Report to the Community

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Kadlec is a locally owned, locally governed, not-for-profit

health system. It offers medical services throughout the Tri-

Cities and beyond, through in-hospital treatment, primary

and specialty physician clinics, an urgent care center and

a freestanding emergency department. Kadlec Regional

Medical Center is the referral center for southeast Washington

and northeast Oregon, offering a comprehensive scope of

health services including open-heart surgery, interventional

cardiology and neonatal intensive care. Other key services

include neurosurgery, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation,

an advanced breast care center and one of the Northwest’s

most advanced outpatient digital imaging centers.

KADLEC HEALTH SYSTEM

Susan Kreid, Chair

Jerry Roach, Vice Chair

David Lippes, Treasurer

Ted Samsell, MD, Secretary

Tom Cowan

Michele Dickinson

Sandy Gamble

Mark Gehlen

Larry Jecha, MD

Wayne Martin, PhD

Tom Rado, MD

Ron Schwartz, MD

Sam Volpentest

KADLEC REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Susan Kreid, Chair

Jerry Roach, Vice Chair

David Lippes, Treasurer

Ted Samsell, MD, Secretary

Tom Cowan

Michele Dickinson

Sandy Gamble

Mark Gehlen

Larry Jecha, MD

Wayne Martin, PhD

Chris Ravage, MD

Ron Schwartz, MD

Sam Volpentest

KADLEC CLINIC

Frank Fleming, MD, Chair

James Leedy, MD, Vice Chair

Julie Meek, Treasurer

Brian York, DO, Secretary

Athalia Clower, PA-C

Stephen Ewer, MD

Matthew Fewel, MD

Gary Podhaisky, MD

Lane Savitch

Kevin Turner, MD

Rand Wortman

KADLEC MEDICAL ASSOCIATES

Kevin Marsh, MD, Chair

Scott Beiswenger, MD, Vice Chair

Amy Martens, DO, Secretary

Michael Benedict, DO

David Envangelista, MD

Syed Hashmi, MD

Brian Staley, MD

Steven Weighall, MD

KADLEC NEUROLOGICAL RESOURCE CENTER

Jody Melland, Chair

Brian Hultgrenn, Vice Chair

Bob DeLorenzo, Immediate Past Chair

Steve Arneson, Treasurer

Pam Knutson, Secretary

Terry Marie Fleischman

Don Hart

Debra Lang-Jones

Yosen Liu

Chris Rawlins

Kirk Ruehl

Michael Turner, MD

KADLEC FOUNDATION

Michael Tvedt, Chair

Dot Stewart, Vice Chair

Bill Stahl, Immediate Past Chair

Rich Slocum, Treasurer

Gloria Johnson, Secretary

Jeremy Asmus

Grant Baynes

Roberta Berg

Caryle Brown

Barbara French

Pat Lacey

Carlos Martinez

Kevin Marsh, MD

Ken Olsen

Mark Panther

Ted Samsell, MD

Crystal Scharnhorst

Dick Snitily

Molly Stutesman

Blaze Titus

William Trzcinski, MD

Mary Volpentest

Anthony Wolf

Walteen Corson, Emeritus

Irene Curtis, Emeritus

Susan Kayser, Emeritus

Gary Louie, Emeritus

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70 Years of Changing Lives

2014 signifies a major milestone for Kadlec as we celebrate 70 years of providing care to patients

in the region.

This is a time of building infrastructure for the future – in facilities, services, people, technology,

partnerships and processes. Kadlec is positioning itself well for a changed landscape after

healthcare reform. We’ve done our homework and are making all the necessary alignments

among physicians, partner hospitals and other pieces of the regional care system. Without a

doubt, hospitals will need to assume greater responsibility to improve the well-being of their

communities.

As healthcare in America undergoes profound change, many providers are linking formally and

informally to provide more extensive and advanced services and gain expertise they don’t have

already. It appears that being part of a large, integrated healthcare system will be mandatory for

many organizations.

Also, the flow of patients and patient information needs to be greatly improved and that is one

of Kadlec’s highest priorities. We have standardized key elements of our information system and

back-office operations and invested millions in Epic, the world’s most advanced electronic health

record. Now, we are making Epic available to nearby rural hospitals and community physicians in

order to treat patients better and faster at lower cost.

Thank you for your interest and trust in Kadlec Health System over the past 70 years.

Rand J. Wortman, FACHE

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kadlec Health System

Susan Kreid

Chair, Board of Trustees

Kadlec Health System

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An excited group of doctors, nurses, hospital staff and

administrators and local dignitaries cut a giant blue ribbon

on August 7th to open the three-story, 60,000-square-foot

specialty physicians center.

Kadlec broke ground in Summer 2012 on the three-story,

$14 million structure at 1100 Goethals Drive, across the street

from the Medical Center. The Center is part of Kadlec’s long-

term vision for unified expansion of facilities and services in

downtown Richland.

