2010 PRESS RELEASES

9/03/2010: National Assisted Living Week - Sept 13 - 19, 2010
Golden View Terrace: "Living Life"

National Assisted Living Week® (NALW) will take place September 13 - 18, 2010 and will feature the theme "Living Life." Klickitat Valley Health would like to invite the community to join them in celebrating our residents' lives and thanking volunteers, family members, and the staff of Golden View Terrace.

In observance of National Assisted Living Week®, Sept. 13 -18, Golden View Terrace will host an open house via a series of tours throughout the week beginning Monday and continuing through Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Additional tours will be Saturday from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. This is a special opportunity to bring together residents, employees, and the surrounding community to celebrate "Living Life." There will also be a special piano recital on Sunday, September 19 at 2:00 PM. The recital will feature local community members, each taking a turn at playing a variety of music. The public is invited for this event and refreshments will be served.

'Living Life,' this year's theme, means enjoying activities and pursuing passions, whatever they may be. The staff at Golden View Terrace actively demonstrates the commitment of assisted living professionals by providing care and services to residents through respect and working to enhance their quality of life. Since it opened in 1999, Golden View Terrace has offered both retirement living for independent seniors and several levels of assisted living. The emphasis is on relaxed, worry-free senior living, enjoyment of life and the companionship of friends and neighbors in a comfortable, home-like atmosphere. If anyone would like additional information about the facility or the upcoming events they can call 509.773.7117 or email gvt@kvhealth.net

CONTACT
Mindy Blomquist, Admin. Assistant
509-773-4022 (Blomquist – x2043)
Email: mblomquist@kvhealth.net
or
Pat Scarola, Administrator of Golden View Terrace
509-773-4022 (Scarola - x2177)
Email: pscarola@kvhealth.net

9/02/2010: Putting on the Glam for Digital Mamm

The Klickitat Valley Health Memorial Foundation (KVHMF) would like to extend an invitation for the Community to join them for a special evening October 16, 2010 at the Goldendale Grange Hall. The theme for the night is Putting on the Glam for a Digital Mamm. This semi-formal dinner, complete with an auction and entertainment, will mark the beginning of the Foundation’s fundraising campaign for a Digital Mammography Unit. Tickets for the event are available for $50 per individual or $400 for a table of eight. Proceeds from this event will go towards the purchase of the Digital Mammography Unit. Greg Smith, a Director of the Memorial Foundation Board, shared his thoughts saying, “As a member of the KVH Memorial Foundation it is my greatest goal is to impact the long term health of the community I live in. Active involvement in this foundation is a balance of addressing the biggest health needs of the health district while working and having fun.”

The KVHMF would like to request the community’s support to raise funds for the Digital Mammography Unit for Klickitat Valley Health Diagnostic Imaging. The cost for this piece of equipment is difficult for a small rural hospital to accommodate at $225,000. There are matching grant funds available and the KVHMF is working with Klickitat Valley Health to maximize these opportunities. It is the Foundation’s goal to help raise half of the matching grant funds needed to assist the Hospital with the purchase of a digital mammography unit. Pat Scarola, another Director of the Memorial Foundation Board, explained “Our goal, although lofty, is to bring this much needed technology to our own hospital. Many of my friends, some breast cancer survivors, have to travel out of the area. They are also vying with others for appointments. Bringing a Digital Mammography Unit to KVH will cut their wait time for appointments and will enhance early diagnosis for others at the same time.”

The Foundation is a non-profit organization separate from the Hospital. It provides an opportunity for tax exempt donations. By supporting the Foundation’s fundraising, the Community can help the Public Health District remain competitive in the marketplace and succeed as a quality rural healthcare provider. More importantly, It Will Help Save Lives. Early detection of breast cancer leads to a 98% survival rate of patients. The Klickitat Valley Health Memorial Foundation is looking forward to an evening of fun and welcomes the participation of the community in the effort to help bring this technology home. RSVPs for the event will be accepted through October 7, 2010 and can be made by calling 509-773-1008.

