Volume 11, Issue 17 August 15, 2003
In This Corner by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.
Prior to leaving Washington, D.C. for the August break, the House and Senate passed a final bill that will give Washington State access to $34 million in State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funds. The bill is the first-step towards correcting a problem in the original SCHIP law that penalizes states like Washington that already expanded children’s health-care insurance. Under the new legislation, Washington State can use 20 percent of funds left over from 1998, 1999, and 2000 to support health-care insurance for low-income children. The President is expected to sign the bill into law.
Yakima County is second only two King
County in the number of low income children and families in the county.
So, this change has the potential to be of tremendous impact to many of the
patients we serve.
This change is the result of almost two years of tough negotiating and hard work
by our Congressional delegation. Senators Cantwell and Murray and
Representative Jennifer Dunn (a Republican from Seattle) introduced bills at the request of the Washington State
Hospital Association and Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in
Seattle. Our entire federal delegation cosponsored the legislation.
We especially want to thank Representative Dunn and Senators Cantwell and Murray
for working tirelessly with the various House and Senate committees to get this
change included in the final bill.
With summer waning I want to thank all of you for hard work on so many special projects underway right now. The 11th Annual Foundation Golf Tournament tees off tomorrow morning. Helping Sunnyside High School with sports physicals come up again next week. We also have our annual staff picnic in the park and swim party being organized by the Employee Committee. Women's Health Night will be the Thursday of Sunshine Days week on September 18th.
Please help out where you can, and make plans to enjoy the picnic in the park. As we work together through challenging times it is important to take the time out to enjoy each others company away from the pressures of daily work.
A special thanks to Caroline Sagrero
Caroline (left) worked for the past four weeks in the ED as a volunteer. Her goal
was to see what happens in a hospital to influence her career choices. She
was a quick learner and with her Spanish skills quickly became invaluable to
the staff in ED and other parts of the hospital when she helped them and the
patient by interpreting. Caroline used her own know known vocabulary and
added the medical words she was asked to interpret. I often saw her
reviewing medical words for the proper translation. Caroline is heading off
to college and we know she will go far because she does not wait for others
but jumps in and learns at all opportunities. Once again thanks and good
luck to you Caroline.
Linda Garner, RN/NSA & all the ED Staff.
Watch Where We Park!
submitted by Carol Allen, Customer Service Director
I received a patient complaint from a handicapped individual who came to the E.D. unaccompanied looking for a handicapped parking place near the E.D entrance.
When she arrived, the
parking spaces outside E.D. designated as "Loading Zone" where the
curb is marked with yellow were all taken and she was the only patient in the
E.D. Since we don't have
handicapped parking near the E.D., it is important that this loading zone area
not be utilized by employees for parking. Alan
Van Beek is working with the city to see if/where handicapped parking could be
made available.
In the mean time,
please do not park in the Loading Zone area near the E.D. on Tacoma Ave.
These spaces are for patients (both handicapped and not) seeking
treatment in the E.D. Please
take this concern serious. Taking 2-3 minutes to walk an extra 10 yards is
a very simple way to demonstrate your personal commitment to our customer
service program.
Barker Completes BSN Program
Garbriella Barker this week celebrated completion of course work for her BSN degree through the University of Victoria.
By keeping long hours of study on nights and weekends Gabriella was able to complete a four year program in two hard years of study.
She made a promise to her dad shortly before he passed away that she would finish her BSN studies. And that promise motivated her to do the long hard hours - in addition to being a fulltime employee, wife and mom.
She will be attending a graduation convocation in Victoria in November. She is also making plans to complete a masters program with emphasis on nursing, business and healthcare administration.
Way to go!
Sports Physicals August 19th
The hospital auxiliary is having a BAKE SALE in the front lobby on 8/29 from 9a to 1p.
Women's Health Night September 18th
Foundation Golf Tourney August 16th
All Staff Picnic August 21st
Get out your swim trunks and make plans now for the annual all staff picnic and swim party in Central Park August 21st. This event is brought to you by the Employee Relations Committee.
The picnic/BBQ will begin at 6:00 p.m. There will be a hospital-only swim party in the city pool from 7:45 to 9:45 p.m.
Please bring a dessert of a salad to share at the BBQ. This is for you and your family to come enjoy a night in the pool.
DOH approves sale of
Yakima area hospitals
Agency also approves switch to
for-profit status
The Department of Health has approved the sale of Providence Toppenish Hospital and Providence Yakima Medical Center. Health Management Associates (HMA) of Florida is buying the two facilities from Providence Washington Regional Services for a price of $81,758,544. The approval also converts the facilities from non-profit to for-profit operation.
Washington law requires approval from the Department of Health and an opinion from the Attorney General on whether the proposed acquisition of a non-profit hospital by a for-profit firm meets statutory requirements.
Nursing Notes
submitted by Linda Garner
Our patients are now to be offered education on the "Mental Health Directive". Nursing
Staff in conjunction with Admitting will be educating all in-patients
(adults & emancipated Youths) on their ability to fill out a Mental Health
Directive. Nursing will be required to read an education packet prior to
the star of this program. This required reading will be available in each
nurses station on their computer. A memo will be sent out to the nurses
with the direction to access the information.
Donna Dill, RN, one of our own, began August 11th as the Director of
Maternal & Newborn Services. Donna brings many years of clinical experience
to the position. Please give her your support and congratulate her on this
new position.
Wedding bells are tolling for Debby Mains (Surgery) and Gary Amos. They will be joined together in marriage August 23rd at 11:30 a.m. at the Sunnyside Presbyterian Church.