Edition 3
2024 Budget
Last week, the Board approved the 2024 Budget. We anticipate continued financial headwinds and hope to achieve a break-even year in 2024. We are making big investments in our labor budget and our buildings. As those costs increase, we must find ways to manage other expenses and grow revenues. The assumptions and targets will be built into our Daily Metrics to allow us to follow our progress throughout the year.
Election Update
The results aren’t official yet, but it looks as though Stephanie Steinman will be joining the Hospital Board in January when our current Board President, Jean steps down. Stephanie is one of the owners of Lakeside and Whitestone Pharmacy where she works as a pharmacy technician, and previously she worked for Confluence as an RN. In the past year, Stephanie has been a member of our citizen steering committee and contributed to the creation of our 2024 Strategic Plan. Her experience in healthcare, and work on the Long Range Focus Committee will help her hit the ground running, and I’m excited to be working with her.
Reviews
Cassi does a lot of this work also, but one part of my job is to talk to patients about their experiences or handle concerns or complaints. For your awareness, I approach this conversation with our “just culture” in mind. I think about processes to improve or the root cause of an issue. In this area (and in every other area), I view the role of administration to be your champion and to give you the tools you need to be successful.
Most of this happens behind the scenes, but some patients choose to provide feedback in a public setting like our Google reviews:
I don’t know how many people choose their healthcare by looking at Google Reviews, but I spent a few minutes looking at hospitals in the area and the state, and our 3.5 Stars are the best in the county, but in the reviews, I read, and in my experience talking to patients a few themes emerge:
Patients really don’t understand how the ED works, and some patients seem to think a first come, first serve model would be better
Hospitals are expensive, and nobody likes the bill
Attitidue both positive and negative, is what stands out to patients about their care
If you work directly with the public, I would encourage you to approach these interactions with intentionality and seek to communicate positively and frequently particularly if a patient is waiting for something. A simple explanation and empathy in these situations would change the perception of the care we provide.
I believe we are a five-star facility, and I believe you are a five-star care team.
Experiences
My wife and I moved in here in large part to support her parents as they get older, but so far they’ve been helping us with childcare a lot more than we’ve been helping them. This fall my father-in-law had back surgery and the level of help they need has temporarily increased.
My father-in-law was a teacher (ask Shawna in Lab for stories), but in his retirement, he moved to a small farm with orchards, a vegetable garden, and a few acres of alfalfa. As someone who grew up in a very suburban environment, my exposure to farm life has all occurred in the last few years of living in Tonasket.
Over my six years, I’ve been slowly gaining my “driver’s license” for the various vehicles on the farm. First I got the keys to the golf cart, then the riding lawn mower, then the tractor, later I added the front loader attachments, and recently, I reached the pinnacle with swather and the mission to cut a few alfalfa fields.
The field was too short to bother baling and my father-in-law being unable to get on the tractor felt this was a great opportunity for me to help. The primary factors in his decision-making seem to be a lack of other options and a relatively low risk of causing harm.
I’m happy to report no fences, sprinklers, or equipment was damaged during my short tenure as a field hand.
-John