KV Healthcare

Your Home for Health

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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

Home Again: The old Cle Elum Hospital operating lamp’s journey back to Upper County

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On September 27, 2022, a large crate with the words, “FRAGILE” imprinted on the side arrived at the KVH loading dock. So large that it had people guessing what could be inside. An item of this size wasn’t expected to arrive. Affixed to the outside of the pallet was a small 4×6 photograph of the contents…a large operating lamp from the old Cle Elum Hospital. As it was carefully opened, there was a handwritten note inside with such penmanship as was hard to distinguish every letter. It read, “Our family is so pleased to donate this piece of Cle Elum history to your hospital. The Fassero family were pioneers in Cle Elum…Peter Fassero was born there in 1905. After raising a family with his wife, Mary (children Delona & Donn) Peter retired and sold his Economy Grocery Store and Wrote weekly columns in the Tribune.”  The lamp had been a gift to the family upon Peter’s retirement. After his passing, the family felt it was only right to donate it back to its home. As layers of bubble wrap, shrink wrap, and many, many layers of tape were moved aside, a beautiful operating lamp from the 1930s was discovered.

The lamp was long and slender with a bulbous counterbalance on one end. This was to help keep the lamp steady during procedures as it was hung from the ceiling. Along the slender metal body, were found two switches protruding from metal casing looking every bit of their nearly 100-year-old age. At the base of the long, slender portion, it began to branch out, almost like tree branches but looking more alien as the moments went along. A large lamp surrounded by what looked like a metal colander was the centerpiece. On either end of this lamp was a framework that supported three individual mirrors angled just so, making six mirrors in all. Inside the center lamp was an intricate series of small mirrors that seem to be angled to refract the most amount of light from a single light bulb as possible. One can imagine it hanging in place and providing enough refracted light for the surgeon to see even the tiniest detail while miners, loggers, and farmers were lying on the table as families hoped everything was going to be alright.

The lid was carefully closed, and the crate was moved to storage, tucked away for safekeeping. Kittitas Valley Healthcare had a large, cast iron, vintage operating lamp with no immediate plan.

In 2024, the KVH Family Medicine – Cle Elum decided to revamp its lobby. This plan involved updating the wall hangings and removing the too-faded photographs that had become hard to distinguish, to hang posters that share the KVH values reminding patients and visitors that we all have a unified goal across all clinics, and to make it feel warm and inviting once more. With the posters hung, and old faded photographs from the area removed, the clinic was missing something. It was missing the people. It was missing the people and places that brought life to the Upper County in the first place. Turning our attention towards bringing the history back to the walls, the Central Washington University Archive was contacted. They supplied hundreds of images from all of Upper County. Combing through these images was like being transported back to a time when people worked hard out in the elements every day, where large parades celebrated culture and holidays, where boys and girls basketball teams played after school, where new inventions were tried out, and where the culture of the Upper County began.

Two large frames were secured to the walls with many photographs from that time, courtesy of the CWU Archive. They are like stepping back in time and reconnecting to the life that is rooted in that place. But something was still missing, the operating lamp. With careful planning and approval, the lamp made its way back to Cle Elum where it oversaw so many medical moments in the history of Upper County. It was headed back to where it belonged. On July 24, 2024, the lamp made its journey to its destination. After some unique engineering, it was suspended from the wall right next to the archive photos of people who may have seen it long ago. It points towards every patient who walks into the clinic doors welcoming them to take a step back in time. To the Fassero family, we thank you. We will be good stewards of this donation. To the community, our clinic is feeling just a little more complete today. The lamp has made its way home at Your Home for Health. 

Kristl Densley, Marketing Coordinator
Kittitas Valley Healthcare

Celebrating Public Hospital Districts during Hospital Week

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

Your access to high quality healthcare should not depend on where you choose to live. In the last decade, more than 100 rural hospitals in the U.S. have closed.  Another 700, 30% of remaining rural hospitals, are at risk of closure.  Many, many more have been acquired by multistate hospital systems, private equity firms, or other for-profit companies.  Rural communities that lose their hospitals not only lose access to care, but they forfeit the economic vitality and many family-wage jobs. Rural communities that lose control of their local hospital find that governance, the ability to determine which services will be available, and how earnings will be reinvested are outsourced to national headquarters. 

