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2009
PRESS RELEASE ARCHIVE
12/07/09:
Get on the B&O Train to Safety!
A message from Klickitat Valley Health's Safety Director Ramona
Reynolds
Secure
safety equipment for both your patients and staff by utilizing
the B&O Tax Credit opportunity! The Klickitat Valley Health
Safe Patient Handling Committee would like to encourage other
Washington hospitals to make sure and "get on the band wagon."
Remember, the tax credit opportunity stops December 31, 2010.
Our
#1 goal at Klickitat Valley Health (KVH) is to prevent injury
to caregivers and patients while optimizing quality of life with
our 100% No Lift facility and Safe Patient Handling (SPH) Training.
As KVH SPH committee members, our jobs are to provide training,
resources, and equipment to aide in achieving this goal.
We
are especially proud of our SPH committee's training program which
includes all nursing and Home Health/Hospice staff with scheduled
training for all Radiology, Ambulance and Assisted Living employees.
When all training is completed we will have a total of 81 SPH
Specialists!
Completed
SPH trainees receive a certificate of completion and annual review
training which are included in the District's yearly Employee
Education program.
With
the support of Administration and the District’s Board, the
KVH SPH group has been instrumental in securing a new bariatric
bed with trapeze and built-in scale to provide comfort for our
patients and safety for staff. In addition, the committee secured
the purchase of a new sit-to-stand 500 lb. lift equipped with
a scale. Again, patient comfort and safety were the number one
priority. The SPH Committee has utilized all of our B&O Tax
Credit to purchase this much needed equipment.
Great
Work KVH!
A message from Suzanne Metz, WHWCP Safety Coordinator
The
Klickitat Safe Patient Handling Committee has done outstanding
work. This year their accomplishments include almost 100% compliance
with hospital-wide safe patient handling annual training, continued
work in dealing with combative patients, injury investigation
and root cause analysis. Most recently, the SPH committee created
a patient education program which includes a safe patient handling
brochure to educate patients and family members. Having completed
the annual SPH Program review in September, they plan to set goals
for 2010 and bring new recommendations to the Hospital Safety
Committee.
7/01/09:
KV Health Welcomes MaLisa Mudgett, CEO
Klickitat
Valley Health is pleased to welcome MaLisa Mudgett as our new
Chief Executive Officer beginning June 30, 2009. MaLisa comes
to our community with over 18 years of healthcare experience including
work within Critical Access Hospitals, Psychiatric, Addiction
Recovery, Long Term Care, Ambulance, and Home Health facilities.
She most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant
Administrator in Homer, Alaska. In addition, MaLisa has previously
worked at Lake Chelan Community Hospital in Chelan, Washington,
as well as Mid-Valley Hospital in Omak, Washington.
MaLisa is very happy to be back in the Pacific Northwest and is
excited about becoming a part of the Goldendale Community. She
enjoys small town living and working in Rural Healthcare. Her
family includes a 19 year old daughter who will be attending her
second year of college in Spokane this fall.
MaLisa is looking forward to working with the KVH staff and physicians,
Board of Commissioners, and members of the community to meet the
unique challenges and healthcare needs of those living within
Public Hospital District No.1 of Klickitat County.
2/23/09:
KV Health Will Not Participate in the Death With Dignity
Act
The
recent passage of Initiative 1000, the "Washington State
Death with Dignity Act", has raised many questions for physicians,
pharmacists, counselors, and hospitals statewide.
"After
careful, thoughtful conversations with our medical staff, board
of commissioners, and community members, the KVH Board of Commissioners
has chosen to not participate under the ‘Washington State
Death with Dignity Act.’ This means that KVH physicians,
employees, independent contractors and volunteers shall not assist
a patient in ending the patient’s life. In addition, no provider
may participate on the premises of the hospital or in property
owned by the hospital," said Philip Hanna, KVH CEO.
The
Death with Dignity Act ("Act") is clear that no provider,
including KVH, is required to assist a qualified patient in ending
his or her own life. Healthcare providers that do not allow participation
are required to provide public notice. Providers may independently
contract outside their role with KVH to participate in the Act,
off KVH premises.
No patient will be denied other medical care or treatment because
of the patient’s participation under the Act. The patient
will be treated in the same manner as all other KVH patients.
The appropriate standard of care will be followed. KVH will continue
to provide compassionate, high quality care to all our patients.
Any patient wishing to receive life-ending medication while a
patient at KVH will be informed about how to access this service
at a facility that allows participation in the Death With Dignity
Act.
"All
providers at KVH will respond to any patient’s query about
life-ending medication with openness and compassion. KVH believes
our providers have an obligation to openly discuss the patient’s
concerns, unmet needs, feelings, and desires about the dying process.
Providers should seek to learn the meaning behind the patient’s
questions and help the patient understand the range of available
options, including but not limited to comfort care, hospice care,
and pain control. Ultimately, KVH’S goal is to help patients
make informed decisions about end-of-life care," said Hanna.
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