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