the message...medicine for which to be thankful. among them were the facts that the death rate from...

Focus, Focus, FocusExploring the issues facing SCMS in 2010

by Gary Knox, MD

HSSA Awards$225,000 Grant to

Project AccessBy John Driscoll

A A d

A M O N T H L Y N E W S M A G A Z I N E O F S C M S — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0

SPOKANE COUNTY

MEDICAL SOCIETY

A M O N T H L Y N E W S M A G A Z I NI N E O F S C M S — J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0

messageT HET HET HE

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

President’s Message: Focus, Focus, Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

In the News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

See You on the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Health Sciences and Services Authority Awards $225,000 Grant to Project Access . . . 3

Meetings & Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Medical Education in Spokane Update – Giving Back to the Community . . . . . . . . 5

Managing transitions after a hospital stay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Meeting Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Governor’s Budget Cuts Healthcare, Plans for Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Delay in Implementing Phase 2 of CRs 6417 amd 6421 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

New Physicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Suicide is a preventable public health problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2010 Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

CME Continuing Medical Education Program Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Positions Available. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Medical Office for Build or Lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Classified Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

“When you blame others, you give up your power to change.”

–ROBERT ANTHONY

When is the right time to begin

talking with your terminally ill

patients about hospice?

(509) 456 0438

When cure is no longer an option and quality of life is what matters most, making provisions for hospice services is the most compassionate physician order you can implement. Letting patients know they are not alone and that hospice will help them to live the highest quality of life possible for as long as possible creates hope.

Management of patient crisis after hours Complex pain & symptom management Assistance with emotional, social, and spiritual pain

Hospice of Spokane provides:

Spokane County

Medical Society Message

Brad Pope, MD, Editor

A monthly newsletter published by

the Spokane County Medical Society.

The annual subscription rate is $21.74

(this includes the 8.7% tax rate).

Advertising Correspondence

Quisenberry

Marketing & Design Attn:

Jeff Akiyama

518 S. Maple

Spokane, WA 99204

509-325-0701

Fax 509-325-3889

[email protected]

All rights reserved. This publication,

or any part thereof, may not be

reproduced without the express written

permission of the Spokane County

Medical Society. Authors’ opinions

do not necessarily reflect the official

policies of SCMS nor the Editor or

publisher. The Editor reserves the

right to edit all contributions for

clarity and length, as well as the right

not to publish submitted articles

and advertisements, for any reason.

Acceptance of advertising for this

publication in no way constitutes

Society approval or endorsement of

products or services advertised herein.

2010 Board of Trustees

Gary Knox, MD

PresidentBrad Pope, MD

President-ElectTerri Oskin, MD

Vice PresidentAnne Oakley, MD

Secretary-TreasurerLouis Koncz, PA-C

Position 1Keith Kadel, MD

Position 2Michael Cunningham, MD

Position 3David McClellan, MD

Position 4Paul Lin, MD

Position 5Michael Metcalf, MD

Position 6William Reed, MD

Position 7Carla Smith, MD

Position 8Susan Tewel, MD

Position 9David Bare, MD

Position 10Keith Baldwin, MHA

Chief Executive Officer

January SCMS Message 1

I have to agree with all those previous

presidents of the Spokane County

Medical Society that the most

daunting task of the year is writing

the monthly President’s letter. Well,

my turn has finally arrived and I feel

humbled by the task at hand, as well

as, the challenge of the coming year.

Fortunately, I have some very talented

and dedicated people to assist me. As

many of you are aware, Jan Monaco stepped down from

her role as CEO of the Medical Society in 2009 after 26

successful and productive years. She will be greatly missed.

However, stepping into that position is Keith Baldwin who

has a wealth of experience in health care management and

knows our local medical community well. He is off to a

running start and is certainly up to the challenge. For those

of you who don’t know me, I have been in primary care for

26 years since residency as a Family Physician, all of it spent

in Eastern Washington, and all but 4 years in Spokane. I will

attempt to stay balanced, and not let my primary care bias

show too often.

At the beginning of this new year no one would

disagree that there has been a lot of attention focused on

healthcare. This is evident both on the national scene,

with Congress and the Whitehouse working on health

care legislation, and locally with the development of

plans for building a four-year medical school in Spokane,

doctors aligning with hospital systems, and more stories

about people losing their jobs and thus their health

insurance. This is an exciting, if not unsettling, time to

be in medicine. While focusing on the problems helps us

come up with solutions, some focus on the positives can

give us hope for the future and sustain our enthusiasm.

Every year the Medical Society sends out a survey to its

members asking for opinions on priorities for the year.

Thank you to those of you who responded to our survey.

Not surprisingly, there are common themes from year

to year. Liability reform, access to care and cost/quality

initiatives came out on top this year, and have been

featured prominently in the last several years as areas of

concern by the members. In response to those concerns,

this past year the Society sponsored a study of primary care

access in the county and had it published. We continue to

support the efforts to build a four-year medical school. We

have advocated for liability reform. But, to focus more on

these areas we have decided to devote several issues of the

Message to specific themes during the year to get more in

depth information out to the members.

We will have medical education as one theme,

including exploring ways to not only advocate for more

participation by providers, but to facilitate faculty

development and give support to physicians and non-

physician providers who are willing to teach. There is a

tremendous amount of momentum toward increasing

medical education in Spokane County, and the Medical

Society will be integral in its growth. The medical school

will help to address the access to care problem in the long

run, as we know many medical students and residents go

into practice near where they trained.

Another focus this year is not what is wrong with

American medicine, but rather what is right about it. You

all can name several major problems with our health care

system that affect you and your patients. We will not bury

our heads and ignore the problems, but neither should

we lose sight of the positive aspects of our system and the

accomplishments that we have made. A recent article in

the Wall Street Journal pointed out twenty advances in

medicine for which to be thankful. Among them were the

facts that the death rate from coronary heart disease has

dropped 34% from 1995 to 2005 and the death rate from

stroke dropped 29% since 1999. Also, the life expectancy

in the U.S. continues to rise and reached an all time high

of 77.9 in 2007, the latest year for which there are statistics.

Many cancer statistics show dramatic improvement in

survival rates. Those are great accomplishments, but as we

all know, it is the cost of healthcare and access to care that

are the biggest challenges we face.

Our local community has many examples of good

things about our health care. We will focus one edition of

the Message on the many volunteer efforts of providers to

improve the health of people in our community as well as

in other countries. I still believe that the vast majority of

physicians and non-physician providers are not motivated

by dollars but by the desire to make a difference for their

patients. Stories about local medical volunteers will

reinforce that belief.

And, finally, what can we do about liability reform?

This comes up every year as a priority. We talk about it,

complain to our legislators and ourselves that nobody

is doing anything about it, and go on doing our best to

avoid litigation by practicing defensive medicine, to the

tune of about $60 billion per year according to a recent

Harvard University study. The likelihood of the Spokane

County Medical Society bringing about liability reform

by itself is low. But, perhaps some emphasis on processes

and initiatives that reduce the unnecessary variation in

treatments will actually improve quality at a lower cost,

thus reducing risk. We have already seen this happening

in some specialties where “best practices” has reduced

unnecessary variations. The Society will explore how it

can help to standardize best practices that can be applied

to many specialties. At the same time, we will not cease to

advocate for liability reform on the state and national level.

