Samaritan leader recalls 1st impressions
MOSES LAKE - When I arrived in Moses Lake nine months ago to be the Interim CEO of Samaritan Healthcare, I was not sure what to expect other than a small rural district hospital in Eastern Washington. What I found was truly a gem of a hospital. I quickly realized that the people of the Moses Lake area were fortunate to have such an outstanding, high quality hospital.
Physicians, employees and volunteers were found to be dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of the surrounding population. A highly engaged Board of Commissioners, dedicated to making Samaritan Hospital the best possible facility was apparent. An internal initiative began: Patient and Family Centered Care. This committee is responsible for ensuring that everything is centered around the patient and the family with high quality patient care. The committee is composed of staff employees, Physicians and Board Members, as well as former patients. These patients have told their story in order to help hospital staff improve the quality of care provided.
The Most Wired Hospital Award has been received by Samaritan for the past four years. This has a major impact on patient care and safety. All of the single rooms at Samaritan are equipped with the latest monitoring equipment. Telemedicine programs permit services generally available only in larger hospitals to be possible in rural institutions; Samaritan is working with several larger hospitals to bring those needed services to the hospital.
Samaritan is blessed with a large highly qualified medical staff and one of the finest operating room suites I have ever seen. Complex and sophisticated surgeries are performed every day at Samaritan. It is always best if medical services can be provided as close to home as possible and Samaritan is dedicated to providing high quality medical services here in our community. Referral relationships have been developed with hospitals in Spokane, Wenatchee and Seattle for services not provided at Samaritan.
As of January 2013, the staff of Parkview Pediatrics was pleasantly welcomed to the Samaritan family; a contract with the Wenatchee Emergency Physicians was established to provide physician coverage to meet the ever-growing ER volume; and several new physicians joined the medical staff. Efforts continue to meet the needs of the community.
The Samaritan Healthcare Foundation is very active. The Foundation is actively engaged in raising funds for the purchase of a new CT Scanner for the hospital and has provided valuable assistance throughout the years.
Samaritan Healthcare, Moses Lake Clinic, Moses Lake Community Health Center and independent providers in the area are genuinely working together to provide the best possible healthcare for the community. Throughout my career, I have always stressed the value of teamwork. The Moses Lake area is poised for a major period of growth. I can assure everyone that Samaritan Healthcare is ready to grow with the area to meet the ever increasing healthcare needs of the community.
I feel a genuine sense of appreciation and honor to have served as the interim CEO of such a great institution. I gained a greater appreciation of the healthcare needs of rural areas. I will always remember the wonderful relationships I made at Samaritan. I will also never forget the great people of Moses Lake and Eastern Washington.
In summary, I must confess it is difficult for me to find the words to adequately convey how impressed I was with Samaritan Hospital and all the great people who work so hard there every day to provide the best possible healthcare for the community. I would hope you all become aware of the great things that are happening in your hospital.