Most of Kadlec’s specialty practices are now integrated

under one roof. More than 45 providers are practicing in 15

different clinical disciplines there. The goals were to enhance

coordination among specialists and give patients a single

point of entry to care.

Four new Kadlec Clinic specialty groups – Foot and Ankle,

Pulmonology, Interventional Radiology and Inland

Cardiology – are housed in the building. They joined practices

devoted to Neurosciences, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ear/

Nose/Throat, Endocrinology, General and Colorectal Surgery,

Infectious Disease, Nephrology, Urology and Vascular Surgery.

“We’ve got patients covered from the tops of their heads to

the bottoms of their toes,” quips Kadlec Clinic President Ken

Lester.

John Droesch, MD, Kadlec chief of surgery, sums it up nicely:

“This is much more than a beautiful example of architecture.

It’s a major evolution in how we take care of patients. They

get collaborative, well-executed care all in one place.”

The fast-growing Kadlec Neuroscience Center occupies

most of the building’s ground floor. The group was formed

in 2008 to bring a complete and integrated neuro team to

the Mid-Columbia region. Highly-trained professionals offer

a wide range of diagnoses and treatments for conditions

related to the brain, spine, spinal cord and peripheral

nervous system. On the Center staff are five neurologists,

New Specialty Center Encourages Collaboration

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KADLEC CLINIC SPECIALTIES:

» Audiology

» Cardiology

» Cardiothoracic Surgery

» Ear, Nose and Throat

» Foot and Ankle

» General and Colorectal Surgery

» Infectious Disease

» Interventional Radiology

» Nephrology

» Pulmonology

» Urology

» Vascular Surgery

KADLEC NEUROSCIENCE CENTER:

» Neurology

» Neurosurgery

» Pain Management

» Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

three neurosurgeons, two pain management specialists, one

physiatrist, six nurse practitioners and physician assistants,

and as many as 30 support staff.

“Very few people will ever need to leave the Tri-Cities for

advanced neuro treatment,” said Rand Wortman, Kadlec

Health System CEO. “Patients will see providers for outpatient

services and many minor procedures in the new building,

with major surgeries done at the Medical Center.”

Chervenell Construction of Kennewick was the general

contractor and the building was designed by TGB Architects

of Edmonds.

“Kadlec is the largest employer in central Richland,” said

Richland Mayor John Fox at the grand opening ceremony.

“They’re the 800-pound gorilla, in the very best sense of that

expression.”

Fox added, “this new building contributes a lot to the

revitalization of our central business district and it will attract

other private investment to the area.”

1100 Goethals Drive, Richland

5

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“Take good care of patients exactly when and where they

need it.”

That’s the simple philosophy behind Kadlec Clinic, the fast-

growing network of primary care and specialty physicians

and support staff, now in 25 locations around the Tri-Cities

and beyond. Many people first connect with a clinic by

calling the easily-remembered (509) 942-DOCS.

Each month Kadlec Clinic continues to break records for

patient visits. That number topped 200,000 in 2013.

“We’re particularly proud of what we’ve done in the past year

to improve both access to care and patient flow,” says Ken

Lester, president, Kadlec Clinic. “People can move through our

system so much easier now; they get higher quality care with

much less hassle.”

That’s due in large measure to adding new locations, fine-

tuning the Epic central medical record and increasing use of

the My K-Chart online patient portal. With Epic, physicians,

advance practice providers and nurses have immediate

access to test results, allowing quicker and more accurate

diagnoses and treatment.

Kadlec Clinic’s 102 practitioners have adopted a “team care”

approach. “We added a second medical assistant to work

alongside our busiest physicians. That expands the docs’

effectiveness greatly,” Lester explains. “For example, primary

care physicians now have time to consult with their specialist

colleagues while medical assistants manage the important

details of medication orders and the like.”

In early 2012, Kadlec Clinic established a Patient Quality Ad

Hoc Committee. The group met bi-weekly to address issues

of patient flow (customer service) and made many changes,

including purchase of an enhanced telephone system. The

committee also totally reworked the pre-registration process.

Now patients can complete their paperwork before coming

to a clinic, saving them time and trouble.

The Clinics have also established patient care quality goals

that align with several nationally recognized measurement

tools, including the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and

Information Set (HEDIS).

“With new tools, technology and smarter protocols, we’re

better able to ask the right questions the first time we see

someone,” says Lester. “That sets a patient’s health baseline,

laying the groundwork for much better continuing care.”