Every year the new President of the Medical Society

issues a call to action for the coming year. Part of that

call to action is the challenge the Society faces to remain

relevant and valuable to its members. Please contact me

with your concerns, questions, and suggestions about how

we can serve you better. I look forward to hearing from

you, and I am looking forward to serving you this year.

Gary Knox, MDSCMS 2010 President

President’s Message: Focus, Focus, Focus


Cancer Care Northwest Offering “Stereotactic

Body Radiation Therapy” and More Precise Radiation

Delivery with On-Board Imaging Technology

Targeted radiation therapy is now even more precise

with new radiation technology available at Cancer

Care Northwest’s North office. Radiation Oncologists

at CCNW are offering “Stereotactic Body Radiation

Therapy” (SBRT) with access to an advanced, three-

dimensional imaging process. This imaging tool, used

at the same time as the treatment session, can pinpoint

the exact size, shape and location of tumors while also

accounting for any tumor movement or small day-to-day

set up differences.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

This term refers to very high doses of focused radiation

therapy that are given to a precisely defined tumor,

usually in 3-5 treatments over 1-2.5 weeks.

Cone Beam CT

The 3-D imaging technology, called Cone-Beam CT,

was added to the Smart Beam ix Linear Accelerator,

which delivers radiation therapy to cancer patients. The

3-D image is created using an On-Board Imager, which

is attached to the linear accelerator. This process can be

used for SBRT and standard daily radiation therapy.

For more information contact Alison Benjamin at Cancer Care Norhtwest.

Allison [email protected]

Special Thanks from Christ Clinic

A special thank you was received from Danielle Riggs,

ARNP the Clinical Director for Christ Clinic on behalf of

the Board, staff, volunteers and women of Christ Kitchen.

One year ago in November the new, larger Christ Clinic

opened at 914 West Carlisle Avenue to serve low-income

patients in need of healthcare. SCMS Foundation is proud

to be a supporter of Christ Clinic.

In the News

See You on the InternetAccess to medical library resources has never been

easier. Experience MEDICOR, your Internet library

portal developed by the Spokane County Medical

Society. Through MEDICOR you can quickly access

a growing collection of free and licensed electronic

resources available through Providence Sacred Heart

Medical Center, Providence Holy Family Hospital,

Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital & Medical

Center. With a single log-in, search and retrieve full-

text information from authoritative databases, point-

of-care reference tools, e-books and electronic journals.

Using MEDICOR’s simple Google®-type system, you can

search a list of popular, pre-defined full-text databases

(QuickSearch), select your own favorite databases for

simultaneous searching (Multi-Database Search), browse

our A-Z list of hundreds of electronic journals, or if you

prefer, query each resource individually using its own

native search engine.

With MEDICOR’s robust personalization features you

can also create and search your own lists of resources,

save and re-run searches, or create custom folders to store

your search results. And where full-text information is not

locally available, you can seamlessly forward your request

through MEDICOR to your hospital library’s document

delivery service.

MEDICOR works with most Web browsers and is

available wherever you have Internet access at http://

spcmsmedicor.org. To use MEDICOR you must have staff

privileges at Deaconess, Valley, Providence Sacred Heart

or Providence Holy Family hospitals. You can easily

apply for a username and password at the MEDICOR

website, or call George McAlister, Systems Librarian, at

(509) 325-5010. You can also arrange with George for a

personal training session or an on-site demonstration of

MEDICOR’s features and functionality. It’s easy and it’s

free, so sign up today!

George McAlister, MLSSystems Librarian


On December 21, 2009, the Health

Sciences and Services Authority

(HSSA) of Spokane County awarded a

$225,000 grant to Project Access and

a $675,000 grant to the Institute for

Systems Medicine (ISM). “Today is a

good day for Spokane,” said Nancy

Isserlis, HSSA Board Chair. “HSSA

is beginning to fulfill its mission as

provided

for in its enabling legislation to

promote economic development

through bioscience research and

to increase access to health care for

the underserved of our County. It

could not come at a more important

time,” said Isserlis, “given the

challenges of our economy and

the importance of the work of

these two recipients. We had two

rigorous grant competitions, and I

am pleased on behalf of the HSSA

Board to sign contracts with both

Project Access and the Institute for

Systems Medicine.”

The event was the culmination of the effort of many

years to secure local/state public funding for bio-medical

research and for the provision of healthcare safety-net

services such as Project Access. The enabling legislation

was passed in 2007 with the

strong support of State Senators

Chris Marr and Lisa Brown, as

well as that of State Representative

Timm Ormsby. Dr. Sam Selinger

was very instrumental in laying

the groundwork with our local

and state elected officials to

find creative ways to improve

healthcare access. His passionate

advocacy for comprehensive

medical care for uninsured

individuals, and for increasing

healthcare research, was the

foundation that developed into

this legislation.

Washington State Senator Chris Marr said, “This is a

great example of how the state and local community vision

intersect to create meaningful economic development

opportunity through bioscience research and to provide

access to healthcare for people in Spokane County.”

“ HSSA exists today to support Spokane’s uniquely

positioned medical care and medical education assets

because of leaders such as Senator Marr, Senate Majority

Leader Lisa Brown, Governor Christine Gregoire, House

Speaker Frank Chopp, Representative John Driscoll,

Spokane County, the City of Spokane and other major

supporters such as Washington State University, Gonzaga

University, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and

Avista Utilities,” said Nancy Isserlis. “I am confident these

investments and others will lead to a vibrant biomedical

research center that will advance healthcare and the area’s

economy,” continued Isserlis. ISM will use the grant to fund

the development of a human tissue bank and a clinical data

repository, critical infrastructure necessary for innovative

bioscience research in Spokane.

Senator Marr joined John Driscoll,

Project Access Executive Director, and

HSSA Board Chair Nancy Isserlis at

the contract signing ceremony. “We

thank HSSA for awarding this grant

to Project Access,” said John Driscoll.

“The greatest resource of Project Access

is its volunteer provider network, the

only such network of physicians and

hospitals providing the full range of

health care to low income uninsured

people in Spokane County. Since its

inception in 2003, those providers have

given nearly $20 million in medical

care to Project Access patients, with a

return on community investment of $8.60 in medical care

for every dollars invested,” Driscoll said.

Project Access would like to give special thanks to

Commissioners Todd Mielke, Mark Richard and Bonnie

Mager for the leadership exhibited in

creating the Spokane County HSSA.

Once passed into law, the Spokane

County Board of Commissioners

applied to be designated as the only

county in the State eligible to form an

HSSA. After many months of meetings,

county ordinances and contract

negotiations, the State Higher Education

Coordinating Board granted Spokane

County the Authority to form the HSSA.

The original HSSA board members

were appointed by Governor Chris

Gregiore, Mayor Mary Verner and

the Spokane County Board of

Commissioners. The HSSA Board of

Directors are Nancy L. Isserlis – Chair, Earl F. “Marty”

Martin - Vice Chair, Patricia Butterfield, Dr. Jeff

Collins, Kelsey Gray, Alethea McCann, Mari Thomas

and Mike Wilson.

