Edition 27
Workplace Violence:
At the end of last week, we had an ER patient in severe mental health distress who was in our ER for an extended period of time. The patient assaulted one of our nurses, although there were no serious injuries. This was still a scary event and a reminder of the risks our frontline coworkers experience. At today’s Safety Committee meeting, we discussed the incident, and I shared that we will review our response to ensure we do everything we can to protect our team. This will include how we communicate about Lockdown Events, the response of our security team/guards, partnership with law enforcement, and how we work with OBHC.
Regional Collaboration vs Consolidation:
We continue to work towards options to improve our partnerships with the Mid Valley and Three River’s Hospitals and are seeking opportunities to strengthen the care and financial standing of each organization. Earlier this month, Thee River’s attempt to fund an extensive remodel via bond failed to pass by the the voters of their district. As described in this Methow Valley News article, part of the opposition to the bond was led by a group that is advocating the three hospitals district combine. I wanted to affirm that I do not have any interest in reducing our services as suggested by the opposition group. We will stay engaged in the conversation, but are not endorsing any changes to the services we offer in our community.
Separately, we joined The Rural Collaborative (TRC) starting in 2026. TRC is a statewide organization of rural hospitals that work together on education, policy, best practices, contracting, etc. I hope it will also provide resources to improve the work we do.
Rural Health Transformation Program:
Washington has applied to the new Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), funded through HR1, which creates a national fund to strengthen rural health care. Several of the proposed initiatives are especially relevant to NVH and could support the work our team does every day.
Improving Tools and Technology (Initiative 1 & 4)
The state is proposing investments to modernize technology in rural hospitals, including shared revenue-cycle tools, cybersecurity support, remote patient monitoring, and expanded telehealth.
We might see:
easier access to tools that reduce manual work (AI documentation, scheduling support, analytics)
better cybersecurity protections and upgraded technical infrastructure
specialty consults available through virtual care, reducing delays for patients
Strengthening Community-Based Care (Initiative 2)
Washington plans to expand mobile health services, dementia support programs, and EMS coordination across rural regions.
What this could mean for NVH staff:
patients may be more supported in the community, reducing preventable ED visits
improved transfer coordination during high-acuity situations
more resources for aging patients and caregivers in our service area
Growing the Rural Workforce (Initiative 5)
The application includes significant investments in rural nursing pathways, WWAMI family medicine residencies, apprenticeships, and rural recruitment incentives.
We hope to experience:
more opportunities for staff interested in advancing their careers
expanded local training programs for nurses, MAs, CNAs, and other clinical roles
improved recruitment and retention support for departments experiencing shortages
If approved, RHTP could bring new resources to rural hospitals across Washington, including ours. However, it is still unclear which parts of Washington’s proposal will ultimately be funded, and NVH may or may not have access to every component that moves forward. The Grants Committee is ready to make the most of the funding opportunity!
Men’s Health Awareness Month:
Brad Wiman, with the help of Dr. Mahogany, has been leading an awareness and education campaign for Men’s Health Month. Brad launched his "American Golden Mustache Award of America" for the ED and AC teams for the best mustache grown in November. (Kristy roped me in also which is why I look like a homeless man going to a job interview.) Thanks Brad, for championing an important cause!