Washington state is unique for the number of independent, community hospitals that continue to serve rural residents.  That’s because fifty-six communities in Washington State take advantage of a WWII-era statute that allows for the creation of Public Hospital Districts (PHDs).  These communities made a choice and investment to keep quality care local. Residents of Ellensburg made that choice in 1960 when they voted to form Kittitas County Public Hospital District 1, now operating at Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH). In 1969, Upper County voted to form Kittitas County Public Hospital District 2. For sixty years, KVH has been on the forefront of protecting Kittitas County’s community health.  As the only hospital in Kittitas County, KVH is responsible for the well-being of over 44,000 residents who call this valley home and for the millions of visitors who pass through.  Hospital District 2 operates the Medic One ambulance service, providing the only licensed advanced life support paramedics to all Upper Kittitas County, from Snoqualmie Pass to Elk Heights.

Back in 1960, the hospital was the hospital, and primary care was provided by small, private practices scattered around the hospital and throughout the community. Today most physicians choose to become employees of hospitals, health systems, or large groups, and Kittitas County is no different.  Like the rest of the country, we grapple with healthcare access.  This shortage is worse in rural areas and undermines the well-being of rural residents. Public hospital districts stand as unique champions for community-centric healthcare and prioritize accessibility and inclusivity. As nonprofit organizations, every dollar earned goes to answer the needs of the community. By pooling resources and leveraging community partnerships, these districts bridge healthcare gaps, ensuring that essential services are within reach for all residents. Moreover, they foster a sense of ownership and accountability, empowering communities to shape their healthcare futures.

The governing board of a public hospital district is elected by the district’s residents.  These elected board members are responsible for the oversight of the operations of PHDs.  The board is responsible for strategic direction, setting policies, approving budgets, and representing the interests of the community in healthcare matters.  Board members uphold the principles of accountability and stewardship.  Throughout this process, transparency, public participation, and adherence to legal requirements are crucial to ensuring the effectiveness of the publicly elected board.

Public hospital districts make a tangible contribution to the community’s health and economic vitality. PHDs tailor programs and services to address the unique healthcare needs of the residents, from preventive care to specialized treatments. By fostering partnerships with local providers and organizations, the district can create a robust healthcare ecosystem that fosters wellness and resilience.

The benefits of a public hospital district extend far beyond the realm of healthcare. By bolstering the local economy and attracting skilled healthcare professionals, it spurs economic growth and job creation, laying the groundwork for a thriving community.

From May 12 to 18, communities around the country are celebrating Hospital Week, when we honor and recognize the invaluable contributions of hospitals and healthcare workers to their communities.  This is an opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation for the dedication, compassion, and hard work of healthcare professionals. These individuals, including doctors, nurses, technicians, administrators, and support staff, play a vital role in delivering quality care and saving lives every day.

Hospital Week is also a time to thank our community for creating Kittitas County’s two hospital districts.  On behalf of the healthcare professionals and staff, I extend heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. We recognize and appreciate the trust you have placed in us as we work towards the shared goal of enhancing healthcare delivery and promoting wellness for all.  As we move forward, we remain dedicated to fostering transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for the people of Kittitas County.

2023 Community Health Improvement Week

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Dr. Martin and Robin Read share how their organizations are working together to make a healthier future for our county.

This year, Community Health Improvement Week runs June 12 – 18.

National Rural Health Day

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The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health sets aside the third Thursday of every November to celebrate National Rural Health Day.

National Rural Health Day (NRHD) is an opportunity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded spirit that prevails in rural America. NRHD showcases the efforts of rural healthcare providers, State Offices of Rural Health and other rural stakeholders to address the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face today and into the future.

I knew at a pretty early stage in my medical training that rural medicine was where I wanted to spend my life. I became enamored with the people the types of lives that people live in rural communities, and I recognized that I was never going to have nearly as much fun working in an urban setting as I had worked in my rural training settings.

– Andrew Thomas, MD | KVH Family Medicine – Cle Elum

Resource and Information / www.powerofrural.org

Coloring Book

National Rural Health Day (NRHD) is a day for both children and adults to celebrate doctors, nurses, and all of the people in your community who work and volunteer to keep you healthy and safe.

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Spanish

Get With The Guidelines® Award

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Kittitas Valley Healthcare has been nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care

The American Heart Association presents the Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care

Kittitas Valley Healthcare has received the American Heart Association’s 2022 Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

The Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines programs make it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in central Washington experience longer, healthier lives.

About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Family Feeding Dynamics

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Feeding kids can be stressful! This webinar focuses on a simple, stress-free approach to mealtime that will help your child create a lasting healthy relationship with eating.