Check out the KHQ live video on our SCMS website at

www.spcms.org

John Driscoll Project Access Executive Director

Photos courtesy of Hamilton Studio

Health Sciences and Services Authority Awards $225,000 Grant to Project Access

WA State Senator Chris Marr, HSSA Board Chair

Nancy L. Isserlis, Project Access Executive Director

John Driscoll and SCMS CEO Keith Baldwin

Contract signing with John Driscoll, Project Access

Executive Director and Nancy L. Isserlis, HSSA Chair


CATEGORY I CME SEMINARS

Spokane Society of Internal Medicine’s 61st Annual

Meeting: “Update in Internal Medicine”, 10.5 Hour(s) of

Category I CME credit. Jointly sponsored by the Spokane

County Medical Society. Conference held on February

26-27, 2010 at the Spokane Convention Center. Cost:

Physician SSIM members $160. Physician non-members

$185. Nurses/PA’s/Allied Health Professionals $160.

Retired SSIM members $50, Residents/Medical Students

$25. Contact Merry Maccini at (509) 468-0236 or email

[email protected] for more information.

Current Trends in Cardiovascular Disease XIII: 5.5

Hour(s) of Category I CME credit. Jointly sponsored by

the Spokane County Medical Society. Conference held on

March13, 2010 at the Red Lion Inn. Contact Lori Hanks at

(509) 455-8820 or email LHanks@SpokaneCardiology.

com for more information.

Orthopaedic Update 2010: 3.0 Hour(s) of Category I

CME credit, sponsored by the Spokane County Medical

Society. Conference held on April 14, 2010 at Deaconess

Health and Education Center. Contact Jennifer Anderson

at (509) 325-5010 or email [email protected] for more

information.

OTHER CATEGORY I CME SEMINARS

2009-2010 HIV/AIDS Education Series: 1.0 Hour

of Category 1 CME credit, Sponsored University of

Washington School of Medicine, NWAETC, AARTH

and Spokane AIDS Network. Presentations include Oral

Manifestations and Dental Care in HIV Patients 1/20/10

and Successful Implementation of Routine HIV Testing

as recommended by CDC 3/17/10. Presentations held at

Deaconess Health and Education Center. Go to https://

catalysttools.washington.edu/webq/survey/aarth/82689

or Contact Betty Morgan at (206) 850-2070 for more

information or to register.

OTHER MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES

Institutional Review Board (IRB) – Meets the second

Thursday of every month at noon at the Heart Institute,

classroom B. Should you have any questions regarding this

process, please contact the IRB office at (509) 358-7631.

Caduceus Recovery Group Meeting for Healthcare

Professionals – Meets every Thursday evening, 6:15 p.m.

– 7:15 p.m., at 626 N. Mullan Rd, Spokane. Contact (509)

928-4102 for more information. Non-smoking meeting

for Healthcare Providers in recovery.

Physician Family Fitness Meeting – Physician Family

Fitness is a recently created meeting for physicians,

physician spouses, and their adult family members to

share their common problems and solutions experienced

in the course of a physician’s practice and family life. The

meetings are on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the

Sacred Heart Providence Center for Faith and Healing

Building, due east of the traffic circle near the main

entrance of SHMC. Enter, turn right, go down the stairs,

Room 14 is on your right. Format: 12-Step principles,

confidential and anonymous personal sharing; No dues

or fees. Guided by Drs. Bob and Carol Sexton. The contact

phone number is (509) 624-7320.

Update on the Management of STDs & HIV 2010 –

Presented by The Seattle STD/HIV Prevention Training

Center (PTC) ~ February 11 & 12 Harborview Medical

Center Research and Training Building Seattle, WA

$200 registration fee. Register online at http://www.

SeattleSTDHIVPTC.org. For more information please

contact: [email protected] | 206-685-9850.

Meetings & Events


When I entered medical school 23 years ago, we had a

program that allowed interested students the opportunity

to work in an underserved clinic in South Seattle as early

as first-year students. I loved the work that I did at the

clinic, as it was the first real exposure I had to medicine

and it afforded me the opportunity to practice real clinical

medicine. My initial attempts at understanding the

intricacies of disease were based on the work I did there.

During my second year, I was the student director for the

program and I did a longitudinal elective with the clinic.

It was a transformative experience that hooked me fully

into the idea of being a doctor and eventually formed me

into becoming a family physician.

This year’s group of first-year medical students from

the University of Washington at WSU-Spokane is very

interested in creating a student-run experience similar

to what is going on through the still existing CHAP

(Community Health Advancement Program). These

bright, invigorated, interesting students are looking to

create “service learning” opportunities in Spokane. This is

very cool! First-year medical students have been present

in Spokane only one year and they are already looking for

ways they can give back to the community.

Students are currently creating three projects. The

first one is to volunteer in the school system to present

educational topics. They are creating the kind of modeling

to which I want my children, as well as the rest of the

community’s youth, exposed. In longer term planning,

they are exploring ways they can work with Spokane’s

Regional Health District to help address the large number

of STIs in the community. They have approached these

issues with an open mind, asking what the community

wants, knowing they have a multiplicity of talents (which

doesn’t yet include a huge amount of medical knowledge)

and an eagerness to create a positive impact on our

community.

The final project in which they can utilize some help

is developing extended hours for the homeless clientele

at the House of Charity’s medical clinic to include

some weekend hours. This project will allow them the

opportunity to see patients who are disenfranchised and

have significant needs. It is a very basic clinic that helps

extend care to a population that has a hard time achieving

care through traditional clinics. The first-year students

will be seeing the patients first and presenting to a third-

year student or to a volunteer attending. We are currently

looking to find more volunteer attendings to make this

project work.

I have staffed the clinic in the past (it currently runs

two weekdays a week) and find that it does basic medicine

with a devoted staff led by Dr. Arch Logan, Jr. It has made

the decision not to dispense narcotics or benzodiazepines

because it is not a continuity clinic and because of the

nature of the clientele. This has made it far more attractive

from my perspective. It is a clinic that all physicians could

feel comfortable staffing, as it includes very basic care.

If you are interested in helping with this clientele and

the medical students, this is a program on which they

have taken the initiative and would like community

physician support. (See accompanying letter from the

student project leader.) Please let either Colette Inaba

(medical student leader) or me know if this opportunity

has interest to you. We need local physicians’ support

for this program to get it off the ground and the students

would appreciate the opportunity to make this work. We

can be reached at the following addresses: Colette Inaba

[email protected] John McCarthy mccajf@

uw.edu.

By John McCarthy, MDWWAMI Clinical Coordinator for Eastern & Central WA

Invitation letter to physicians to participate

Dear Physicians:

On behalf of the University of Washington WWAMI Spokane medical students, I would like to invite you to participate in a service-based learning project we are developing to address healthcare needs of the underserved. We are eager to reach out to the community and would appreciate support from clinical physicians to help our cause.

As a volunteer preceptor, you will help to provide a needed service to the locally underserved, serve as an educational mentor and role model for medical students, demonstrate how to apply medical knowledge and clinical skills to underserved populations and develop partnerships in the healthcare community.

One of our current service projects involves an extension of hours at the House of Charity’s medical clinic for the homeless: Saturdays, 9 a.m. - noon. No long-term commitment is expected, but even volunteering a single three-hour shift each quarter will help to sustain our efforts in the community.

