Employee of the Month for NOVEMBER 2012

JOEL DEMING

THREE RIVERS HOSPITAL

Employee 

of the Month 

for 

NOVEMBER 2012

Joel Deming has been chosen as the Three Rivers Hospital Employee of the Month for November 2012.  Joel Deming, after graduating from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, began working for the Walla Walla Fire Department as a Firefighter and Paramedic.  He continued his education and graduated from the University of Washington in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science and Clinical Health Science through the University of Washington School of Medicine.  Deming began his career in Neurosurgery at the Yakima Regional Medical Center before coming to Three Rivers Hospital in August of 2010.  He travels from his home in Yakima where he lives with his wife and three children, to be part of the healthcare team at Three Rivers.  His interests include skiing, tennis and other outdoor activities.

Staff members have the opportunity every month to nominate an “Employee of the Month,” with an “Employee of the Year” chosen in December.  Heidi Caswell nominated Joel stating, “He is great at relating with patients, thorough at his profession, goes above and beyond to help, and is a great co-worker.”  Another staff member said, “Joel goes out of his way to make sure patients feel comfortable.”

When asked why he likes working at Three Rivers Hospital, Deming said, “This is a great place to work; it has a family atmosphere and superb staff.”

Staff members have the opportunity every month to nominate an “Employee of the Month” with an “Employee of the Year” chosen at the end of the year.  In appreciation of their work, each Employee of the Month is awarded:

• A vest with the Three Rivers Hospital logo
• A reserved parking space for the following month they are nominated, and
• Their Employee of the Month certificate proudly displayed in the hospital lobby

Employee of the Month for OCTOBER 2012

KAREN HURLEY

 Three Rivers Hospital 

Employee

of the Month 

for 

OCTOBER 2012

Karen Hurley lives in Bridgeport with her husband, Randy.  She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren and another expected in January.  Karen attended school at Wenatchee Valley College in Omak.  She began her professional career as a Registered Nurse (RN) at the Bridgeport School District.  She has worked at Three Rivers Hospital since June of 1996 as an RN in the Emergency Department, Med-Surgical, OB and as a Charge Nurse.  She is now a Charge Nurse during the Day shift.

Raine Beeson nominated Karen Hurley, stating: “Karen is really a great nurse!  She is truly a team player, picks up extra shifts, moves from days to nights, helps with extra projects -- and all with no complaining!  I so appreciate her!  She is one of our best! And it is really an honor to work with her and have on staff!  Thank-you, Karen.”   Another staff member said:  “Karen is always ready to help and pick up shifts when no one else does.  She works any shift, doesn’t complain and is a great team leader.”

When asked why she likes working at Three Rivers Hospital, Hurley said:  “I love the ‘family’ I work with at Three Rivers Hospital.  Everyone works as a team to care for our patients.  We have a wonderful group of nurses and nurses’ aides that care.”

Staff members have the opportunity every month to nominate an “Employee of the Month” with an “Employee of the Year” chosen at the end of the year.  In appreciation of their work, each Employee of the Month is awarded:

• A vest with the Three Rivers Hospital logo
• A reserved parking space for the following month they are nominated, and
• Their Employee of the Month certificate proudly displayed in the hospital lobby 

  

Employee of the Month for SEPTEMBER 2012

KELLI HOLLOWAY

 Three Rivers Hospital 

Employee 

of the Month 

for 

SEPTEMBER 2012

Kelli Holloway attended Bridgeport schools and Trend Business College, lives in Mansfield, is married with two children and three grandchildren.  A rancher raising cattle, she also enjoys reading and playing softball. 

Lenora Saucedo nominated Kelli, saying, “I think Kelli is a real asset to our facility.  She is very knowledgeable in all aspects of billing and is always willing to help anywhere she is needed from Admitting to helping all account representatives with working their accounts.  She is a go-getter and aggressive player in collecting on accounts.  Another staff member said:  “She is good at juggling all her payers, helping in Admitting and is always there to help out.”  Several staff in the Financial Services department said:  “Kelli trained me when I first came to the hospital to work.  She helped me learn customer service and how the billing department worked.”    Holloway began her career at Okanogan Douglas District Hospital in the 1990’s handling billing and payroll. She moved on to Main Street Health Associates, a clinic that was in Brewster, Washington and she returned to the hospital two years ago where she serves the commercial billing which includes

• Washington state Labor & Industries Workman’s Comp,
• Indian Health Service,
• Washington state DSHS “Basic Health” program, and
• Medicaid “Healthy Options” program

When asked why she likes working at Three Rivers Hospital, Holloway said: “I love the people I work with.  And the everyday challenge of what I do.”

