Lake Chelan Health goal for 2023: To achieve the next level of certification - ISO 9001

CHELAN - The Lake Chelan Health Hospital board of directors held a Community Forum on Monday, January 16 in the dining hall at the new hospital.
Topics on the agenda were Annual Overview, Finance, Quality Program, Community Health Needs Assessment, Facilities, and Service Lines and Providers, followed by questions and discussion.
This week will cover the Quality - Focuses and Priorities, presented by Mary Murphy, hospital board chairman. She has served on the quality committee for the past six years.
Quality -
Focuses and Priorities
DNV Accredited in 2020
Lake Chelan Health Hospital was DNV (Nationally) Accredited in 2020.
ISO 9001 Certification
in 2023
• ISO Policy - ‘‘The basic orientation of Lake Chelan Health is to be recognized as a leader in the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Industry in North Central Washington through safe, confidential, effective, and high-quality care provided to all patients.’’
• Framework for standard operations and procedures with the customer (patient) at the center, focusing all procedures and operations throughout the organization on the patient, to meet their needs and exceed their expectations.
• Focuses on continual improvement at all levels of the organization.
Patient Satisfaction
• Survey data demonstrates high quality of care and satisfaction.
Quality of Care
• Tracking many clinical metrics (stroke, heart attack, sepsis, emergency care, etc.) Performing at or above average in comparison to other CAHs and larger healthcare systems in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
Collaborating with
other CAHs
• Rural Collaborative
• DNV CAH Networking Group
Developing a 5-year
Quality Work Plan
• Will guide and plan out goals and priorities:
Becoming a leader in quality in the healthcare industry, specifically in CAH in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
Increasing and maintaining high level of patient satisfaction.
Culture of Safety.
Continuous Survey Readiness.
Highest level of quality of care through continuous quality and process improvement.
All hospitals are required to report quality measures to federal and state government. Hospitals are one of the most highly regulated organizations/industries existing in the United States.
DNV is highly respected accrediting organization and receiving that accredition  shows that the Lake Chelan Health is exceeding state and local standards in the care that they provide.
There is an annual survey that is required every year where all parts of the hospital, including the business offices, are surveyed.
In 2023 Lake Chelan Health aims to achieve the next level of certification which is ISO 9001 - worlds most recognized quality management system, which will take the hospital to the next level of quality.
The hospital currently tracks over 300 quality measures, only 31 of which are required by state and Medicare.
Lake Chelan Health Board of Commissioners meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of every month beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Bragg Room at the new hospital. They are also available to watch virtually.  For log in information and agenda go to www.lakechelanhealth.org.