If you are interested in participating in this project or in other similar service projects, please contact me at [email protected]. Dr. John McCarthy is helping us develop our projects and is also available for questions at [email protected].

Thank you,Colette InabaMedical Student, UWSOME-09 WWAMI [email protected]

Medical Education in Spokane Update – Giving Back to the Community


Special thanks to our

participating advertisers.

One potential rip in seamless care

occurs when patients leave the

hospital. How many of you know a

patient who was promptly readmitted

because his condition worsened

without follow-up care? How many

stayed longer than necessary because

there were no beds at a skilled nursing

facility? Or, how many of you have

known a terminally ill patient who

languished at the hospital because nobody discussed her

end-of-life preferences?

This year Group Health improved these gaps in care

through better transition planning. We launched an

Emergency Department/Hospital Inpatient Initiative

to improve transitions for the next level of care, reduce

hospital admissions, and boost patient satisfaction.

First we piloted new standardized practices at Virginia

Mason Medical Center in Seattle. We rolled out changes at

Sacred Heart Medical Center in August.

Now each day at Sacred Heart, Group Health’s

hospitalists and care managers huddle to review our

members’ charts and identify those who need a skilled

nursing facility (SNF) or home care, transition coaching,

and palliative care.

For those who go home but need transition coaching,

“we make sure patients understand their health condition

and their medications,” says Kathie Nellermoe, manager

of Care Management, East of the Cascades. “We also give

them a Sick Day plan—including the red flags for when

to call their doctor or see them the same day, and which

family members or neighbors might help them. And we

confirm that they know their next appointment.”

Sacred Heart’s social workers still do the discharge

planning, but Group Health nurses call patients within

48 hours after discharge to check their status. If they need

care sooner than already scheduled, our care managers

help set it up.

Palliative care and hospice

Our hospitalists are also offering more end-of-life

support and resources to patients and families. Two

doctors from Sacred Heart’s Faith and Healing Center help

us initiate end-of-life conversations as needed.

“The point is not to stop care, but to make sure patients

have the chance to express what they want. We share the

information with the family and also with the primary

physician or next facility,” says Nellermoe.

When our members are transferred to a SNF, a Group

Health care manager follows them to make sure they are

progressing or moves them to a different level of care.

Success at Virginia Mason and Sacred Heart

The results are promising. “We’ve had post-discharge

calls with patients whose medication complications would

have otherwise resulted in an urgent care or ER visit,” says

Nellermoe. “Sometimes patients aren’t sure of the dosage

for anticoagulants, or they’re doubling up on brand name

and generic versions of the same medication.”

At Virginia Mason, the hospital readmission rate for

Medicare patients within 30 days of discharge dropped

from 16 to 9 percent. For Congestive Heart Failure

patients, they dropped by 50 percent.

Here in Spokane, our readmission rates to Sacred Heart

dropped from 12 to 8 percent between June and October.

Giving patients more control

A month ago, a woman visiting Spokane from

Bellingham became seriously ill with cerebral vascular

disease and was hospitalized at Sacred Heart for several

weeks. Her husband wanted her to return home for the

next level of care. Because we’d improved our transition

planning, our care manager quickly got transportation

information to the family, identified a skilled nursing

facility near their home, and connected the patient with a

care manager and specialist upon arrival.

That’s what transition planning is all about.

Brad Pope, MD, is medical director for Group Health Cooperative’s Eastern Washington/North Idaho District, based in Spokane. Dr. Pope started as a family physician with Group Health in Spokane in 1983. He still practices part-time as an urgent care provider each week.

Managing transitions after a hospital stay


The Board of Trustees of the Spokane County Medical

Society met on December 09, 2009 at Anthony’s

Restaurant. President Courtney Clyde, MD, called the

meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT:

Robert Hartman, MD - Paul Lin, MD - Brad Pope, MD -

Louis Koncz, PA-C - Mike Metcalf, MD - Anne Oakley, MD

- Terri Oskin, MD - Gary Knox, MD - J. Courtney Clyde,

MD - Rod Trytko, MD – Val Logsdon, MD - L. Elizabeth

Peterson, MD and Jeff O’Connor, MD. STAFF: Keith

Baldwin, CEO and Karen Hagensen, Associate Director.

Dr. Clyde welcomed everyone and thanked them for their

service over the past year. MINUTES: The minutes of the

October 22, 2009 meeting were approved as distributed.

PAST PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Dr. O’Connor reviewed

the minutes of the November and December Executive

Committee meetings. MEMBERSHIP: Karen Ireland,

MD was approved for Emeritus status. The following

members were approved for membership as recommended

by the Credentials Committee. Physicians – Sharon A.

Dietrich, MD, Michael A. Haight, MD, Okechukwu N.

Ojogho, MD, Richard Quan, MD and Audrey P. Routt,

MD. Physician Assistants: Mark J. Buescher, PA-C and

Brandy J. Manchester, PA-C. PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

Appreciation Plaques – Dr. Clyde read the plaques for

the outgoing board members Drs. Stefan Humphries

and Judy Benson. He also thanked Dr. Jeff O’Connor for

his service to the Board over the years and mentioned

this would be Dr. O’Connor’s last meeting. Officer

Transition – Dr. Clyde administered the Oath of Office

to Dr. Knox and presented him with his gavel. Dr. Knox

thanked Dr. Clyde for his superior leadership over the

past year and presented him with his gifts for serving as

the 2009 President. 2010 PLANNING: The results of

the 2010 priority survey were reviewed by Dr. Knox. He

asked the Board for their input. The Board then discussed

the issues they believe are important to work on in 2010.

After discussion, it was decided to focus on the top three

priorities from the survey - Professional Liability Reform,

Access to Healthcare, and Cost-Quality Initiatives. The

Board also developed the following focus goals: to work

on quality improvement initiatives, continue to support

medical education expansion, preserving the citywide

credentialing program and the unique shared patient data

system, creating a membership value proposition and

working on hospital medical staff advocacy. Keith agreed

to create a draft of the priorities and goals, for Dr. Knox’s

initial review and then for the Executive Committee’s and

the Board’s input and final approval. Lastly, Keith shared

the 2010 Board meeting dates. There being no further

business the meeting adjourned.

Meeting Notes

Dr. Gary Knox, incoming 2010 SCMS President being

sworn into office by outgoing 2009 SCMS President

Dr. J. Courtney Clyde.

Dr. Gary Knox presenting Dr. J. Courtney Clyde his

letter of appreciation from the Board of Trustees and

SCMS membership.


Governor Gregoire released her first proposed budget

for 2010. It is balanced by cuts alone, but she made a

strong statement she will seek revenue to restore many

of the worst cuts. She plans to issue a second budget

including revenue in mid-January.

Washington State is facing a new $2.6 billion deficit – a

direct result of the recession. The state is experiencing

increasing demand for services from struggling families

at the same time revenue collections are decreasing.

Federally mandated benefits, pensions, most of K-12 and

higher education, and debt service cannot be cut, so only

about 30 percent of the state budget is on the chopping

block. Low-income healthcare was particularly hard hit.

In order to address the worst recession in 80 years,

the Governor proposed enormous cuts to the healthcare

system and healthcare for our most vulnerable residents.

These cuts threaten quality healthcare for everyone in

Washington State. Under her proposal, at least 100,000

more people would become uninsured.

