Lake Chelan Community Hospital & Clinics planning ground breaking for new hospital, spring of 2020

CHELAN - Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Clinics held a Community Forum for the hospital and clinics on Nov. 13, at the Chelan Senior Center with board member presentations followed by questions and answers. The last community forum was held in March of this year.

Phyllis Gleasman, board chair welcomed those in attendance.

Topics covered were staffing, review of goals, finances, new hospital, services and quality and strategic plan.

Why are staff leaving? Gleasman said that from Jan. 1 of this year to Oct. 14, 64 Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Lake Chelan Clinic employees have left the hospital for the following reasons: retired, resigned/mov ed, inactive PRN, no-call/no-show, term/licensed expired, term/performance, term/job elimination, resigned/career change, resigned/disatisfaction, resigned/personal, resigned/commute, resigned/other, and death. Seventeen were unavoidable she said, 14 regretable, but unavoidable and 33 preventable (e.g. poor recruitment, inadequate training, misalignment of expectation, etc. Overall turnover in 2019 has been 24 percent, 17% of that was regretable turnover. Turnover in 2018 was 23 percent, 2017 was 17 percent, 2016 was 17 percewnt and in 2015 25 percent. National average is 19.1 percent.

Mary Murphy went over the following acronyms and explained training they have and what they can do: MD - Medical Doctor, DO-Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, PA-C- Physician Assitant-Certified, PA-Physician Asssitant, ARNP-Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and DNP-Doctorate. The Lake Chelan Clinic currently has several ARNP’s, a PA-C, an MD and and incoming DO. Dr. Waszkewitz has returned part-time and Lincoln Westfall, DO, will start seeing patients in December. Another change is that all labs are now being done at the hospital, with staff from clinic now at the hospital. Lab services are available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Those attending saw a  short cell phone video from George Rohrich, incoming CEO for LCCHC. He said he plans on taking the first 90 days to observe  operations and strategy before making any changes. He will be on board the second week in December.

Gleasman went over the pillars adopted for the board which are:  1. People: Vision - Highly -skilled and engaged staff and providers. 2. Service: Vision -  Provide an exceptional patient experience. 3. Quality and Safety: Vision - Provide safe, quality care by preventing patient harm. 4. Growth and Innovation:  Vision - Strong Primary Care with access and availability.  5. Finance: Vision - Top 25th Percent Operating Margain of Washington CAH’s (Critical Access Hospital). 6. Community: Vision - Comprehensive Communications; effective outreach in wellness and education. 

Jordanna LaPorte spoke about  finances. The goal is to be operational and profitable, and to increase their cash reserves by $250,000 a year, so they can buy what need, when they need it.  Labor (75%) is a big part of their costs (payroll and employee benefits). That has been taking up most of their operating revenue the past couple of years. Balance of costs have been paid out of tax dollars  (non-operating revenue.) Projected revenue for 2019 is just under $25,000,000.

Mary Signorelli spoke about the new hospital and showed those in attend the layout of the new hospital. As of  the Nov. 4 design, it will be 59,436 square feet, and is planned with expansion in mind. The clinic and EMS will not be part of the new hospital building. Darrell Turner of Bouten Construction, and project manager for the new hospital, was available to speak with attendees after the boards presentation. The architects have started meeting with the City of Chelan Public Works Department. Ground breaking is planned for spring of 2020.