» Adventist Health Medical Clinic

» Associated Physicians for Women

» Cardiothoracic Surgery

» Center for Pediatrics

» Ear, Nose and Throat

» Endocrinology

» Foot and Ankle

» General and Colorectal Surgery

» Infectious Disease

» Inland Cardiology

» Interventional Radiology

» Kennewick Primary Care

» Nephrology Hermiston, Kennewick,

Pendleton and Richland

» Obstetrics and Gynecology Prosser

» Pasco Primary Care

» Plastic Surgery/Dermatology

» Pulmonology

» Richland Primary Care

» Senior Clinic

» Urgent Care

» Urology

» Vascular Surgery

» West Richland Primary Care

CLINICS:

Kadlec Clinic Broadens, Deepens Coverage

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Three Partners in Prosser

Kadlec announced a strategic alliance in late 2011 with PMH

Medical Center (formerly Prosser Memorial Hospital). The

partnership was designed, in part, to bring broader and

deeper healthcare services to the Lower Yakima Valley.

It began with a rural health primary care clinic, a collaborative

effort among a public district hospital (PMH Medical Center),

a faith-based provider (Walla Walla Adventist Health) and a

secular, not-for-profit hospital (Kadlec). The facility is known

as Adventist Health Medical Clinic (AHMC).

“The three of us brought different things to the table,”

says Julie Petersen, PMH Medical Center CEO. “Adventist

runs rural health clinics very well, Kadlec recruits excellent

physicians and we have more than 60 years of experience as a

community hospital.”

AHMC employs all support staff and in 2014 will operate a

drive-thru pharmacy. PMH staff provide on-site laboratory

draws and services including phlebotomy, urinalysis and

rapid strep. More advanced work is done at the PMH

Medical Center laboratory, which is equipped with the latest

instrumentation and staffed by experienced technologists

and phlebotomists. Diagnostic services – including X-ray,

MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, mammography and bone density

testing – are also supported by PMH Medical Center.

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Kadlec physicians work as members of the Adventist team

doing diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases,

annual wellness physicals, preventive medicine, surgery

follow-up, in-office procedures and much more.

“An important part of our mission is to treat as many people

locally as is appropriate and we wanted tertiary-level care

partners to help us,” says Petersen. “Our community already

trusts Adventist and Kadlec and we look forward to extending

our relationship with them.”

Incorporation of Kadlec’s Epic electronic health record will

bring even greater coordination of care to PMH Medical

Center patients. If a person is a Kadlec Clinic patient, his or her

records will be available immediately in Prosser via Epic.

“Kadlec is absolutely committed to supporting and

strengthening the range of services offered by our more rural

healthcare partners,” says Kadlec Health System CEO Rand

Wortman. “Patients win when we all work together.” More

information is available at www.cooperatingincare.org.

Kadlec also opened a women’s health clinic in Prosser

featuring two OB-GYN specialists, Lisa Galbraith, DO and

Brian Sollers, DO, who deliver babies and perform surgeries at

PMH Medical Center.

Finally, Kadlec is providing hospital-based (hospitalist)

services to PMH, further aligning the two health

organizations.

PMH MEDICAL CENTER

PMH Medical Center is a full-service, community-

based, Critical Access Hospital with a Level 4

Trauma Center and 25 licensed inpatient beds.

It has an active network of more than 40 physicians

and associated health professionals.

ADVENTIST HEALTH MEDICAL CLINIC

Headquartered in Roseville, Calif., Adventist Health

provides primary care and specialty services in

southeast Washington and all along the

West Coast.

Founded on Seventh-Day Adventist health values,

Adventist Health operates 19 hospitals with

more than 2,700 beds, more than 150 clinics and

outpatient centers, 39 rural health clinics, 14 home

care agencies, six hospice agencies and four joint-

venture retirement centers.

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10

Heart disease, an equal-opportunity killer, claims more

American lives than any other condition. So it’s vital that

modern medical centers offer the full range of cardiac care

services from prevention to accurate diagnosis and advanced

treatment to rehab.

Kadlec announced in August it had reached agreement

with Inland Cardiology Associates to become part of Kadlec

Health System. The region’s largest independent group of

experienced cardiologists, Inland provides comprehensive

services – invasive, noninvasive and interventional –

throughout southeast Washington and northeast Oregon.

“It’s amazing what doctors and hospitals can accomplish

together if they start without preconceived notions,” says

Rand Wortman, CEO, Kadlec Health System.

In November, the practice relocated to the third floor of

Kadlec’s new specialty physicians center at 1100 Goethals

Drive.

“The physicians and staff at Inland Cardiology are skilled

and human-centered,” said Wortman. “Like every Kadlec

professional, they are dedicated to giving patients

comprehensive, technologically superior care.”

Physicians in the group are Stephen N. Ewer, MD; Timothy T.K.

Chen, DO; Abdelazim Hashim, MD; Iyad Jamali, MD and Fadi

Alqaisi, MD. They came from a wide array of backgrounds,

yet share a commitment to offering superior care in their

respective specialties.