Healthcare in the Budget

The Governor’s budget proposal takes the following

actions in healthcare:

Health insurance and healthcare access for vulnerable people:

Forces 67,000 low-income working adults off health

insurance through the elimination of Basic Health,

the state’s only health insurance program for low-

income working adults – on top of cutting 35,000

people off last year (cuts $160 million).

Reduces eligibility for the Apple Health for Kids

program from 300 to 205 percent of poverty;

jettisons nearly 20,000 children off the program;

and foregoes millions in federal funding for

children’s health (cuts $33 million, including $21

million in federal funds).

Eliminates healthcare for more than 18,000 people

with disabilities and mental health needs currently

covered by General Assistance-Unemployable

and ADATSA (drug and alcohol treatment), and

institutes time limits for General Assistance

enrollees who may qualify for federal disability

programs (cuts $134 million).

Eliminates so-called “optional” Medicaid services,

including adult dental, vision, and hearing, hospice,

podiatry, and physical/occupational therapy (cuts $60 million).

Other significant healthcare issues:

Cuts rates paid to the Regional Support Networks for

mental health care (cuts $7 million).

Allows additional federal funding for medical

professionals at the University of Washington

Medical Center (adds $58 million). The Association

of Washington Public Hospital Districts will be

working to expand the program to additional

district hospitals. This will not require any new

state funding, but does require state authorization.

Captures additional federal funding to allow

smoother implementation of the ProviderOne

Medicaid management information system (adds $19 million federal).

Eliminates Maternity Support Services (cuts $53 million).

Eliminates funding for Medicaid interpreter services,

making it more difficult for non-English speakers to

get care in physician offices and outpatient settings

(cuts $17 million).

Institutes a new payment system for Federally

Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics,

fixing a budget error from last session (adds $35 million).

Reduces support for the health professional loan

repayment program (cuts $6 million).

Further reduces the state’s tobacco prevention

program (cuts $2.4 million), on top of the $11

million already cut last session.

Eliminates the health professions survey, the only

source of data on the supply of health professionals

(cuts $558,000).

Other health programs the Governor plans to

buy back include adult dental and vision services,

hospice care services, and developmental disability

and long-term care services.

Your Advocacy

Please contact your legislators and urge them to support

the Hospital Safety Net Assessment and other revenues

to prevent these deep cuts to hospitals and healthcare.

Legislators need to understand the impacts of these cuts

on their communities!

For more information: Cassie Sauer, [email protected], 206/216-2538

Claudia Sanders, [email protected], 206-216-2508

Washington State Hospital Association 300 Elliott Avenue West, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98119-4118 Phone: (206) 281-7211, Fax: (206) 283-6122, Web Site: www.wsha.org

Governor’s Budget Cuts Healthcare, Plans for Revenue


Delay in Implementing Phase 2 of CRs 6417 amd 6421The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

will delay, until April 5, 2010, the implementation of Phase

2 of Change Request (CR) 6417 (Expansion of the Current

Scope of Editing for Ordering/Referring Providers for

Claims Processed by Medicare Carriers and Part B Medicare

Administrative Contractors (MACs)) and CR 6421

(Expansion of the Current Scope of Editing for Ordering/

Referring Providers for Durable Medical Equipment,

Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Supplier

Claims Processed by Durable Medical Equipment Medicare

Administrative Contractors (DME MACs)). CRs 6417 and

6421 are applicable to Part B claims only.

The delay in implementing Phase 2 of these CRs will

give physicians and non-physician practitioners who order

items or services for Medicare beneficiaries or who refer

Medicare beneficiaries to other Medicare providers or

suppliers sufficient time to enroll in Medicare or take the

action necessary to establish a current enrollment record

in Medicare prior to Phase 2 implementation.

Although enrolled in Medicare, many physicians and

non-physician practitioners who are eligible to order

items or services or refer Medicare beneficiaries to other

Medicare providers or suppliers for services do not

have current enrollment records in Medicare. A current

enrollment record is one that is in the Medicare Provider

Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) and

also contains the physician/non-physician practitioner’s

National Provider Identifier (NPI). Under Phase 2 of

the above referenced CRs, a physician or non-physician

practitioner who orders or refers and who does not

have a current enrollment record that contains the NPI

will cause the claim submitted by the Part B provider/

supplier who furnished the ordered or referred item or

service to be rejected.

CMS continues to urge physicians and non-physician

practitioners who are enrolled in Medicare but who have

not updated their Medicare enrollment record since

November 2003 to update their enrollment record now.

If these physicians and non-physician practitioners have

no changes to their enrollment data, they need to submit

an initial enrollment application which will establish a

current enrollment record in PECOS.

For physicians and non-physician practitioners who

order or refer:

If you are not enrolled in the Medicare program,

or if you enrolled more than 6 years ago and have not

submitted any updates or changes to your enrollment

information in more than 6 years, you do not have an

enrollment record in PECOS. In order to continue to order

or refer items or services for Medicare beneficiaries, you

will have to submit an initial enrollment application.

You may do so either by (1) using Internet-based PECOS

(which transmits your enrollment application to the

Medicare carrier or A/B MAC via the Internet - be sure

to mail the signed and dated Certification Statement to

the carrier or A/B MAC immediately after submitting

the application), or (2) filling out the appropriate

paper Medicare provider enrollment application(s)

(CMS-855I and CMS-855R, if appropriate) and mailing

the application, along with any required additional

supplemental documentation, to the local Medicare

carrier or A/B MAC, who will enter your information

into PECOS and process your enrollment application.

Information on how to enroll in Medicare is found on the

Medicare provider/supplier enrollment Web site at http://

www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll.

If you are already enrolled in Medicare, make sure

you have a current enrollment record. You can find out if

you have an enrollment record in PECOS by calling your

designated carrier or A/B MAC or by going on-line, using

Internet-based PECOS, to view your enrollment record.

We will be posting information to the Medicare provider/

supplier enrollment Web site that will guide you through

this process. Information about Internet-based PECOS

and a link to Internet-based PECOS can be found on the

Medicare provider/supplier enrollment Web site. Before

using Internet-based PECOS, we recommend that you read

the information that is posted there and that is available

in the downloadable documents section.

If you are a dentist or a physician with a specialty

such as a pediatrics who is eligible to order or refer

items or services for Medicare beneficiaries but have not

enrolled in Medicare because the services you provide

are not covered by Medicare or you treat few Medicare

beneficiaries, you need to enroll in Medicare in order to

continue to order or refer items or services for Medicare

beneficiaries.

If you are a physician who is employed by the

Department of Veterans Affairs, the Public Health Service,

or the Department of Defense Tricare program but have

not enrolled in Medicare because you would not be paid

by Medicare for your services, you need to enroll in

Medicare in order to continue to order or refer items or

services for Medicare beneficiaries.

If you are a resident who has a medical license but have

not enrolled in Medicare because you would not be paid

by Medicare for your services, you do not need to enroll

in Medicare in order to continue to order or refer items or

services for Medicare beneficiaries. The teaching physician

- not the resident - should be identified in claims as the

ordering/referring provider when a resident orders or

refers items or services for Medicare beneficiaries.


