Volume 11, Issue 15 July 18, 2003
In This Corner by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.
We are in a wait and see period with our Congress
and the Medicare reform legislation. Two weeks ago Congressman Hastings visited
with us here at the hospital and assured our Board Chairman Jim Sewell and
myself that he would continue to support modifications to the reform legislation
that will help rural hospitals.
The House and Senate are in the process of
establishing members of a conference committee. Earlier this week they announced
the committee members. While there is no one from Washington on the committee
there are representatives from Western rural areas such as Montana and South
Dakota that will understand the needs of small hospitals. That committee is
expected to take the next 30-60 days to iron out differences between the two
bills.
What we have asked Senators Cantwell and Murray to
support (along with Congressman Hastings) is a provision that would make our
state one of four in a demonstration project to allow hospitals of 50 beds or
less to receive reimbursement from the federal government on a cost per service
basis. As the Senate passed their version of the bill, Kansas and Nebraska were
named as two of the four test project states. We have joined many others in
lobbying for Washington's inclusion on this list.
As the political future remains at best unclear we are glad to celebrate the commencement of practice by Dr. April Biggs this week (pictured below). If you have not already had opportunity to meet Dr. Biggs please make her welcome when you do. Dr. Biggs is in Grandview Medical Center with Dr. Karen Easton. She began practice on Tuesday.
We are also pleased to announce the signing of Dr. Robert Kim. Dr. Kim is a urologist who will be relocating from Northern California. Dr. Kim and his wife will be back in town next month on a house hunting trip. He plans to open his practice about October 1st.
I would like to say thanks to Alan VanBeek and the maintenance crew who approached me about hosting an all hospital BBQ next Friday, July 25th. It sounds like a fine idea - I'll be by to flip a few burgers - and I hope you will take in this lunch too. This event is funded by the organizers, Jim Schlenker, and myself. There will be no cost to employees, volunteers and any hungry docs who happen by. Enjoy. It will be on the lawn near the Quality House from 11:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Two new UHS/Kansas City medical students will arrive on site late next month. They are Andrea Opalenik and Jennifer Dumbolten.
July New
Employees (continued from front page)
Left to right:
Eva Ayala. Eva works in the Lab. She lives in Outlook. She has lived in the Valley for 17 years. She is originally from Portland, Oregon. She is married and has two sons. She writes, " I am excited and hope to stay at SCH for a long time."
Amanda Hibbs. Lives in Yakima and works in Diagnostic Imaging. Amanda is a recent grad of the YVCC Radiologic Sciences program. Amanda and her husband Mike have been married 3 1/2 years. They have one son named Dakota. While she was in school she worked as a Unit Secretary at Memorial.
Tara Bailes Norris. Lives in Zillah and works in Diagnostic Imaging. She was married June 28 to Joshua Norris. She is also a recent graduate of YVCC Radiologic Sciences.
Bethelle Wong Abringe. Works in Med/Surg. Lives in Sunnyside. Bethelle is the 4th nurse to come to the Valley from the Philippines. She and her husband, Adrian, had only been married three months when they arrived here.
She writes," I was just so glad to find that everybody was so great to us. Everybody has been helping us get settled and making most of our time more enjoyable so as not to miss our home that much. A million thanks to all the people who have made everything so great."
Shriners Pediatrics Programs via Telehealth
All staff interested in pediatrics care are invited to attend a series of telehealth presentations presented by the Shriners Hospital system. The programs will be in the classroom beginning September 12th at 12:30. This is a once a month series of specialized programs suitable for nursing, physicians and other caregivers.
You can download a pdf copy of the program schedule here. Or for more information contact Gabriella Barker.
Other Telehealth programs coming up include:
"Surgical Infection Prevention" July 24th at 1:30 p.m. in the classroom
"Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes" July 30th 9:00 p.m. in the classroom.
Translation Test Planned
submitted by Lisa Garcia
If you are interested in receiving credit for your ability to act as a translator the hospital has come up with an opportunity you don't want to miss.
July 28 and 29 a written test will be given for all those interested in receiving in house certification as a Spanish to English translator. If you pass this written test, you will then be asked to take an oral test. Passage of both means an extra 75 cents per hour pay - plus an opportunity to be recognized and available as an in house certified translator.
The test takes one hour and will be given both days between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Please RSVP and indicate which date and time you would like to test.
Employee Insurance Deductibles
submitted by Lisa Garcia
When the hospital modified our employee health insurance to the new Dimension Premera Blue Cross Plan some deductibles already paid did not get credited to every employee. Thanks to the Business Office for noticing this omission - the Blue Cross customer service leader has promised us they will go back through all the records of covered hospital employees and make an update very soon.
Free Basketball Camp
Sunnyside High Girls Basketball Coach Leo Gomez is hosting a free basketball camp for girls and boys in grades 1-6 Monday and Tuesday (July 21-22). The hospital is a co-sponsor of this camp.
Sign up is underway at the Sunnyside Parks and Recreation Department through Monday afternoon. The camp is limited to the first 50 children who sign up. Coach Gomez says the purpose of the camp is to promote basketball with Sunnyside youngsters and attract more boys and girls to the game.
Women's Health Night in September
Please mark September 18th on your calendar for the 4th annual SCH Women's Health Night. This year's event has been timed to be associated with the start of Sunshine Days in Sunnyside.
If you would like to help out with Women's Health Night and have not already been "volunteered" please contact this year's chair Sandra Linde.
Free BBQ July 25th
submitted by the BBQ Kings
You are invited to a no-charge all staff lunch BBQ next Friday from 11:30 to 1:30 on the Quality House lawn. As mentioned earlier - this event is being organized by the Maintenance team, Jim, Jon, Tom & few other world class BBQ-ers.
The menu will be burgers, salad, and soft drinks. The BBQ Kings wanted to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy some time together on a sunny Friday afternoon. So, please try to schedule your lunch times around the day so everyone in the department can go.
Volunteers and doctors will be welcome too.
Continue to Support "Day of Caring"
Thanks to everyone who has already brought items to help Lower Valley Crisis and Support Services in our Day of Caring Drive. Please note that the drive will continue a bit longer.
Items to bring include: deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, tampons/pads, hair gel, games, cards, diapers, cotton balls, q-tips, baby wipes, bedding and towels/washcloths in good shape. There are decorated boxes in lounges and departments around the hospital. You can also take them to the Quality House if you prefer.
Questions? Contact Carol Allen. Be sure and stop by and greet Carol in her new office next door to Accounting.