“We want to use the same ‘circuit rider’ model in working

with other specialty practices,” says Wortman. “From Richland,

our physicians can travel to smaller communities in the

region, see patients and then collaborate with local hospitals

on follow-up care.”

In the future, Kadlec envisions up to eight cardiologists in the

practice. Services will continue to expand with the addition of

electrophysiology (the science of understanding, diagnosing

CARDIAC SERVICES AT KADLEC

» Certified Chest Pain Center with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (angioplasty)

» Interventional Cardiology

» Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery

» Intensivist Program

» Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

INLAND CARDIOLOGY VASCULAR CARE

» Clinical consultation

» Risk factor evaluation and management

» Vascular ultrasound studies

» Angiographic diagnostic or intervention procedures

Kadlec + Inland Cardiology = Better Care, Everywhere

and treating the electrical activities of the heart).

Kadlec opened the region’s first dedicated Cardiac Unit

in 2009, then created an innovative Cardiac/Neurology

Progressive Care Unit three years later. It is dedicated to

delivering the special care required for patients recovering

from open-heart surgery, heart attacks, vascular surgery,

neurosurgery or neurological injuries. In the 28-bed

unit, patients get individualized treatment from a multi-

disciplinary team of physical therapists, occupational

therapists and wound care specialists.

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Quality Care Management Director Shelly Campbell, VP/Chief

Nursing Officer Kirk Harper and Patient Safety Officer Becky

Fuller are a formidable force. Led by these three advocates

for increased patient safety and quality, Kadlec has achieved

many milestones recently.

» Preventing falls. An estimated 700,000 to 1,000,000

patients fall in American hospitals each year. Falls

can cause fractures, lacerations or internal bleeding,

leading to the need for medical care. Kadlec made

strong strides in reducing the estimated one-third

of falls that can be avoided. “We’re much better at

managing each patient’s underlying fall risk factors

and have improved room design to eliminate potential

hazards,” says Fuller. “As important, we talk constantly

to patients and family members about how they can

be our partners in fall prevention.”

Achievements in Patient Safety and Quality

» Cutting readmissions for heart failure. Kadlec tracked

for a year 1,640 patients with history of heart failure.

“We looked closely at what part of their post-discharge

care plan didn’t work,” explains Campbell. During the

program less than 2% were readmitted within 30 days

of discharge. In the past that number was as high as

3.8%. “It’s all about preparing people for their care

progression to home or a skilled nursing facility,” she

added. “If patients don’t have a scale at home, the

Kadlec Foundation gets them one. If someone has

trouble feeding themselves and relies on fast food, we

arrange for Meals on Wheels to furnish a low-sodium

diet, decreasing the risk of congestive heart failure.”

» Discouraging pre-term deliveries. Kadlec had no

elective deliveries before 37 weeks in the first six

months of 2013. That beat the Washington State

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GRADE “A” FOR PATIENT SAFETY

Kadlec Regional Medical Center again earned

an “A” in the Fall update to Hospital Safety Score

compiled by The Leapfrog Group, an independent

national nonprofit run by employers and other

large purchasers of health benefits. 

The Hospital Safety Score uses national

performance measures from the Leapfrog Hospital

Survey, the Agency for Healthcare Research and

Quality (AHRQ), the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare

and Medicaid Services (CMS) to produce a single

score representing a hospital’s overall performance

in keeping patients safe from preventable harm

and medical errors. Twenty-six measures of safety

data are used to evaluate a hospital’s capacity to

keep patients safe from infections, injuries and

medical or medication errors.

“Hospitals that earn an ‘A’ have demonstrated

a commitment to their patients and their

community,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO

of The Leapfrog Group. “I congratulate Kadlec for

its safety excellence, and look forward to the day

when all hospitals will match this standard.”

Department of Health’s goal of 5% or less and avoided

possible stays in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

» Reducing hospital-acquired infections. The Medical

Center has an ongoing house-wide effort to address

the most common problems: catheter-associated

urinary tract infections; central-line infections,

ventilator-associated pneumonia, clostridium difficile

(also known “C. diff”) and others.

» Using visual roadmaps. Kadlec’s highly successful

My Surgery Roadmap grew out of a focused effort to

improve care for adults undergoing elective surgery.

“We realized that inpatient education wasn’t always

coordinated or particularly helpful,” says Fuller. “People

were overloaded with information and didn’t know

what was really important or what questions to ask.”

Kadlec installed large whiteboards in every patient

room. Updated throughout the day, information on the

boards makes clear what kind of therapies to expect,

goals for daily activity level, nutrition guidelines and

necessary steps before discharge. Names of all care

providers are listed, too.

» Staying quiet at night. Kadlec has installed new white-

noise machines across patient floors to lower the level

of ambient noise and encourage restful sleep.

