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Maternal Health Awareness Day

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January 23, 2025, marks Maternal Health Awareness Day, an important occasion to reflect on the health and well-being of mothers both globally and locally. It highlights the challenges many women face during pregnancy and childbirth, while emphasizing the urgent need for better care, resources, and support in communities everywhere. Whether in remote areas or urban centers, raising awareness can help ensure that all mothers, regardless of their location, have access to the care they deserve, paving the way for a healthier future for mothers and their children.

KVH is dedicated to supporting local families and maternal health through 4th Trimester Resource Center and KVH Women’s Health clinic.

Kittitas County Public Health – Address Confirmed Pertussis Case

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The Kittitas County Public Health Department has issued a press release regarding a confirmed case of pertussis (Whooping Cough) in the area.

Visit WA State Department of Health for more information https://ow.ly/bsbE50UtNPx

Read their full press release here > https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/press/default.aspx?prID=12047

Kittitas County Public Health is Working with Ellensburg High School to Address Pertussis

KVH Foundation Contributes Over $510,000 to Support KVH Departments and Patient Care

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Ellensburg, WA, December 12, 2024

Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) would like to thank The Foundation at KVH for its significant 2024 financial contributions to Kittitas Valley Healthcare departments, providing critical funding to enhance patient care and support essential services. With a total distribution of $510,938, these donations underscore the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare in our community.

This year’s contributions have enabled the acquisition of vital medical equipment, educational materials, and patient care resources. Highlights of the donations include:

  • Emergency Department: $3,113 for Stop the Bleed kits to enhance emergency preparedness.
  • Nutrition Department: $990 for diabetic nutritional education supplies to support patient education.
  • Family Birthing Place: $1,031 for team leadership materials to strengthen care for expectant families.
  • Cancer Support Group: $890 for community cancer support group materials, fostering connection and resilience.
  • OB/ED/OR: $40,350 for four Glidescopes to improve patient care during procedures.
  • Leadership Team: $5,750 for Valor Training and conference attendance, promoting professional growth.
  • Home Health & Hospice: $18,686 for hospice patient materials and supplies to ensure compassionate end-of-life care.
  • Internal & Adult Medicine: $21,000 for a bladder scanner and supplies to enhance diagnostic capabilities.
  • KVH Imaging: $12,335 to fund mammograms for uninsured patients, advancing early detection of breast cancer.
  • TETWP (Tough Enough to Wear Pink): $702 for breast cancer awareness educational materials.
  • Medical/Surgical Nursing: $1,090 for training programs to elevate nursing expertise.
KVH Foundation

Additionally, The Foundation at KVH spearheaded a substantial $405,000 in 2024 funding for specialized medical equipment and advanced technology, including:

  • Family Medicine – Ellensburg: $10,300 for a bladder scanner.
  • Speech Therapy: $36,000 for a fiberoptic endoscope camera, enabling enhanced diagnostic accuracy.
  • OB/ED/OR: $82,000 for rapid transfusion and blood warming equipment to optimize critical care.
  • Orthopedics: $114,267 for a fracture table and $162,433 as a contribution toward the ARVIS Surgical Navigation System to advance orthopedic surgical precision.

These generous contributions exemplify The Foundation at KVH’s mission to improve healthcare services for the benefit of all.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to The Foundation at KVH for their unwavering support. These donations not only enhance the resources available to our departments but also reinforce our ability to deliver compassionate, high-quality care to our community,” said Jason Adler, CEO at KVH.

The Foundation at KVH continues to be a beacon of hope and a vital partner in driving innovation and excellence in healthcare for Kittitas Valley.  For more information about The Foundation at KVH and its initiatives, please visit https://www.kvhealthcare.org/foundation/ or contact Laura Bobovski at 509-933-8669.

2024.12.12 Foundation Distribution.pdf

Farewell to KVH CEO Julie Petersen

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As Julie Petersen retires after eight and a half years as CEO of Kittitas Valley Healthcare, we should recognize the incredible work she’s done for the people of Kittitas County. When the Board hired Julie in 2016, we knew that she had a strong financial background, having served as CFO and CEO at Prosser, and she came highly recommended by other healthcare leaders. As a CWU graduate, it was also something of a homecoming for her. The Board was confident that we were hiring the right person for the job. But we couldn’t have anticipated just how much she would contribute to our community.