January is Cervical Health Awareness MonthACOG Updates Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

The American College of Obstetricians and

Gynecologists (ACOG) has revised its cervical cancer

screening recommendations: the organization now

recommends that women begin screening at the age of

21 and receive screening at less frequent intervals. These

recommendations are published in the December 2009

issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Widespread use of the Pap test for cervical cancer

screening has dramatically reduced cervical cancer

mortality rates in the United States. Recommendations

about optimal use of the Pap test continue to evolve.

Previously, ACOG recommended that women begin

cervical cancer screening three years after first sexual

intercourse or by age 21, whichever occurred first. Women

under the age of 30 were advised to get Pap tests every

year. Depending on their history, less frequent screening

(every two to three years) was an option for older women.

The decision to change the recommendations was based

on a review of the evidence, which suggested that later

and less frequent screening prevents cervical cancer just

as well, and avoids some unnecessary and potentially

harmful interventions. Many adolescents develop cervical

abnormalities that eventually resolve on their own.

Treatment of these abnormalities may not be necessary

and can increase the risk of premature births.

Updated recommendations are as follows:

Cervical cancer screening should begin at the age of

21.

Most women under the age of 30 should be screened

every two years.

Women age 30 and older who have had three

consecutive normal Pap tests can be screened every

three years.

Women with certain risk factors may need to be

screened more frequently. These risk factors include

HIV positivity; immunosuppression; DES exposure

in utero; or history of treatment for cervical

intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2, CIN 3, or cervical

cancer.

Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal

of the cervix and uterus) for reasons other than

cancer can stop being screened for cervical cancer

unless they have a history of high-grade CIN.

The upper age limit for cervical cancer screening has

not changed: ACOG notes that women may be able to

stop cervical cancer screening at age 65 or 70 if they’ve

had three or more normal Pap results in a row and no

abnormal Pap in the previous ten years. Women at high-

risk of cervical cancer may need to continue screening

beyond this age.

Women who have been vaccinated against human

papillomavirus (HPV) should follow the same screening

guidelines as unvaccinated women.

Reference: ACOG news release. First Cervical Cancer

Screening Delayed Until Age 21. Less Frequent Pap

Tests Recommended. Available at: http://www.acog.org/

from home/publications/press releases/nr11-20-09.cfm

Accessed November 20, 2009.


The following physicians/physician assistants have

applied for membership, and notice of application is

presented. Any member who has information of a

derogatory nature concerning an applicant’s moral or

ethical conduct, medical qualifications or such requisites

shall convey this to our Credentials Committee in

writing 104 S Freya St., Orange Flag Bldg #114, Spokane,

Washington, 99202.

NEW PHYSICIANS

Baker, Jeff P., DO

Emergency MedicineMed School: College of Osteo Medicine of the Pacific

(1994)

Internship/Residency: Martin Luther King, Jr. /Drew

Medical Center (1997)

Practicing with Valley Hospital & Medical Center

beginning 1/2010

Gottschalk, Todd G., DO

Internal Medicine/PediatricsMed School: College of Osteopathic Medicine of the

Pacific (1995)

Internship/Residency: MetroHealth Medical Center

(1999)

Practicing with CHS Hospitalist Services (DMC)

beginning 1/2010

Schappert, Joseph W., MD

Clinical PathologyMed School: U of Bologna, Italy (1980)

Internship/Residency: North Shore U Hospital (1985)

Fellowship: St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital (1986)

Practicing with Providence Sacred

Heart Medical Center since 7/2009

Sokoloff, Michael J., MD

Pediatrics/Pediatric Critical CareMed School: U of Nevada (2000)

Internship/Residency: U of California, San Francisco

(2003)

Fellowship: Children’s Hospital of San Diego (2006)

Practicing with Pediatric Critical Care beginning 2/2010

Thumma, Saritha C., MD

Internal Medicine/Medical OncologyMed School: St. John’s Medical College, India (1998)

Internship: St. John’s Medical College Hospital, India

(2000)

Internship/Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin

(2005)

Fellowship: U of Minnesota (2008)

Practicing with Cancer Care Northwest beginning 2/2010

Truckner, Robert T., MD

Pediatrics/Pediatric Emergency MedicineMed School: U of Michigan (1987)

Internship: U of Chicago (1988)

Residency: U of Arizona (1990)

Practicing with Emergency Medicine Physicians (SHMC)

beginning 1/2010

NEW PHYSICIANS PRESENTED A SECOND TIME

Gardner, Glenn P., MD

Vascular SurgeryMed School: Indiana U (1986)

Practicing with Deaconess Medical Center beginning

1/2010

King, Tomas W., MD

Anatomic & Clinical PathologyMed School: De La Salle U, Philippines (1988)

Practicing with InCyte Pathology, PS since 10/2008

Lintmaer, Ingrid, MD

Internal MedicineMed School: Carol Davila U of Medicine, Romania (1998)

Rich, Brian W., MD

Diagnostic RadiologyMed School: Loma Linda U (1989)

Practicing with Inland Imaging, PS since 12/2009

Routt, Audrey P., MD

Internal MedicineMed School: Washington U, St Louis (2006)

Practicing with IMRS Faculty Hospitalists beginning

4/2010

Stam, John G., MD

Internal MedicineMed School: U of New Mexico (2006)

Practicing with CHS Hospitalist Services since 11/2009

Taylor, Joseph S., DO

Family MedicineMed School: Des Moines U (1995)

Practicing with Inland Family Medicine since 11/2009

New Physicians

Continued on Page 13


NEW PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

Bergeson, Erik J., PA-C

Med School: U of Nebraska Medical Center (1999)

Practicing with Rockwood Clinic Main Clinic beginning

1/2010

Duthie, Kathleen “Maria” PA-C

Med School: U of Washington, Medex Northwest (2009)

Practicing with Providence Orthopedic Specialties since

10/2009

NEW PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

PRESENTED A SECOND TIME

Buescher, Mark J., PA-C


Practicing with Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, PS

since 10/2009

Manchester, Brandy J., PA-C


Practicing with Inland Cardiology Associates since

10/2009

New Physicians, cont’d

Suicide is a preventable public health problem.Youth suicide is a significant preventable public

health problem. It is the second leading cause of death

for Washington’s youth between the ages of 10 and

24. Research shows that at least 80 percent of youth

who attempt or complete suicide have a mental illness.

However, youth suicide is preventable. Preventing

youth suicide is up to all of us, especially healthcare

professionals. Prevention takes many forms—from

building strong, capable youth connected to family,

friends and community to teaching awareness of suicide

warning signs. It also involves increasing access to medical

and mental health treatment. Youth suicide prevention

also includes bringing communities together to address

the many factors that lead individuals to consider suicide.

The following document, Washington State’s Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention 2009, is only one step in the work of

youth suicide prevention. The plan was developed by

the Washington Department of Health Youth Suicide

Prevention Steering Committee. The intent is to enable

everyone to see how he or she can be a part of the solution

to youth suicide prevention.

The DOH Injury and Violence Prevention Program

just released Washington State’s Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention 2009. A copy of the Plan can be found at http://

www.doh.wa.gov/preventsuicide. The electronic version

will be updated as new information becomes available.

Youth suicide affects our communities, neighborhoods,

and families. On average, two youths in Washington

State kill themselves each week and 17 more are

hospitalized. Youth suicide is the second leading cause

of death for Washington youth. There are nearly twice

as many suicides as homicides for youths between 10-24

years of age.