Staff members have the opportunity every month to nominate an “Employee of the Month,” with an “Employee of the Year” chosen in December.   Employees of the Month are awarded a vest with the Three Rivers logo on it, a parking space for the month and their certificate is hung on the wall in the hospital’s lobby.  Everyone nominated throughout the year has the opportunity to become the “Employee of the Year” at

Remembering Howard Gamble

Howard Gamble, 45 year administrator of Okanogan Douglas District Hospital, passed away this past weekend in his hometown of Brewster, Washington.  Gamble was long recognized by the American Hospital Association, the American College of Health Executives, and the Washington State Hospital Association as the longest serving administrator in the country. He was also widely known in Washington and nationally for his involvement in rural health and rural health issues. 

Howard Gamble

When you think of Okanogan Douglas District Hospital you also think of Howard Gamble, they are synonymous.  Along with a dedicated board of commissioners and staff, Gamble oversaw the growth of Okanogan Douglas District Hospital from a small locally funded 12 bed hospital in the late 1940s’ to a large tax funded 50 bed hospital district located in North Central Washington.  During his tenure, the facility added a larger waiting room, surgery suites and a surgical care recovery room, coronary care unit, pediatric room, laboratory space, intensive care unit, nuclear medicine department, nursing home, assisted living facility, and fitness center.  He was also a founding member of the Okanogan Douglas District Hospital Foundation and the Hospital Guild.

Gamble presided over several local and statewide health organizations while heading the Okanogan Douglas District Hospital.  He received the first ever Washington State Hospital Association’s Joe Hopkins Memorial Award in 1987.  The award is bestowed on an individual who reflects some of the key qualities that made Joe Hopkins special – humor, warmth, patience, persistence, insight and a commitment to the hospitals of the state of Washington.  In 2003, Gamble was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Health Foundation.  The foundation stating:  For 45 years, Howard Gamble ran the Okanogan Douglas Hospital in Brewster Washington.  His lifetime of hard work and vision as a hospital administrator, mayor of Brewster, and president of local and statewide health organizations helped his rural Community to thrive and influenced health care systems throughout the state.

Gamble was the mayor of Brewster from 1963 until 1980, leading the town through several major events.  He was also active as a sports referee, in the mentoring program at the Brewster Elementary School that helps young people read, participated in the Quad City Senior Center as a board member, and was the #1 fan at Brewster Bears sporting events.

Within the last year, Okanogan Douglas District Hospital changed their name to Three Rivers Hospital.  Asked during this time, how the original name of the hospital was chosen, Gamble answered:  “I got a call from the county wanting a name immediately, so I just said:  Okanogan Douglas District Hospital.  We always meant to change it, just never got around to it.”

Bud Hufnagel, CEO of Three Rivers Hospital, voicing the feelings of all the staff at the hospital:  “Howard Gamble will be missed by all that knew him, not only for his dedication to our hospital and hospital district but to the rural health of Washington State.  We extend our sympathy to his wife, Dorothy, and his family.”

Okanogan County Prescription Drug Return

Do you have prescriptions in your home that are 

expired, unused or unwanted medication?

Today, prescription drugs are the second most abused category of drugs

after marijuana, with 1 in 5 young adults reporting they have abused a prescription drug. 

From 2008 to 2012, Okanogan County has experienced a 

93% increase in tenth grade prescription drug abuse, 

according to the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey.

  

Limit access and increase barriers to access!

 Return your unused medications for safe disposal at one of these locations to show your support for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day 2012.

 

Friday, September 28

OROVILLE -- Oroville Police Dept  8am to 5pm

OKANOGAN – Food Depot parking lot  3pm to 6pm

Saturday, September 29

OMAK – Wal*Mart parking lot  10:30am to 2pm

COULEE DAM – City Information Center  10:30am to 2pm

NESPELEM – Nespelem Trading Post  10:30am to 2pm

This event is a Collaborative Community Effort made by:

Omak Police Department

 Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office

Colville Tribal Police Department

Coulee Dam Police Department

 Oroville Police Department

 Drug Enforcement Administration

Okanogan Behavioral Healthcare

 Okanogan County Community Coalition

Omak Wal*Mart

 

Also…

Saturday, September 29, 2012

at 10am

there will be a

ribbon cutting ceremony at the

Omak Police Department

for the unveiling of

Okanogan County’s first permanent prescription drug drop-off site.   
 

The outdoor drop off slot is located on the North side of the Omak Police Department building and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A sign posted above the slot describes the types of items that can and cannot be returned.

Community service announcement courtesy of