With the support of the Board, Julie’s primary goal has been to provide greater access to healthcare services in Kittitas County and to do so in a financially sustainable way, so that KVH can remain a locally controlled community hospital. Julie saw the growing demand for services here and vowed to keep care local, so people didn’t have to travel over a pass to get treatment. Under her leadership, KVH began to offer many new specialty services, including cardiology, neurology, vascular surgery, nephrology, maternal fetal medicine, pediatrics, otorhinolaryngology (ENT), workplace health, wound care, dermatology, and inpatient dialysis. KVH has also expanded existing services, including physical therapy, and now has a 24-hour outpatient pharmacy and a rapid access clinic. To handle our growth, KVH purchased and renovated the Medical Arts Center and the Radio Hill Annex. We are almost finished with the expansion of our operating rooms, which will greatly increase the number of surgeries our clinicians can perform. Because of physician shortages and low reimbursement rates, several hospitals in Washington state have had to close their OB/GYN practices, especially in rural areas. Julie has maintained those services here so residents don’t have to travel to Yakima to deliver their babies.

Since 2017, the population of Kittitas County has stayed roughly the same as it is now: about 46,000. Yet the number of patient encounters (appointments) has grown by 60 percent: from 67,757 in 2017 to 108,250 this year. The number of unique patients we serve has grown from 26,201 in 2018 to 38,105 in 2023. It can be frustrating when you have to wait weeks to see your doctor, but KVH is doing its best to keep up with patient demand.

What is perhaps most impressive is that, under Petersen’s watch, KVH has done all this while remaining financially solvent. Rural hospitals confront unique financial challenges, which has led to the closure of 193 rural hospitals in the U.S. since 2005. Many others have merged with or been acquired by larger systems – 58 already this year. Unlike many other healthcare organizations in Washington and elsewhere, KVH has maintained a positive operating margin – this despite the fact that Kittitas County Public Hospital District 1 has the lowest tax levy of any other public hospital district in the state.

Julie is one of the most respected healthcare executives in the Northwest. She has had several leadership positions with the Washington State Hospital Association, the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts, and the American Hospital Association. She has maintained positive relationships with our elected officials in both Olympia and Washington, DC. She received WSHA’s Joe Hopkins Award in 2022, “a lifetime achievement award for a health care leader who has made outstanding contributions to health care in the state, especially to rural health care.”

Behind the scenes, Julie has performed many acts of kindness and sacrifice that are too numerous to mention. Julie has always been transparent with and taken direction from the elected commissioners. She refused to be given a raise that was any higher than what the unions negotiated for themselves. When hospitals were losing revenue during the COVID pandemic because of freezes on non-emergency procedures (among other things), no employee was fired or had their pay cut. Julie has also promoted people from within. She has mentored the new CEO, Jason Adler, and the other members of the Senior Leadership Team to become excellent leaders in their own right – thus helping to make the organization strong beyond her tenure as CEO.

I can’t think of anyone who has had as much of a positive impact on Kittitas County over the last eight and a half years. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank her for her dedication to the well-being of the people of Kittitas County, both patients and KVH’s nearly 800 employees. Personally, I am grateful for her intelligence, her dry sense of humor, and her moral character. It’s been a pleasure to work with such a smart and savvy CEO who’s also always trying to do the right thing.

Matt Altman is President of the KVH Board of Commissioners and a professor at Central Washington University

Jason Adler appointed as next CEO of KVH

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We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Adler as the next Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of Kittitas County Public Hospital District #1, dba Kittitas Valley Healthcare.  Jason will assume these responsibilities on December 12, upon the retirement of Julie Petersen, current CEO.

Jason has been with KVH since 2014, beginning his journey with us as a Financial Analyst and most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer. He brings extensive experience in healthcare finance and reimbursement and has played a pivotal role in our rural networks. Jason shares the Board’s vision of continued growth and expanded access to healthcare services. He and his family are deeply committed to Kittitas County, and they look forward to raising their children in this community. We are confident that Jason is the right person to lead KVH into the future.

We will celebrate this transition on December 10 at 3:00p.m. with a small reception in the KVH Hospital Café.   Please join us as we thank Julie for her years of service and welcome Jason into this new role.