Youth suicide prevention involves prevention of

violence, access to mental health treatment, adolescent

resiliency, and intervention by primary health providers

and emergency services.

Please help us promote this plan. First, look at the plan

yourself. Second, share this link and information with

your stakeholders, colleagues, friends, and community

groups. If you want a hard copy, contact Debbie Ruggles at

[email protected]. The plan is also available on

CD. Third, join a new network to share information about

suicide prevention.

If you are interested or someone contacts you about this

issue, contact [email protected] to get on the

network’s list-serve. Topics will include current prevention

work, best practices, national research, resources, current

data, and funding opportunities. Thank you.

Sam Marshall, Chief Administrator Health Systems Quality Assurance WA State Department of Health Phone: 360-236-4767


2010 Board of TrusteesMeeting Schedule

6:00 PM

Month Date Location

January 27 SCMS

March 24 SCMS

May 26 SCMS

June 23 SCMS

September (HOD Caucus) 22 SCMS

October (Budget) 27 SCMS

December (Retreat) 08 Location TBD

SCMS – SCMS Conference Room

Orange Flag Building

104 S. Freya St., Ste. 114

Spokane, WA 99202

SPOKANE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETYCONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION

2010 Program Schedule

In 2010, SCMS will hold four Category I CME programs -

April, June, September and November.

More information available in the February issue of the Message.


FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIANS - As a medical

professional, there has never been a better time in the

history of America to step up to the plate and show your

American pride. Come be a part of a team that cares for

our soldiers and their families! TeamStaff Government

Solutions has an immediate need for Full-Time Family

Practice Physicians at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX & Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA Outpatient Clinics. Monday

through Friday, NO EVENINGS, NO WEEKENDS (some

on call required). Mal-practice Insurance covered under

government Gonzales Act. If you or someone you know is

seeking a fantastic opportunity to care for those who serve

our country, please contact Ella Giles, Sr. Recruiter for

more information at (866) 952.1649.

IM AMBULIST… This is an excellent opportunity for a

BC/BE Internist to join a collegial and respected team

of eleven internists and three non-physician providers.

You can be assured that the Rockwood hospitalist team

will provide superb care for your hospital patients.

Rockwood Clinic, a physician owned/directed multi-

specialty group serving the Inland Northwest since 1930,

offers a professional practice environment, substantial

on-site Imaging and Laboratory services, established

EMR, involvement in research projects and teaching,

and an attractive Benefit/Comp Package leading to early

shareholder status. For details Contact: Colleen Mooney,

Physician Recruiter, Phone: 509-838-2531

Email: [email protected]

Visit: www.rockwoodclinic.com

HOSPITALIST POSITION AVAILABLE IN BEAUTIFUL

COEUR D’ALENE. Join Hospital Specialists at our

Kootenai Medical Center site and be part of a thriving

medical community. Hospital Specialists is a local,

physician owned medical group focusing on quality

medical care in a physician friendly environment. See

our web site at www.HospitalSpecialists.com for contact

information and to learn more.

FAMILY MEDICINE W/OB- We are looking for a

Physician to join our dedicated team at the Spokane Falls

Family Clinic. If you have a passion for working with the

underserved and enjoy full scope family medicine, we

would like you to consider what we have to offer! A few

of our benefits include: a competitive compensation and

benefits package, a great work/life balance, hiring bonus

and relocation package, visa sponsorship, EMR in all

our clinics, and a monthly stipend for 3rd year residents.

SFFC is part of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.

YVFWC is the largest community health center in the

Pacific Northwest. We are dedicated to providing our

patients with the highest quality care and offer them

affordable health care options. Apply online at www.

yvfwc.com or contact Tanya Gutierrez, Provider Recruiter

via email at [email protected] or call 1-877-983-9247

for more information.

RETIRED PHYSICIAN WANTING PART-TIME WORK

NEEDED - Freedom Health Group is a new approach to

providing access to affordable health care in the Spokane

Valley. We are interested in the opportunity to work with

a retired MD in the area of family practice still wanting

to practice one or two days a week. Freedom Health

Group does not process insurance claims as members

pay an affordable price to the provider at time of service.

This opportunity includes supplemental income and

ownership options. If interested, please contact Rick

Hansen at 509-892-3113 or by email at

[email protected].

Positions Available

SCMS is interested in assisting our members to participate more actively in key community

leadership roles. If you become aware of an open board, commission or advisory committee

position please notify Michelle Caird at (509) 325-5010 or by email at [email protected].


Medical Office for Build or Lease

Good location and spacious suite available next to

Valley Hospital on Vercler. 2,429 sq ft in building and

less than 10 years old. Includes parking and maintenance

of building. Please call Carolyn at Spokane Cardiology

(509) 455-8820.

Park-like Office Space surrounded by views, trees

and flowering shrubs. Class A office space with ample

parking and janitorial services. Your office space can be

2900 square feet or may be subdivided with either 1850

or 1050 square feet. Located in the Quail Run Office

Building at 2204 East 29th Avenue. Phone (509) 230-

2353 for information.

Will build to suit, prime location across from Holy

Family Hospital at 111 East Central. Call Maureen at (509)

467-4257.

Spokane Eye Surgery Center 5,600 sq. ft. Ambulatory

Surgery Center will become available for occupancy via

sale or lease in August-September 2009. Our facility

has three operating rooms, two built-in prevac steam

sterilizers, six pre/post-op patient bays, waiting room

and administrative areas. Complies with ASC licensure

requirements. Please contact Dan Simonson (509) 456-

8150 for more information.

Medical Office Building at 6002 N. Mayfair (the “Logan”

building) is available for lease. Up to 14,000 sq. ft. Sign a

five-year lease and the first year is rent-free. Call Metcalf

Financial Services (509) 232-5414 for more information.

Northpointe Medical Center Located on the North

side of Spokane, the Northpointe Medical Center offers

modern, accessible space in the heart of a complete

medical community. If you are interested in locating your

business here, please contact Tim Craig at 509-688-6708.

Basic info: $23 sq/ft annually. Full service lease. Starting

lease length 5 years which includes an $8 sq/ft tenant

improvement allowance. Available space: *Suite 210 -

2286 sq/ft *Suite 209 - 1650 sq/ft *Suite 205 - 1560 sq/ft

*Suite 302 - 2190 sq/ft

For Lease 3700 sq ft of second floor space in a new 18,900

sq ft building available December 2009. It is located just a

few blocks from the Valley Hospital at 1424 N. McDonald

(just South of Mission). First floor tenant is Spokane

Valley Ear Nose Throat & Facial Plastics. $24 NNN. Please

call Geoff Julian for details 939-1486 or email gjulian@

spokanevalleyent.com.

Indian Trail Professional Building has medical space

available for lease. A 11,243 sf professional medical

/ office building located in the growing Indian Trail

Community directly across from the new Sundance

Shopping Center. Address is 5011 W. Lowell Ave or

the SWC of Indian Trail and Lowell Avenue, Spokane,

WA. The main floor space located off of the main floor

entrance consists of 4,389 sf of Class “A” General Medical

Practice or Urgent Care Center space. There is also

another 1566 sf of built out for a Physical Therapy office.

