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Hospital Status Update

PRESS RELEASE
July 20, 2014    1600 

We are happy to announce that law enforcement has confirmed our Wildfire Evacuation Status has been downgraded to Level 0 (zero).  We are contacting local area healthcare facilities to notify them we are no longer requiring diversion of inpatients. We are in process of resuming full service lines and expect to be fully operational within 24 hours.  All staff have been requested to return to their regular schedules.

To help ensure consistent and up-to-date information, please direct media inquires to the Director of Operations.

Hospital Status Update

PRESS RELEASE
July 19, 2014    1145

At this time, the Emergency Department at Three Rivers Hospital remains open.  We will continue to treat patients in the Emergency Department until we have been given further evacuation instructions from law enforcement.  Due to our current Level 1 Evacuation Status, the hospital is unable to admit patients to our inpatient unit.  Our outpatient services, such as lab and radiology, are restricted to emergency needs only.  When we are given clearance and our Evacuation Level is eliminated, we will return to providing full service lines at the hospital.

Given the unpredictability of the weather, we are not able to determine precisely when we will be able to resume regular operations. We continue to request non-essential employees to remain on standby. Staffing updates have been distributed to employees through email. As always, our top priority at Three Rivers Hospital is the safety and well being of our patients and our staff.  We will continue to take necessary measures that will allow us to provide service to our communities in the safest and most effective way possible.

To help ensure consistent and up-to-date information, please direct media inquires to the Chief Executive Officer.

Hospital Status Update

Press Release
July 18, 2014  1300

At this time, The Emergency Department at Three Rivers Hospital remains open.  We will continue to treat patients in the Emergency Department until we have been given further evacuation instructions from law enforcement. 
Due to our current Level 2 Evacuation Status, the hospital is unable to admit patients to our inpatient unit.  Our outpatient services, such as lab and radiology, are restricted to emergency needs only.  
At the time when we are given clearance and our Evacuation Level is eliminated, we will return to providing full service lines at the hospital.   Currently, the hospital structure remains intact and is not in immediate jeopardy; however we are requesting that all non-essential staff remain off campus and focus their efforts on their family and friends. 
We will be working to contact all staff directly to provide updates regarding the status of the hospital.  As always, our top priority at Three Rivers Hospital is the safety and well-being of our patients and our staff.  We will continue to take necessary measures that will allow us to provide service to our communities in the safest and most effective way possible.

Cardio Rehab Services Suspended

At a recent board meeting, the Board of Commissioners for Three Rivers Hospital reluctantly voted to suspend services of the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program, also known as Cardiac Rehab, as of May 22, 2014.  This was not an easy decision by the Board, especially knowing it will affect both the patients and our employees. Due to the situation created by new Federal guidelines that require the Cardiac Rehabilitation program of critical access hospitals be directly supervised by a physician, and the district hospital and medical facilities experiencing a shortage of physicians, scheduling direct supervision has become difficult.  It was the Board’s decision that this closure was required to avoid non-compliance with the Centers for Medicare and MedicaidServices (CMS) “Conditions of Participation” of the new guidelines.  

According to hospital Board Chairman Vicki Orford:  “This has not been a quick decision.  The Board has been reviewing the program since September of 2013.  CEO Bud Hufnagel and I have been working with local physicians to make the program work.  The physicians have come to the conclusion they do not have enough time to supervise the program because of their own practices.  This program needs to be stable, sustainable, and in the best interest of the patient and it is not at this time.  As more physicians begin to practice in our district and as we look at the option of starting our own clinic, we will review the program in the future.”  

Patients and physicians have been notified of the program closure.  If anyone would like more information, please contact Rebecca Meadows at 509.689.2517, extension 3416.

Two Hospital Departments Sold to Local Manager

 is pleased to announce the sale of Advantage Durable Medical Equipment and HealthBeat Fitness Center to Bennie Polvos.  Both businesses are located at 537 West Main Street in downtown Brewster, Washington.  Polvos worked for Three Rivers Hospital as Manager of Advantage Durable Medical Equipment from the time the department was created by the hospital to help ensure easy access and quality medical equipment to the communities of our hospital district.  Advantage Durable Medical Equipment intends to continue to offer helpful customer service and durable medical equipment to rent or buy, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you have questions or need medical equipment or services, call

Advantage Durable Medical Equipment

1.800.833.0597

An additional department of the hospital, HealthBeat Fitness Center that is located in the same building as Advantage Durable Medical Equipment, was also purchased by Polvos. 

To enjoy the convenience of a local area gym, increase your exercise options or enroll in a fitness membership, you are welcome to stop by or call

Gamble Fitness

509.689.2206

Three Rivers Employee receives Recognition Award from Governor

Janet Hanke, our Clinic and Patient Access Manager, was recently selected as one of two hospital staff from throughout Washington state to be recognized by Governor Inslee for her outstanding contributions to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment.  She was nominated by the Washington State Hospital Association to receive this award.

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange and Governor Jay Inslee’s office held a special end-of-year press conference and appreciation event on April 23^rd in Seattle.  The event was held to showcase the key successes and challenges over the past six months as well as the hard work by In-Person Assistors (IPA) and brokers to enroll hundreds of thousands of residents in health insurance coverage.

The event included a special recognition of Outstanding IPAs and Brokers by Governor Inslee, a presentation of open enrollment data and a press conference.  The event was held at the Impact HUB in Seattle with special guest speakers including Senator Patty Murray, Richard Onizuka, who is CEO for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, and Dorothy Teeter, the Director of Washingtonstate’s Health Care Authority. 

Outstanding IPAs and Brokers