What’s ahead? A big focus next year will be on alarm

management in the Medical Center – making sure patient

bed calls are responded to promptly and thoroughly.

“Another big goal is to build on what’s already in place and

embrace ‘value improvements’ for patients,” Harper says.

“That means incorporating lean processes and operating as

efficiently as possible.”

Kadlec has one distinct advantage in patient safety and

quality: the relative youth of its nursing workforce. “With all

the hiring we’ve done in the past five years, we’ve been able

to drive down the average age of our nurses,” says Harper.

“It’s now in the high 30s to low 40s, which is way below the

state average. Losing skilled RNs to retirement won’t be the

problem here that some other facilities may face.”

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Kadlec ER in Kennewick Exceeding Expectations

Kadlec’s new freestanding emergency room in Kennewick

is being well received by patients through its first several

months of operation. The new ER opened in June and

in recent months, averaged nearly 60 patients a day, far

exceeding projections.

“We are extremely pleased with the community’s response,”

said Carla May, RN, manager of Kadlec’s Kennewick ER. “We’re

seeing volumes that we didn’t anticipate until well into

the third year of operation. ”The Kadlec ER in Kennewick is

located at Highway 395 and 19th Avenue. With 15 private

patient rooms and three semi-private patient care areas,

the new service is open 24/7and features board-certified

emergency room physicians, physician assistants, nurse

practitioners, ER-trained nursing staff, case management, and

lab, X-ray, CT and ultrasound staff.

The ER staff prides itself on getting patients seen quickly and

effectively, with a length of stay goal of 90 minutes or less for

discharged patients. Currently, the average is 84 minutes.

There is a huge gap between what can be done in a

traditional Urgent Care and an Emergency Department in a

hospital. Many people don’t require hospitalization and full

inpatient treatment, but need much more than an urgent

care clinic or primary care offers. The freestanding ER fits

perfectly in the middle of that range.

It immediately treats patients who are suffering from acute

abdominal pain, severe lacerations or burns, broken bones,

sports injuries, serious allergic reactions, food poisoning,

work-related injuries and many other medical emergencies.

Patients are taken directly to an open room for virtually all

treatment.

Case workers are available to assist discharging patients with

follow-up appointments, coordinate prescription refills or

other resources that may be needed.

Patients are extremely happy with the service. In recent

patient satisfaction surveys, 99% have said their care was

“excellent”.

“Patients really love the attentiveness of the staff,” says

May. “We receive a lot of feedback about the calm care

environment and how different it is from a typical ER.”

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SIX ADVANTAGES OF FREESTANDING ERS

» Ease of Use. All internal processes are designed to

bring services directly to the bedside, maximizing

the time staff spends with patients and getting them

diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.

» Efficient Design. The facility is designed with the

patient in mind. The layout provides for superior

comfort, privacy and convenience for patients and

families – plus effective workflow for staff.

» Dedicated Support Services. The ER has an onsite

laboratory and medical imaging services that don’t

compete with other hospital priorities.

» Highly Trained Staff. The ER’s care teams, led by board-

certified emergency physicians, are specially trained in

multiple disciplines, allowing them to quickly provide a

full range of services to patients.

» Technology. All ER staff have access to Epic, Kadlec’s

secure electronic health records system, so vital

information can be conveyed easily among a patient’s

authorized caregivers. The system provides a common

platform for clinicians to share medical documentation,

test results, prescriptions – and information can be sent

to any Epic facility where a patient is treated.

» Collaboration. The ER directly supports the work of

local emergency response teams. By not having to

drive so far to deliver patients, paramedics and EMTs

will be back into service quicker and better able to

cover their territory.

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All good things come in time. Kadlec leaders swung

sledgehammers last summer to signal the start of the long-

awaited expansion of the region’s most advanced Neonatal

Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Located on the second floor of

the Medical Center’s Orchard Pavilion, the new unit will

offer significantly upgraded services to the most vulnerable

patients, fragile newborns. It is scheduled to open in

October 2014.

The NICU will grow from 3,000 to 15,000 square feet and

have 11 private rooms for infants and parents – including

one reserved for multiple births – and a large family room

area. A Continuing Care Nursery down the hallway can

accommodate up to four babies as well.

“Adding 10 more bassinets is a great step forward for our

community and the entire region,” emphasizes Anthony

Hadeed, MD, NICU medical director. “We’ve seen enormous

growth in patient demand since the service started

31 years ago.”

Kadlec operates the only Level III NICU in southeast

Washington and northeast Oregon. It cares for 400 patients

per year, with an average stay of 10.3 days. Some babies are

in the NICU for a few hours, while others can be there three

months. Typical infants weigh from one to 12 pounds.

The new NICU will take up to 27 babies, plus house the

advanced medical equipment used to treat preemies and

other patients with medical complications. The current unit

only has 81 square feet per bassinet, but that nearly doubles

in the expanded space.