CONTACT
Mindy Blomquist, Director
Klickitat Valley Health Memorial Foundation
Phone: 509-773-1008
Email:kvhmf1949@gmail.com

8/27/2010: Klickitat Valley Health CEO Resignation

MaLisa Mudgett notified the Klickitat Valley Health Board of Directors that she will be resigning as the CEO effective in October 2010. MaLisa informed the Board and KVH staff that "my time, relationships, challenges, and accomplishments at KVH have all been enjoyable and my reasons for leaving are personal. I will be relocating to the Seattle area to continue my education, to explore new work opportunities, and to engage in a more committed personal relationship. I have some flexibility in my plans so the exact date of my departure as CEO is not yet determined." MaLisa has been the CEO at Klickitat Valley Health since July 2009.

KVH Board President John Quinn said "The KVH Board will select a new CEO as soon as possible. A search committee is being established, advertising will be done, and networking contacts will be made to ensure the best possible transition. There may be a need for an acting or interim CEO depending on the length of the search process." Ron Ihrig, KVH Board Member and former Board President said "We appreciate the leadership that MaLisa has provided at KVH for the last year. KVH is in a much better position than it was when she started. She will be missed."

CONTACT
Mindy Blomquist
Executive Administrative Assistant
509-773-1008
Email: mblomquist@kvhealth.net

7/26/2010: Superstar Status Achieved by KVH Emergency Dept

The Rural Healthcare Quality Network (RHQN) has recognized Klickitat Valley Health for their ‘Best Practice’ in Cardiac/STEMI care and awarded the Emergency Department with superstar status in emergency door to ECG time.

The standard goal set for a critical access hospital is door to ECG in less than 12 minutes. Of the 34 rural Critical Access Hospitals in Washington, only eight achieved this standard of care. Of those, Klickitat Valley Health ranked second along with two other hospitals for achieving a 6-10 minute time.

Emergency Department Staff Receiving Award
Pictured: Amanda Justman, Sue MacDonald, Christy Craven, Hannah Bryan, Janice Stone, Dr. Dagmar Crosby, and Sue Stack

"Time is heart muscle" and every minute counts. That's why the Emergency Department at Klickitat Valley Health (KVH) has been moving fast these days. The amount of time a person has lost oxygen or blood flow is directly correlated to the amount of muscle that can be saved. For this reason it is critical to move a patient from the door to completing their electrocardiogram (ECG) as quickly as possible. A Provider uses the ECG to determine whether there is a heart attack or where a block may be occurring in the arteries of the heart.

Christy Craven, new Emergency Department Manager at KVH, shared her thoughts saying "The Emergency Department has been striving to make great improvements in their care and procedures. There is less chance of error with more efficient outcomes when standardized protocols are implemented. We are very excited to have received this recognition and as always are looking for ways to continue to improve. The bottom line is outstanding patient care!"

KVH was also recognized for being one of the first hospitals to successfully implement the new standardized STEMI protocols into their operations. (STEMI stands for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and refers to a more severe type of heart attack.) The RHQN has worked with the Department of Health and the American Heart Association to get standardized statewide STEMI protocols in every hospital in the state.

Additionally, KVH was acknowledged for their Best Practice in Public Reporting. The public is increasingly paying attention to the quality data reported by hospitals. While there is currently no requirement for Critical Access Hospitals to report information to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s Hospital Compare website, many small hospitals in Washington are making this information available to their communities. Reporting can be a challenge for many hospitals because they lack the staff to take on this responsibility. This award recognized Klickitat Valley Health as one of twenty one Critical Access Hospitals in Washington who have made public transparency a priority.

CONTACT
Mindy Blomquist, Admin. Assistant
509-773-4022 (Blomquist – x2043)
Email: mblomquist@kvhealth.net

7/16/2010: A Breath of Fresh Air at Klickitat Valley Health
Klickitat Valley Health (KVH) welcomed a new member to the team during the month of June: Rhonda Turner, RT. Although RT could be her initials, it stands for Respiratory Therapist. MaLisa Mudgett, CEO of Klickitat Valley Health, explained that hiring a Respiratory Therapist was in direct response to a study that the hospital completed earlier this year. The study indicated that respiratory problems have a significant impact on the Goldendale Community. Over 30% of the primary diagnoses for both inpatient discharges and emergency room visits in 2008 were respiratory related issues.