National Shortage of IV Solution

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The United States is experiencing a severe national shortage of IV solution. IV solution is used in many ways in hospitals and health care settings, including to treat dehydration, to deliver medications, to stabilize blood pressure, to help with blood transfusions, and during many surgeries. While we at Kittitas Valley Healthcare are experiencing shortages of IV solution, we are ready and available to provide emergency care. All hospitals are taking multiple steps to conserve supply, including rescheduling some less time-sensitive procedures and changing the way we deliver care in accordance with expert state and national guidance in order to reserve IV solution.

The shortage was caused when Hurricane Helene damaged the North Carolina manufacturing plant that produces about 60 percent of the IV solution used in America. We are carefully managing our supply of IV solution to make sure patients who need it most can receive the fluids they need. We are using strategies to conserve supplies. For example, if you come in for care you may be asked to drink fluids before and during your stay rather than receiving fluid through an IV, or your medication may be delivered in a different way.

We are in daily communication with government agencies and our IV solution supplier seeking to increase supply as soon as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your provider with specific questions about your care.

Medicare Advantage Plans

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Medicare and Medicare Advantage can feel overwhelming to navigate. While the monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan might be lower, if you get sick, need to be hospitalized, have surgery, or require specialized care, you may end up paying more compared to Original Medicare with a supplement.

Unlike Original Medicare, which is widely accepted, Medicare Advantage plans usually work in a narrow network, with a limited number of specialists. Medicare Advantage plans direct you to only those doctors they have contracts with. These specialists may not be your first choice, or your doctor’s first choice, and may require you to travel significant distances for care that is available locally.

Another difference is that Original Medicare rarely requires prior authorization for services. With Medicare Advantage plans, the insurance company often requires approval for care before it can be scheduled. Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH), and many other healthcare providers, have found it difficult to get these approvals from the insurance company. Your care has a higher chance of being delayed or even denied, with Medicare Advantage. A 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG, 2022) found that many Medicare Advantage plans denied necessary medical services that should be covered under Medicare rules.

Finally, Original Medicare offers the same coverage nationwide. However, Medicare Advantage plans may only provide specific coverage in certain areas. If you move to a new area or travel outside your current service area, your Medicare Advantage plan might not have providers available.

The Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15, 2024, to December 7, 2024. We encourage you to explore all your options, including returning to Original Medicare. While Kittitas Valley Healthcare is contracted with a few Medicare Advantage plans, we recommend that our Medicare-eligible patients choose Original Medicare with a good supplemental insurance plan.
Selecting the right Medicare plan can be complicated and confusing, but there are excellent insurance brokers in Ellensburg who can help. We suggest using a local medical insurance broker for any questions you may have.
You can also find assistance by navigating to: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-shiba-services.

KVH is committed to providing health care services to all persons in need of medical attention regardless of ability to pay. You can find our full Financial Assistance Policy on our website at www.kvhealthcare.org. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Patient Financial Services Department at 509.933.8657. Thank you for choosing KVH at Your Home for Health.

Michele Wurl
Kittitas Valley Healthcare
Chief Communications Officer

KVH CEO to retire

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After over eight years of dedicated service to KVH and Hospital District #2, our CEO, Julie Petersen, has informed the Board of her intention to retire at the end of 2024. Julie first joined KVH as interim Chief Executive Officer in June 2016 and was appointed permanent CEO in March 2017.

During her time here, we have more than doubled the asset value of the Hospital District, bringing on more resources, equipment, and facilities to serve our county. Our Hospital services have expanded with the addition of a 24-hour outpatient retail pharmacy, the 4th Trimester Resource Center, in-patient dialysis, the “Ouchless” ER, and Digital Mammography. Many new clinic services have also opened during Julie’s tenure. These include the integration of behavioral health services in our primary care clinics, Cardiology, Dermatology, ENT & Allergy, expanded Physical Therapy, Neurology, Pediatrics, Vascular Surgery, Workplace Health, Wound Care, and the Rapid Access Clinic.

Despite declining payments, our operating revenue has increased by 87% and, in 2024, KVH will provide our communities with family wages and benefits totaling more than 79 million dollars. She was and is committed to maintaining a thriving health care system in our rural setting.

Julie’s commitment to the well-being of this community has been steadfast, and her leadership has left a lasting impact. Please join us in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Julie for her years of dedication and service to KVH and Kittitas County.

As you know, KVH is a unique organization—publicly owned, rural, and proudly independent. Unlike many rural healthcare systems that have merged with or been acquired by larger systems, our mission remains solely to serve the people of Kittitas County. We are not beholden to outside investors, and the decisions that shape our future are made right here, by people who care deeply about the health and well-being of this community.