Many amenities are planned: sleeping quarters for parents, a

lactation room, an infant formula storage room and a suitable

staff lounge. The unit will also have a special parent room

for quiet time and consultations with physicians. Four highly

skilled neonatologists, two neonatal nurse practitioners and a

full support team are available around the clock.

NICU QUICK FACTS

Location: Orchard Pavilion, second floor

Expansion: From 3,000 square feet to

15,000 square feet

Current Bassinets: 17

Planned Bassinets: 27

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Trends in baby names change all the time. Not

too many Bills, Bettys, Bobs or Barbaras are filling

nurseries these days. Here are the recent Top 10

picks for babies born at Kadlec.

NICU Expansion Moves Forward

Girls1. Sophia

2. Olivia

3. Emma

4. Abigail

5. Isabella

6. Sofia

7. Ava

8. Etta

9. Lillian

10. (tied) Addison, Hannah, Kimberly, Natalie, Victoria

BOYS1. Liam

2. Alexander

3. Mason

4. Ethan

5. Isaac

6. Baby (to be named later!)

7. Daniel

8. Nathan

9. Noah

10. (tied) Anthony, David, Jayden, Logan, Wyatt

The new patient rooms will allow for more privacy and the most advanced equipment.

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For the past several years the NICU has run at more than

70% capacity, significantly higher than the state’s average.

As the regional referral center, Kadlec has close ties with

hospitals throughout southeast Washington and northeast

Oregon. Over the past five years only about 10% of the babies

cared for came from Richland zip codes. Others come from

Pendleton to Sunnyside to Othello.

“We’re offering many more services that allow families to

stay close to home for pediatric care,” says Kelly Harper, RN,

unit manager of Pediatrics and the NICU. “The most exciting

element for families is added privacy. Parents will be able

to stay in their babies’ rooms, allowing them to be included

in the daily care of their babies, which has been shown to

shorten NICU stays. In addition, more time with parents

means more time for patient care education.”

STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Kadlec Foundation is three-fourths of the way to completing

a volunteer-led effort to raise $10 million for the NICU.

Roughly $1.8 million is needed to fund construction and

$1.2 million for specialized equipment.

More than 5,000 local residents and over 1,000 Kadlec

employees have donated to this important project. The local

medical community has contributed over $900,000. The

largest single donor contributed a half-million dollars and

some local people have indicated interest in making a “unit

naming” gift. Carol Garlick of Richland served as Honorary

Chair of the fundraising campaign.

“Kadlec extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who has

supported this vital expansion,” says Larry Christensen, Kadlec

Foundation vice president of Resource Development. “Our

physicians and nurses are saving lives every day in the NICU.”

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Urgent Care fills a Vital Niche

HOSPITAL FAST FACTS

1,702

2,714Deliveries

34,462

66,228ER Visits

9,002

14,832Admissions

2,278

4,278Regional

Admissions *

$5.2 million

2004 2013 Annualized * Reflects 2012 Data

$27 millionCharity Care

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In December 2013 Kadlec opened a new, permanent location

for Urgent Care located at 4804 West Clearwater Avenue in

Kennewick. Previously the Center was in rented space on

West Deschutes Avenue.

The facility is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week,

364 days a year (closed on Christmas) and no appointments

are necessary. It is staffed by two full-time physicians and an

advanced practice nurse certified in family medicine and with

deep urgent care experience.

“If a patient’s doctor’s office is closed or booked up and he or

she needs to be seen right away, Urgent Care is there to help

them feel better faster,” says Randy Hartman, region director

for primary and urgent care.

The Urgent Care Center is on a 4.5-acre site next to WinCo

Foods in Kennewick. Kadlec plans to develop an adjacent

clinic devoted exclusively to primary care in the near future.

With nine exam rooms and a procedure room, the new

7,500-square-foot Center is much larger than the former

location. Hartman indicates the team sees upwards of

70-80 patients daily.

“Kadlec’s Freestanding ER at Highway 395 and 19th Avenue is

fully equipped to take care of life-threatening illnesses, while

Urgent Care offers the same level of medical treatment you’d

find at a good primary care clinic, but does it much quicker,”

Hartman says.

He adds, “Given all the changes coming with the federal

Affordable Care Act, as a society we simply can’t afford to

treat so many people in ERs. Urgent care fits squarely in the

middle between a traditional doctor’s office and an ER. We

relieve pressure on ERs and allow them to do what they do

best – handle genuine trauma cases.”