In her new role at Klickitat Valley Health, Rhonda will assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures. Respiratory therapists care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders, and cover a scope of services such as providing temporary relief to patients with chronic asthma/emphysema or giving emergency care to patients who are victims of a heart attack, trauma, etc.

Rhonda comes to Klickitat Valley Health with twenty five years of experience in the Mid-Columbia area. When asked why she chose to relocate to Goldendale, Rhonda responded "I have owned property in the area for quite some time with the goal of eventually moving here. I am looking forward to becoming part of the community." In addition to her RT experience Rhonda holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Portland State University. She has a strong interest in community healthcare and in helping patients with chronic disease to better monitor and care for themselves. She explains that "through my experience I have seen patients improve when they are empowered with proactive education and skills."

Rhonda continued by saying that "the hospital is growing and expanding its services, and has decided that adding a specialty like cardiopulmonary care is the next step in helping patients to improve their respiratory and cardiac health. Inpatients are being seen on a daily basis now and we hope to start a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program for outpatients in the future as well as offering preventative choices such as smoking cessation classes."

CONTACT
Mindy Blomquist, Admin. Assistant
Rhonda Turner, Respiratory Therapist
509-773-4022 (Blomquist – x2043)(Turner – x2025)
Email: mblomquist@kvhealth.net

7/2/2010: KV Health Receives Mammography Accreditation
Klickitat Valley Health (KVH) has been awarded a three year term of accreditation in mammography survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Sandra Rorabaugh, mammography technologist, and Director of Diagnostic Imaging for KVH, explains that "the present system does a very good job and that was why it was accredited." Accreditation is achieved after thorough evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field.

The ability to perform mammograms is an asset to the community because it serves an annual average of 600 local women and that number does include a few men. A large number of Goldendale women fall in the age range of 40 and up; this is a significant fact as the American Cancer Society recommends that women should begin having an annual screening mammogram at this age. Mammography is critical because it can help with early detection of breast cancer.

The current system at Klickitat Valley Health is film-screen or analog. Many hospitals are moving to digital imaging which studies have shown to have several advantages. In some mammography cases, however, studies indicate that analog may be a better system for early diagnosis than digital. KVH partners with Assured Imaging in Seattle. Images are digitized prior to being read. This allows the opportunity to receive a "second opinion" from Computer Aided Detection (CAD).

Future plans for Diagnostic Imaging at KVH include upgrading the mammography system to be fully digital through grant funding. This would give radiologists and physicians the ability to magnify and/or lighten or darken an image for a better view. Exams would be transferred more efficiently to other hospitals or doctor’s offices, and would be stored electronically saving considerable space. In the meantime, the KVH team continues to strive for excellence. Rorabaugh asserted that, "We are doing what needs to be done to provide the public with first rate diagnostic imaging."

CONTACT
Mindy Blomquist / Sandy Rorabaugh
509-773-4022 (Blomquist – x2043) (Rorabaugh – x2550)
Email: mblomquist@kvhealth.net

Ambulance services are a critical component of our health care system, and KVH is committed to ensuring that our community has the best possible ambulance services. KVH purchased a new ambulance two years ago and has just authorized the purchase of another new ambulance with delivery expected late this year. Ambulance services historically have cost KVH more than the revenue from the services, and the loss per year is now more than ever. There have been numerous attempts over the last few years to resolve these issues and KVH has contracted for EMS management services from one of the largest ambulance service providers nationally and now contracts for EMS management services with a local company. The KVH Board decision is to explore the possibility that contracting for the entire EMS service may be a better and more efficient model. As a public hospital district KVH has a responsibility to provide the best services that it can in the most efficient manner.

KVH CEO Ma Lisa Mudgett said " KVH is committed to directly providing quality services whenever we can. We have reduced our reliance on contracting for services such as pharmacy, coding, medical records oversight, and agency contract staff. We are looking at additional services that we can provide ourselves. Ambulance services may be an exception to this trend due to the cost reimbursement issues. The KVH Board is looking at these issues and will make a decision in the best interests of the community."

Contact: Jeff Teal
Phone: 509.773.1009
Email: jteal@kvhealth.net

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