Tenant Improvement Allowance Available. Floorplans and

marketing materials can be emailed upon request. Please

contact Patrick O’Rourke, CCIM with O’Rourke Realty,

Inc. at (509) 624-6522 or cell (509) 999-2720. Email:

[email protected].

North Spokane Professional Building has up to 6,307

sf of contiguous medical space available for lease. A

60,000 sf professional medical office building located at N.

5901 Lidgerwood or the NWC of Lidgerwood and Central

Avenue. The Building is directly north and adjacent to Holy

Family Hospital. The building has various spaces available

for lease; 635, 690, 1031, 1222, 1518, 1527, 1533, 1839

usable square feet available. The building has undergone

extensive remodeling, including two new elevators, lighted

pylon sign, refurbished lobbies, corridors, and stairways.

Other tenants in the building include, pediatricians,

dermatology, dentistry, pathology, pharmacy and multiple

sclerosis. Floorplans and marketing materials can be

emailed upon request. Tenant Improvement Allowance

Available. Please contact Patrick O’Rourke, CCIM, with

O’Rourke Realty, Inc. at (509) 624-6522 or cell (509) 999-

2720. Email: [email protected].


REAL ESTATE

Liberty Lake Waterfront for Rent. West side, spectacular

views. Furnished, fully equipped kitchen. Charming, with

wood floors, French doors, gas fireplace and covered lakeside

porch. 1 bedroom, 2 bath, 1 car garage. $900/month. Please

call (509) 481-3142.

Spectacular views from this secluded setting overlooking the

Spokane Valley. This 3288 sq. ft., 4 bedroom 4 bath home sits

on 2.76 acres of nature with abundant wildlife. Some of the

great features of this home include natural woodwork, updated

wood and tile flooring, atrium off of kitchen, large entryway,

large deck with spa and sauna. Each main floor bedroom has

a deck and views. Located at 4708 South Schafer Branch Road

in the Ponderosa area in the Central Valley School Dist. Also

available for purchase with this home are an additional 17.7

acres. For more information please contact Dan Simmons at

(509) 999-1462 or view this home on line at www.Daniel L

Simmons.com. Tomlinson Black Valley, 721 N. Pines Rd.

Waterfront Loft Condo near Gonzaga/U-District…

unparalleled location mere steps from the Spokane River.

Loft living in a modernized former industrial building with

exposed brick & trusses and huge windows. 2 heated parking

spaces, fully secure, riverfront lawn area. Rare opportunity!!

www.ironbridgecondos.com or call Andrew Chester at (509)

939-7690 for more information.

Luxury Condos for Rent/Purchase near Hospitals. 2

Bedroom Luxury Condos at the City View Terrace

Condominiums are available for rent or purchase. These

beautiful condos are literally within walking distance to the

Spokane Hospitals (1/4 mile from Sacred Heart, 1 mile from

Deaconess). Security gate, covered carports, very secure and

quiet. Newly Remodeled. Full appliances, including full-

sized washer and dryer. Wired for cable and phone. For Rent

$ 850/month. For Sale: Seller Financing Available. Rent-to-

Own Option Available: $400 of your monthly rent will credit

towards your purchase price. Please Contact Dr. Taff (888)

930-3686 or [email protected].

Priest Lake Waterfront Cabin for Rent---Beautiful 2 story

cedar cabin “The Water’s Edge” on the East Shore--Sleeps

8-10. Spectacular lake and mountain views. See it at

www.getlostatpriestlake.com or call 1-(208)-443-2100

or 1-(208)-877-LAKE.

Home for Sale - A River Runs Through It 1.8 acres on the

privately owned, but EPA protected Little Spokane River

-public access not allowed - homes must be on no less than

5 acres (grandfathered in). 20-25 min to downtown. Large

pump irrigated lawns (water rights), wooded trails, swimming

hole w/sandy beach. 3200 sq ft of living space; 4 bedrooms,

3 1/2 baths, den/activities room, multilevel decks & patios,

attached 2-car garage, detached 2-vehicle carport, 24’ x

20’ 2-story barn, mature landscaping, new septic system,

public utilities. Mead school district, ¼ mile from Midway

Elementary, school bus comes to home. Surrounded by

woods but very close to all amenities. Located at 17122 Little

Spokane Dr. between Colbert, Rd and Midway Rd. Owner

financing a consideration. Would consider renting until it

sells or rent to own. Call (509) 467-1347 or (509) 625-7099 if

interested. For more information and a photo tour go to

http://colbertriverhome.com

Never Shovel Snow or Cut Grass Again!!! A beautiful

newer home in Quail Ridge, a small, gated community

near Manito Golf Club on Spokane’s South Hill. Architect

designed for casual elegance and ease of living. Brick, tile,

glass and an open floor plan. Perfect for those who don’t

want the responsibilities of a big home, while keeping all the

comforts and amenities. By Owner. $796,000 Call for more

information. (509) 443-1183 or (509) 981-8137

Ski, Tube or Snowmobile at Silver Mountain or Lookout

Pass: Stay at STARS AND STRIPES, a beautiful vacation home,

with hot tub, in Kellogg, Idaho. Sleeps 8-10, fully furnished

with 2 bathrooms. For rent by day or week Call Peggy

Doering at (509) 230-6829.

Spectacular waterfront home is on the Spokane River in

Post Falls, one mile east above the dam. Enjoy a waterfront

lifestyle from this property which is on more than 50 miles of

navigable rivers and Lake Coeur d’Alene. The lawn stretches

down to the 75 feet of water frontage. This four bedroom,

three bath, ranch style home has almost 1900 square feet on

the main level. The basement is full, daylight and walkout,

making the home just under 3800 square feet. The separate

kitchen on the lower level is great for guests. Cathedral

ceilings and floor to ceiling windows, with an open great

room design allows natural light into every room. You are

45 minutes from Spokane International Airport. Offered at

$984,500. Seller is willing to carry a contract with 30% down.

View the home at www.SpokaneHomeInfo.com or call Paul at

Windermere for a private showing. (509) 991-8883.

Classified Ads

Continued on


OTHER

Needed: North Pines Family Medicine is looking to purchase

a used exam table, with stirrups. Please call (509) 926-1531

and ask for Denise.

For Sale: Office furnishings ~ 11 waiting room chairs, 2

consultation armchairs, large oak desk with return and

credenza/bookshelf, 3 exam tables. Business office furniture and

more. For details contact Alex Verhoogen, MD. (509) 456-8550

Rolla Desks For Sale: Designed for Hospitals, Nursing

Homes, Inventory Control, Patient Charting, Conference

Rooms, and Warehouse Applications that need a sturdy rolling

pedestal for a laptop computer. Rolla Desks retail for $459.95.

These are only two years old. We would like to sell them for

$350 each or best offer. Please contact Terri at (509) 744-3750

at extension 294 if you are interested.

We would like your help. With the passing of Dr. Verne

Cressey, Mrs. Carol Cressey would like to hand down her

husband’s collection of medical instruments to her grandson,

who wishes to become a physician. Anyone with a used

physicians’ medical bag that they would be willing to donate or

sell please contact Carol Cressey at 448-1354.

Classified Ads, cont’d

the message...medicine for which to be thankful. among them were the facts that the death rate from...

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