The Center has state-of-the-art diagnostic and medical

imaging equipment onsite, plus extensive lab services to

allow thorough point-of-care testing. Common problems

seen there include upper respiratory infections, influenza,

wounds requiring sutures, potential fractures and belly

pain, among others. The Center can also provide non-urgent

Most Urgent Care patients are treated for

these types of ailments:

» Minor infections: cough, cold, ear pain, sore throat, urinary tract problems, skin conditions

» Minor trauma: from falls, sprains, suspected fractures, burns and lacerations

» Splinting and casting

» Quick relief from abdominal pain, shortness of breath, joint or muscle pain

» Minor allergic reactions

» Joint and muscle pain

» Testing: TB, flu and other problems

» Sports physicals

services such as Tuberculosis tests and sports physicals.

All of the Center’s caregivers use Kadlec’s Epic electronic

health record system, saving patients even more time and

trouble. “If a someone needs to be hospitalized, we’re able to

coordinate instantly with hospitalists at the Medical Center,”

says Hartman. “Once we’ve done the initial workup, a patient

can be taken as a direct admission, bypassing a second

registration process.”

The total project cost, including land purchase, construction,

equipment and furnishings, is $3 million. Bouten Construction

was the general contractor and TGBA Architects designed

the facility.

19

Public/private partnerships are critical to the success of

higher education in Washington state, especially in high-

demand fields of study such as nursing.

Kadlec joined with other health organizations and

corporations to support development of a new state-of-the-

art teaching facility in downtown Richland for Washington

State University’s College of Nursing.

Kadlec provided 10,000 square feet of former retail space

at 1268 Lee Boulevard and contributed $250,000 toward

specialized equipment in the new facility, resulting in a total

contribution in excess of $2.4 million.

“The Tri-Cities Campus has grown rapidly in the past decade,”

says Kadlec Regional Medical Center President Lane Savitch.

“It made sense for WSU to look for an off-site location for the

four-year bachelor’s degree Nursing Program – one closer to

local healthcare providers and to Columbia Basin College’s

two-year program.”

Angela Mohondro, Kadlec director of rehabilitation and allied

health services, is delighted that nurses will train in the new

Kadlec Helps WSU Nursing Program Move Downtown

building, 60,000 square feet of which will be used by Kadlec.

“Just by being under the same roof with us, nursing students

will be exposed to many different post-acute health services

and a broader array of healthcare professionals.”

In addition to four modern classrooms, the College of Nursing

will have its clinical labs and medical simulators onsite,

greatly enhancing the student learning experience.

WSU’s College of Nursing pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in

Nursing (BSN) degree prepares students for lifelong careers

in nursing practice. The program emphasizes sound clinical

decision-making skills, nursing care quality and patient safety

by preparing students with a blend of course work, skills

practice, simulation and clinical experience.

Critical thinking and skills application are honed in simulated

scenarios while working alongside preceptors in safe,

controlled environments. During their education, students

work 930 clinical hours during their four-semester program.

Additionally, students spend time in the practice lab and in

small group simulation.

20

The WSU College of Nursing each year graduates

more entry-level nurses than any other institution

in the state. The College:

» Educates more than 1,000 upper-division

undergraduate and graduate students

» Offers a Master of Nursing degree (MN)

leading to specialization in Advanced

Population Health

» Welcomed its inaugural class of PhD

students in summer 2007, providing quality

doctoral education using a combination

of face-to-face and distance education

methods

» Is a national leader in distributive nursing

education models, serving students across

five campuses around the state, in Spokane,

Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Walla Walla and Yakima

» Is engaged in research studies leading to

improvements in nursing care, the health

care system, and the health of the public

KADLEC HEALTHPLEX TO OPEN IN MAY 2014

Kadlec’s portion of the building will house several vital

outpatient services: Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation,

Pulmonary Function Testing, Genetic Counseling, the

Diabetes Learning Center, Wound Care, Kadlec Neurological

Resource Center, Neurodiagnostics, the Coumadin Clinic,

Nutrition Counseling, Physical/Occupational/Speech/

Massage Therapies, Prenatal Education, the Healthy Ages

program and Patient Financial Services.

A new Kadlec Conference Center will host community health

education programs, exercise and cooking classes and much

more. Also onsite is a unique retail shop that stocks hard-

to-find items such as specialized cookbooks and personal

medical equipment.

“We’ll see everyone from infants to seniors here and many

of their outpatient needs will be taken care of in one

place,” Mohondro explains. “People will feel welcome here,

regardless of age, ability or disability.”

21

Kadlec has launched a new program focused on older adults

entering the healthcare system and accessing Medicare

benefits for the first time. And that spawned a totally new

approach to lowering hospital readmissions.

Inspired by the patient-centric principles of Planetree,

Kadlec developed Guided Patient Services (GPS). “The rules

and regulations are complex. We needed to do something

significant to help the seniors in our community,” says Lane

Savitch, president of Kadlec Regional Medical Center. “It was

important to explain what’s covered by Medicare and who

provides what services.”