Being independent presents its own set of financial and regulatory challenges, particularly in a rural setting where patient volume is lower, costs can be higher, and reliance on government payers is significant. These challenges are impacting rural hospitals across the country, but we are confident in KVH’s future because of the strength and dedication of this team.
As we prepare for 2025 and beyond, we know that we need a leader with a deep understanding of healthcare finance, particularly in the context of critical access hospitals like ours. We are pleased to share that we have found that leader in Jason Adler and have entered negotiations with him to be our next Chief Executive Officer.

Jason has been with KVH since 2014, beginning his journey with us as a Financial Analyst and most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer. He brings extensive experience in healthcare finance and reimbursement and has played a pivotal role in our rural networks. Jason shares the Board’s vision of continued growth and expanded access to healthcare services. He and his family are deeply committed to Kittitas County, and they look forward to raising their children in this community. We are confident that Jason is the right person to lead KVH into the future.
We thank each of you for your continued hard work and dedication.

Sincerely,
Matt Altman, President
KVH Board of Commissioners

Safe Sleep Initiative

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Watch video in Spanish

Cribs for Kids supports families in need nationwide in obtaining separate, safe sleeping spaces for their babies. To serve communities nationwide, we partner with local agencies to distribute Cribs for Kids Cribette Portable Cribs to their communities. If you or someone you know is in need of a safe space to sleep for their baby, search on the map below to find the closest Cribs for Kids Partner in your area. 

Local Resource

Kittitas County Coroners‘ Office has partnered with Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Initiative to Help Prevent Infant Mortalities since 2020. Please visit Cribs for Kids website (https://cribsforkids.org/) for more information.

Find a Crib Provider

Obtain a Cribette portable crib from a Cribs for Kids Partner in your area.  

Resources

Healthy Habits: Healthcare is evolving to meet the needs of patients

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Written by: Michele Wurl, Chief Public Relations Officer at Kittitas Valley Healthcare

As healthcare demands rise, organizations like Kittitas Valley Healthcare are developing innovative models to serve communities more effectively.

The Partnering Physician Model is one such innovation, designed to address the shortage of healthcare providers while enhancing patient care.

This model centers on a team of physicians and Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs), including Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, collaborating to care for patients.

In addition to the Partnering Physician Model, Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) has implemented community-based care programs, specifically tailored for those unable to visit traditional healthcare settings. These programs provide support to some of the most medically complex homebound or home-limited patients in society. These patients typically have no continuous follow-up care, which continues the cycle of poor health management and is even more expensive and exhaustive for patients and their caregivers.

For family caregivers, it brings support and peace of mind. Caregivers often say that it is very reassuring to know that a caring home-based primary care provider is one phone call away, versus having to call 911. In Kittitas County, the community-based care programs include Home-Based Primary Care, Home Health, and Hospice care.

Home-Based Primary Care brings medical services directly to home-bound patients at their personal residence, or in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, or adult family homes. This program covers a range of services from managing chronic conditions to end-of-life counseling, emphasizing continuity of care. It is a lifeline for vulnerable patients, ensuring they receive comprehensive medical care despite their limitations.

Home Health is another essential program, offering treatments and rehabilitation to homebound patients as ordered by their primary care provider. This service helps patients recovering from surgeries, accidents or chronic illnesses regain independence.

The Home Health team includes registered nurses, home health aides, and therapists, who work together to offer various services such as medication management, physical therapy and patient education. With 24/7 on-call nursing, patients and their caregivers can rely on constant support.

Hospice Care rounds out KVH’s community-based offerings, focusing on patients with terminal illnesses. This compassionate service emphasizes palliative care and enhancing the patient’s quality of life in their final days.

Hospice care also provides critical support to families, including bereavement counseling, spiritual care and respite services. The multidisciplinary team approach ensures that patients and their loved ones are cared for holistically, with services that range from pain and symptom management to spiritual support.

These programs reflect KVH’s commitment to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of the community. By bringing care directly to patients, KVH alleviates some of the pressures faced by traditional healthcare facilities, while ensuring that vulnerable populations continue to receive high-quality, personalized care.

As the healthcare landscape continues to change, innovative models like the Partnering Physician approach and community-based programs will be essential in addressing the growing demand for medical services. KVH is leading the charge in Kittitas County, showing how healthcare can evolve to meet the needs of patients wherever they are.