source: http://www.wsha.org/articles/new-rehab-center-at-peacehealth-southwest-will-include-car-for-mobility-practice/

Summit Pacific Medical Center (SPMC) will have a new chief financial officer overseeing their financial strategies effective May 1. James Hansen, CPA, MBA will be joining the team and offering more than 20 years of healthcare specific financial experience to the hospital district.

Hansen is a seasoned health care executive with a history of progressive accounting, financial and management experience in large integrated healthcare delivery systems. Hansen earned a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University and obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Washington State University.

He most recently served as controller of Watsonville Community Hospital, a 106 bed California-based facility offering a comprehensive portfolio of medical and surgical services. Hansen previously worked at Sutter Medical Center based in Sacramento and prior to that spent 17 years working at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, WA.

“I am looking forward to being an integral member of a strong senior leadership team, providing financial direction and developing and implementing critical strategies to successfully achieve the organization’s mission and vision,” said Hansen.

The hospital district’s former CFO, Will Callicoat, resigned in November. Callicoat served as CFO from 2011-2017. The position has been open for the past six months with fiscal associate, and past CFO of the hospital district, Ron Hulscher, serving as interim. “We had around 50 applicants who applied over a period of 6 months, but we held off until we found someone with the necessary experience and a healthy dose of the “Summit Factor,” said Josh Martin, CEO.

The chief financial officer position is responsible for organizational financial analysis, medical records and compliance, all accounting, materials management, information technology and the revenue cycle.

Source: https://summitpacificmedicalcenter.org/summit-pacific-medical-center-welcomes-new-chief-financial-officer/

(ELMA, WA) –Summit Pacific Medical Center recently welcomed a second naturopathic physician, Dr. Nicole Taylor, who will be seeing patients at McCleary Healthcare Clinic during the week and on Saturdays at Summit Pacific Healthcare Clinic.

Dr. Taylor is a naturopathic physician providing family medicine with a focus in women’s health, from adolescence through and beyond menopause. She has extensive knowledge and experience in hormone replacement therapy and weight management.

Saturday primary care appointments are new to Summit Pacific in an effort to create more access for those seeking healthcare. It is important for patients to have access to healthcare that meets their needs and that more appointments are offered during hours when people are most available.

SPMC has been working to increase access to healthcare in our community in a variety of other ways including introducing the 24/7 virtual care clinic, opening the urgent care clinic, then drastically expanding the hours of urgent care to 12 hours a day, seven days a week and with the addition of Saturday clinics for children.

“We have prioritized finding ways to provide our community easier access to routine healthcare needs and part of that plan is being able to offer more appointments outside of normal business hours, such as Saturdays,” said Renée Smith, Director of Rural Health Clinics. “We know it is a burden on families to take time out of their daily routines to seek healthcare.”

Summit Pacific offered one Saturday Well-Child Exam day in 2017 and saw tremendous success. More than 60 children were seen and nearly 70 immunizations administered. One mother was able to get five children up to date on immunizations in one day, rather than making individual appointments and taking time away from work. Smith added, “Because of the first Saturday clinic’s success, we have committed to offering two Saturday Well-Child Exam days this year for families.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicole Taylor, or information on the Saturday clinic for children or any services offered by Summit Pacific, call 360-346-2222.

Source: https://summitpacificmedicalcenter.org/summit-pacific-offering-saturday-appointments-with-the-addition-of-dr-nicole-taylor/

Summit Pacific Medical Center’s Will Callicoat, CFO has been awarded Rural Hospital CFO of the Year—Washington by CFO Monthly.

Commenting on the award’s program, Katherine Benton, Awards Coordinator stated, “The Global CFO Excellence Awards 2017 have been established to recognize CFO’s whose efforts give rise to the success of firms across the world. It is my pleasure to congratulate each of my deserving award winners and wish them the best of fortunes going forward.”

To find out more about these prestigious awards and the dedicated professionals selected for them, please visit http://cfo-review.com/.

Source: https://summitpacificmedicalcenter.org/will-callicoat-named-rural-hospital-cfo-year-washington-summit-pacific-named-best-critical-access-hospital-washington/

Issue

With CMS and Washington State detailing specific targets for transitioning to value-based payment (VBP), and private payers clearly expressing their intent to accelerate the transition, rural providers must create the infrastructure and culture to manage the transition or run the very real risk of being left behind and compromising access and outcomes for the communities they exist to serve.

Solution

Washington Rural Health Collaborative developed a shared, collaborative-wide performance improvement function to improve the capacity of collaborative hospitals to collect, analyze and improve clinical and financial metrics, to reduce costs while improving quality, and prepare member hospitals for the movement from volume to value-based. The initiative included assessment of readiness, quality and financial benchmarking, identification of VBP opportunities that would allow collaborative members to test the waters without risk and individual roadmaps for each facility to achieve this. By leveraging the strength of the collaborative, we were able to identify and put into place initial analytic resources, along with the QI leadership to support members in implementing their roadmap and a process for identifying value-based contracting opportunities that would allow them to learn without risk.

Outcome

At the end of 2016, 92% of the Washington Rural Health Collaborative member hospitals were participating in value-based contracting.

Source: Rural Hospital Network Achieves Value-Based Readiness and Transformation

SHELTON — Mason General Hospital and Family of Clinics was recently named a “Most Wired Hospital” in 2016.

It was the ninth straight year the hospital has received the designation from the American Hospital Association’s Health Forum.

The “Most Wired” survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15, was recently published by “Health & Hospitals Networks.”

The 2016 Most Wired Survey is a leading industry barometer measuring information-technology use and adoption among hospitals nationwide, according to the American Hospital Association.

The survey represented an estimated 2,146 hospitals — more than 34 percent of all hospitals in the U.S.

“We are once again delighted to have received this outstanding recognition for the ninth year in a row,” Hospital Chief Executive Officer Eric Moll said. “This year’s survey was based on how we have leveraged our (information technology) to improve performance for value-based health care in the areas of infrastructure, business and administrative management, quality and safety, and clinical integration.”

The “Most Wired” award presents a strong alignment with the hospital district’s strategic vision of united community, empowered people, exceptional health, Moll said.

“This was all made possible through the leadership of Tom Hornburg, our chief information officer and his outstanding staff,” Moll said.

Hornburg said he was honored that the hospital district won the award nine straight years.

“This award shows the enduring dedication of our staff in working with technologies to help our patients achieve their best health,” Hornburg said.

According to the national survey, one of the characteristics of a Most Wired Hospital is its use of ‘telehealth’ to fill gaps in care, providing services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and expand access to medical specialists.

Mason General Hospital uses telehealth in stroke care and mental health services.

“We are breaking out of the traditional four walls of our Hospital and Clinics by providing care where and when patients need it,” Moll said. “(Mason General Hospital and Family of Clinics) exemplifies this transformation by harnessing technology, engaging patients and offering services remotely.”

Source: http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/local_news/mason-general-hospital-named-most-wired/article_92e1bb5a-6960-11e6-9fdb-1797af74d4fc.html