News

WSHA has been working hard to verify the appropriateness of the recent Health Care Authority (HCA) proposed reductions for payment rates for Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals. The HCA recently sent PPS hospitals notices of new Medicaid inpatient and outpatient payment rates, effective Nov. 1, 2015. The rates include an 8 percent reduction for inpatient rates and an 8 percent reduction for outpatient. These changes are due to state calculations to ensure budget neutrality with the payment rates in effect prior to the July 1, 2014 rebasing.... Read More >>

Julie Meek, vice president of finance and chief financial officer at Kadlec Regional Medical Center, will retire at the end of this year. Julie is one of the longest tenured hospital CFOs in the state, having worked in hospital finance for 38 years. She served as the top financial leader at Kadlec for 30 years.... Read More >>

Keith Georgeson, M.D. has been named chief executive of Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Dr. Georgeson will assume his new responsibility in January 2016. He served as director of the American Board of Surgery from 2000-2006 and chairman of the Pediatric Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery from 2003-2006. ... Read More >>

Providence St. Mary Medical Center has received a grant of nearly $29,000 from the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Eastern Washington that will fund advances in breast cancer prevention for women in the Walla Walla Valley. The grant will supplement the hospital’s Life Saver Fund — which provides free mammograms to low-income women — by increasing the scope of its services and increasing outreach to the local Hispanic population.... Read More >>

Hospitals and clinics often struggle to find ways to finance the acquisition of medical equipment and technology to meet the needs of their patients. Join us on Monday, Nov. 2 at noon to learn how Kingsbridge Healthcare Finance provides leading-edge leasing products that produce cost-effective financing.... Read More >>

Since our last update at the end of September, several more members have reached their individual hospital goals in the 2015 PAC Campaign. The WHPAC plays a critical role in supporting the campaigns for hospital and health care champions.... Read More >>

Member news headlines from the Oct. 29, 2015 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

The Samaritan Healthcare Board of Commissioners has appointed Theresa Sullivan to take over as the hospital’s permanent CEO. Theresa has served as the hospital’s interim CEO since the departure of CEO Tom Thompson in September. The appointment will become official Nov. 12, and Theresa, who is formerly the hospital’s chief operating officer, will assume her permanent position Nov. 14.... Read More >>

PeaceHealth and Providence Health & Services signed a letter of intent Oct. 26 to jointly develop innovative ways to provide health and wellness services in communities they serve. The first example of the work they plan on doing is the development of a health and wellness center, featuring rehab, fitness, primary care and other services on Padden Parkway in Vancouver, Wash... Read More >>

Swedish Edmonds is in the final stages of constructing a 77,000-square-foot addition to the hospital-- its largest expansion in 40 years. The project includes a new state-of-the-art emergency department with private rooms that reduce patient wait times, a new outpatient diagnostic imaging center and upgraded facilities to better serve patients in mental health crisis.... Read More >>