Newhouse tours Othello hospital

OTHELLO — Rep. Dan Newhouse got a look at Othello Community Hospital and talked with hospital officials about some of the challenges the hospital faces in a tour Friday morning.

Newhouse, a Republican, represents the Fourth Congressional District.

Othello Community Hospital is like a lot of hospitals in the Fourth District, serving many patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid. As a result Medicare and Medicaid regulations have a big impact on the hospital. Hospital administrator Connie Agenbroad cited “meaningful use” regulations as an example of that impact.

Meaningful use relates to a switch from paper to electronic medical records, and using the technology to improve patient care. Agenbroad estimated the hospital will have to spend more than $1 million to meet the criteria.

Regulations from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services have an impact to all hospitals, but especially rural hospitals, Agenbroad said. The latest rules for the meaningful use program were released recently and totaled 900 pages.

In a separate interview Newhouse said Congress has to work on a lot of challenges in the nation’s health care system – reining in regulation, providing people with more choices for health insurance, reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid, “and probably many more.”

But with the current atmosphere in Washington D.C., “that’s a frustrating, challenging process. It (Washington D.C.) is a frustrating place in a lot of ways.”

Newhouse said he’s reminded of the importance of quality healthcare in rural areas every time he tours the district. “I was very impressed by this hospital,” he said. Othello hospital officials showed off the radiology department, obstetrics unit and introduced Newhouse to participants in Project Hope.

Technological advances allow the Othello hospital to offer services like 3D mammography and immediate access to radiologists off-site. Radiology technician Tim Lawson said images can be taken in Othello and electronically transmitted to Spokane in seconds.

In answer to a question from Newhouse, Agenbroad said the hospital does not have an affiliated clinic. Its emergency room is busiest on nights and weekends, after the Columbia Basin Health Association clinic closes.

Newhouse asked if people are using the ER for primary care. Agenbroad said some do come in for primary care, while others come in to avoid long wait times at the clinic. The hospital is required to provide care to all patients who seek it.

The hospital is a participant in the Project Hope program, which provides four-week job shadowing opportunities for high school juniors and seniors thinking of careers in medicine. For 2016 the program is hosting four girls, all from Warden. They are Alejandra Aguilar, Jennifer Mendoza, Jennifer Dominguez and Mariah Garza.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.