NVH Newsletter March 2026
Rural Health Transformation Program:
We are closely monitoring a major development in rural healthcare. Washington state was recently awarded $181 million for the first year of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. This initiative is designed to fortify rural hospitals against national funding shifts and ensure sustainable access to care.
For North Valley Hospital, this program represents a vital opportunity to invest in:
Infrastructure and Technology: Modernizing our facilities and adopting digital tools to improve patient outcomes.
Workforce Stability: Strengthening our ability to recruit and retain the skilled clinical staff our community relies on.
Innovative Care Models: Expanding specialty and emergency services to keep high-quality care close to home.
The funding is expected to flow through various agencies, but one of the largest portions will be for investing in technology and critical infrastructure. We are identifying projects that we anticipate will be allowable for this funding and includes HVAC equipment and upgrades to our network.
Welcome Our New CFO:
We are excited to officially introduce Anthonie Zimmermann as our new Chief Financial Officer. Anthonie joined our February Board of Commissioners meeting remotely and will be on-site this month. He also works at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata and will function as the CFO for both organizations in a hybrid remote model. We are thrilled to have his expertise and local connection on our administrative team.
Cyber Security Alert:
In recent weeks, federal authorities including the FBI and CISA have issued urgent warnings regarding an escalation in cyberattacks targeting U.S. healthcare infrastructure. Unlike typical hackers seeking a quick payout, these state actors are groups linked to foreign governments. They are increasingly targeting hospitals and healthcare entities to disrupt services and steal sensitive data.
What we are doing at North Valley Hospital:
Network Segmentation: Keeping clinical platforms separate from business applications to prevent the spread of an intrusion.
Enhanced Monitoring: Utilizing advanced threat detection to identify vishing (voice phishing) and sophisticated social engineering.
Zero Trust Architecture: Strictly enforcing multi-factor authentication across all systems.
Community Announcements and Opportunities
Surplus Sale: We are currently accepting sealed bids for surplus vehicle until 3:00 PM on March 27, 2026.
NVCHA Scholarships: The North Valley Community Health Association scholarship application period is now open. We encourage local students pursuing healthcare careers to apply.
NAC Classes: Thinking of a career in nursing? Our next Nursing Assistant Certified classes are scheduled to begin May 4 and July 6. Apply here.