Kadlec did an information campaign targeted directly to

people new to Medicare, with the goal of helping them

A True Innovation: Guided Patient Services

navigate the system effectively. As GPS was developed, the

GPS team realized there were many uses for the concept and

it wasn’t long before they expanded its scope.

Now GPS provides no-cost care coordination services to any

senior who needs it after a stay at Kadlec Regional Medical

Center. A nurse care coordinator and a patient navigator work

with patients before they go home to help set up follow-up

care. For up to 60 days, they facilitate what’s needed for a

successful transition home, including,

» scheduling health service appointments

» answering medical and related questions

» serving as a health advocate

22

“We’ve seen a big drop in high-risk readmits. After

less than a year, we’re down to six percent, from a

high of nearly fifteen percent in the past.”

– Lane Savitch Kadlec Regional Medical Center President

“We explain exactly what they have to do after discharge and

make sure it’s all arranged before they leave,” says Savitch.

“That may be help with everything from financial assistance

to transportation to acquiring medical equipment or

accessing interpretation services.”

HOW IT ALL WORKS

At the outset an RN assesses inpatients clinically – reviewing

current condition, health history, medications and many

other factors – and answers their questions. GPSers continue

to evaluate every patient every day, especially those at

highest risk for readmission – people over the age of 60, with

two or more chronic conditions. They talk with patients to

learn about family situations and the best people to contact.

“Of course, we can’t control everything once a patient

leaves our care, but there’s plenty we can do to help

avoid a readmission,” Savitch notes. “And it’s fairly obvious

which people would benefit most from coordination after

discharge.”

Kadlec staff also contact a patient’s care team: home health

providers, skilled nursing facility staff, social service agencies

and/or the Department of Health. They schedule a doctor’s

visit within a few days after discharge and do regular phone

follow-up for up to two months. They ask if the patient has

any concerns and help them solve simple problems such as

reordering medications. If things aren’t going well, the team

springs into action.

“We’ve seen a big drop in high-risk readmits,” Savitch says.

“After less than a year, we’re down to six percent, from a high

of nearly fifteen percent in the past.”

Kadlec is working hard on better communication between

the hospital, partnering care agencies, and physicians. “Family

members tell us all the time, ’Finally, we have some support!,’”

Savitch says. “It’s a huge relief to have someone they can go

to for information and guidance after a loved one leaves the

hospital.”

Physicians, especially Kadlec hospitalists, really appreciate

GPS. Hospital unit nurses see the benefits first-hand

every day. Patients and family members leave the hospital

happier, better informed and far less anxious.

888 SWIFT BOULEVARDRICHLAND, WA 99352

(509) 946-4611www.kadlec.org

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPASCO, WA 99301

PERMIT #117

ADVENTIST HEALTH MEDICAL CLINIC336 Chardonnay Avenue, Suite A

Prosser | (509) 786-2002

ASSOCIATED PHYSICIANS FOR WOMEN945 Goethals Drive, Suite 200

Richland | (509) 942-2555

CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3095

CENTER FOR PEDIATRICS8108 West Grandridge Boulevard

Kennewick | (509) 942-3264

EAR, NOSE AND THROAT1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3178

ENDOCRINOLOGY1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3244

FOOT AND ANKLE1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3288

GENERAL AND COLORECTAL SURGERY1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3185

INFECTIOUS DISEASE1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-2360

INLAND CARDIOLOGY1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3272

INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3095

KENNEWICK PRIMARY CARE3900 South Zintel Way

Kennewick | (509) 942-3125

NEPHROLOGY HERMISTON1050 West Elm Avenue, Suite 160

Hermiston | (541) 564-1810

NEPHROLOGY KENNEWICK510 North Colorado Street, Suite A

Kennewick | (509) 942-3156

NEPHROLOGY PENDLETON1416 Southeast Court AvenuePendleton | (541) 564-1810

NEPHROLOGY RICHLAND1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3163

NEUROSCIENCE CENTER1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3080

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY PROSSER336 Chardonnay Avenue, Suite B

Prosser | (509) 786-0031

PASCO PRIMARY CARE9605 Sandifur ParkwayPasco | (509) 942-3170

PLASTIC SURGERY/DERMATOLOGY 112 Columbia Point Drive, Suite 101

Richland | (509) 942-3190

PULMONOLOGY1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3095

RICHLAND PRIMARY CARE1135 Jadwin Avenue

Richland | (509) 942-3300

SENIOR CLINIC560 Gage Boulevard, Suite 102

Richland | (509) 942-3135

URGENT CARE4804 West Clearwater AvenueKennewick | (509) 942-2355

UROLOGY1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3165

VASCULAR SURGERY1100 Goethals Drive

Richland | (509) 942-3095

WEST RICHLAND PRIMARY CARE3950 Keene Road

West Richland | (509) 942-3130

KADLEC CLINIC