About the Presenter:

Dana Ogan is an Associate Professor at Central Washington University where she directs the Dietetic Internship and undergraduate Food Science & Nutrition program. Dana’s research interests include vitamin D, nutrition in athletes with spinal cord injury, and child nutrition. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, yoga, and reading. She lives in Ellensburg with her husband (Greg), their 2 sons (Michael & Andy) and their beloved goldendoodle (Fergie).

All presenters for KVH Childbirth & Family Education’s free webinar series are local experts covering a range of topics of interest to families at all stages.

KVH Childbirth & Family Education offers free webinar series

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Julie Harwell, RN, BSN is hosting a free webinar series through our Childbirth & Family Education Program at Kittitas Valley Healthcare. The most recent webinar titled “Creating Meaningful Learning Communities: How Covid has helped us to Reimagine Possibilities in Education” details how one local school adapted to the COVID-19 restrictions and found opportunities for resilience and growth in the classroom and our community.

“The Covid-19 Pandemic brought about many changes in the way we as a society approach school. In addition to the challenges, the past year brought many opportunities for us to reflect on education and how we can best support engagement in learning for children. We found great value in more outdoor education, multi-age groups, parent partnerships in learning, and extending the walls of the classroom to include more community places and partners. This year illustrated the great potential we have to provide meaningful learning experiences for our children when families, children, schools and community members work together.”

Webinar presenter Natalia Parker, a founder of and the current Director at Discovery Lab of Ellensburg, has worked with children and families in varying capacities for the past 20 years. After graduating with degrees in Psychology and Infant Mental Health, Natalia worked in various roles educating and supporting caregivers, children and students in grades Kindergarten through Post-Secondary. Currently, in her role at Discovery Lab she works to support meaningful and engaging teaching and learning practices that best support healthy child development. When she isn’t at work she loves to be outside exploring the beautiful area we live in.

Check out our website to learn more about the KVH Childbirth & Family Education Program.

Beat the heat: Diabetic safety

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Photo: Even in summer, foot protection is a priority for people living with diabetes. Skip the sandals and barefoot walks. Keep them covered!

Wear sunscreen. Stay hydrated. Wear light, loose clothing. Anyone who’s lived in Kittitas County for more than a year knows these basics for survival in the summer heat. If you’re diabetic, there’s another concern to add to the list: extreme temperatures can spike your blood sugar levels, and wreak havoc on testing equipment and medication.

Recent findings show that the summer heat drives more people with diabetes to the ER, and more diabetics are hospitalized due to heat illness.

“First of all, be aware of your environment. Watch the forecast. When we’re in for a hot spell, there are some things you can do to prepare for diabetic safety,” advises Nicole Norton, Diabetes & Nutrition Education Coordinator at KVH.

Careful planning of your diet is always important, but even more so in extreme temperatures. Think through any adjustments you need to make. And be diligent in avoiding added sugars. “A lot of folks reach for sugared sodas, sweet teas, and juices when they’re thirsty,” warns Norton. “For someone with diabetes, it’s safest to stick with water.”

Another common mistake is skipping meals. Norton explains, “We’re more active in the summer, and we get distracted, forgetting to eat when we should.” That’s not good in normal conditions, but in the heat of summer, it’s even more dangerous. Be familiar with the early symptoms of low blood sugar, and keep some carbohydrates with you to eat if you need to raise your blood sugar.

Once you put the steps into practice, diabetic safety becomes just another automatic healthy habit.

Medication storage is another concern. While unopened insulin should always be kept in the fridge, storing any medications in the heat can degrade them. “Don’t keep medications in your car,” advises Norton. “In a high temp situation, use an ice pack in an insulated lunch pail.”

More frequent testing is also a good idea. Your diabetes educator can help you with guidelines for an appropriate testing schedule.

It’s easy to forget, but foot problems are common for people with diabetes, and summer is all about bare feet, sandals, and open toed shoes. “Keep your feet covered in well-fitting shoes,” says Norton, “even in warm weather. Check your feet every day, and get treatment right away for any injuries.”

It’s a lot to consider, but, like using sunscreen and staying hydrated, once you put the steps into practice, diabetic safety becomes just another automatic healthy habit. “We all have health limitations of some kind,” says Norton. “With a little preplanning and awareness of their surroundings, people living with diabetes can enjoy themselves in the summer like anyone else.”

Article updated 7/2021. Original post 8/2017.

Managed by Kittitas Valley Healthcare, HealthNews does not provide medical advice. For medical advice, please see your healthcare provider.