Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Clinics Incident Command System has been activated to monitor and track COVID-19

Lake Chelan Community Hospital Incident Command System has been activated to monitor and track changes of this disease and how we care for patients and our staff regarding Coronavirus 2019.  We have initiated screenings following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for all patients that check-in to the hospital or Lake Chelan Clinic. We have protocols in place that include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as appropriate to keep our employees and patients safe from exposure in the event a potential coronavirus patient presents at one of our facilities.

The hospital and Lake Chelan Clinic have been on visitor restrictions for some time now as a safety measure for keeping patients and staff safe due to the increase in flu cases throughout Washington.  The hospital and clinic will continue visitor restrictions during this time.

What do I do if I think I may be feeling symptoms consistent with the Coronavirus infection?

• If you are exhibiting symptoms such as fever, new cough and shortness of breath, that you feel may be consistent with coronavirus, we ask that you DO NOT show up at your place of health care unannounced. Instead, please call the hospital at 509-682-3300 or Lake Chelan Clinic at 509-682-2511, so we may ask you a few questions that will best determine your course of care.
• Testing for coronavirus remains with Public Health and is being limited to the most-sick patients. There is no mass testing processes in place currently.
• When patients do visit our facilities, we will ask those with a cough or respiratory symptoms to put on a mask immediately upon arriving. As per CDC recommendations, it is not necessary to provide masks or other general PPE to the general public
• We are committed to provide a place to receive care and reducing the likelihood of transmission.
• If you have an emergency and need immediate medical attention, please call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Lake Chelan Clinic services are fully functional and ready to serve you and your health care needs.

Chelan Hospital Board approves pausing new hospital for Six months

February 26, 2020

The Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Clinics (LCCHC) Board of Commissioners voted to pause design and construction of the new hospital project for 6-months and then reevaluate finances.  The Board of Commissioners held a special board meeting on February 11, 2020 to discuss solutions focused on improving the hospitals overall finances and operations.  The hospital has had a continued decline in revenues over the past year related to lower inpatient and outpatient volumes, physician and employee turnover, slower collections and reduced reimbursements.  At this time the hospital has the funds to build the hospital; however, it does not have the funds to pay for the “mortgage” once the hospital is built. “It is an emotional issue and we have to strip away the emotion to make a good decision” said George Rohrich.

The Board was presented with findings from a review conducted by Quorum Health Resources (QHR) at the Feb. 11, 2020 special Board meeting.  QHR is a national organization aimed at helping small rural hospitals improve financial stability through a customized management plan focused on a variety of systems like compliance review, revenue cycle reimbursement and market review.  After QHR’s presentation, it was recommended that the hospital consider delaying hospital construction for one year.  The Board tasked CEO George Rohrich in negotiating a contract with QHR for review and possible approval at the Feb. 25^th, 2020 Board meeting.

During the regularly scheduled Board meeting on Tuesday February 25, 2020, the board approved delaying hospital construction and design for six months and then review finances.  The hospital and Board of Commissioners will continue to monitor and focus on improving hospital revenues.  Currently, the Board did not approve a contract with QHR. The Board discussed and approved to obtain one additional proposal at which time a special Board meeting will be held to review the proposals.

What happens to the community tax dollars slated for the new hospital?

• Tax dollars for the new hospital project are restricted funds that can only be used for the new hospital project.
• Some of those funds have been used for design and architect fees related to the new hospital project.
• The remaining funds are held in an account at Chelan County Treasures Office. Be assured that your tax dollars are accounted for and audited yearly.

What is the impact of delaying six months?

• Allows LCCHC the opportunity to review and focus on improving revenues.
• There is no impact to the approved USDA loan.
• A 6-12-month delay may have an added expense of $187K-199K as well as an inflation rate.
• May allow for better construction bidding.

Board Chair, Phyllis Gleasman says the board took their decision very seriously. “Today was a very long decision-making time and if it takes 6-months or so to get back on our feet, we’ll do that”.

The Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Clinics (LCCHC) Board of Commissioners voted to accept the schematic design concept for the new hospital building at a special Board meeting Oct. 1. The approval allows the team to continue forward with specific design development, explained Mike Ellis, LCCHC Interim CEO.

The LCCHC Board Facilities Steering Committee worked closely with architects and the general contractor to ensure patient needs are met in the new building, Ellis said. Increased construction costs made it difficult, but the new hospital is designed to stay within the $44.5 million budget approved by voters in 2017.

Project manager Dick Bratton, Kreg Shelby from Bouten Construction, and Keith Null and Jamey Barlet from CollinsWoerman, the project’s architect firm, attended the special Board meeting to present the revised design concept and answer questions. “These men have done a remarkable job,” said Mary Signorelli, one of two LCCHC Commissioners on the LCCHC Board Facilities Steering Committee.

Key priorities for the architects were preserving patient and staff safety, quality of care, and client care areas, said Barlet, who met often with hospital staff during the design phase. The approved schematic design, which keeps the overall building footprint as tight as possible, has two wings for patient rooms. The 59,250 square foot building will include 23 private patient beds, two operating rooms suites and a procedure room. The Emergency Department, which will be larger than what exists in the current hospital building, will have seven rooms as well as space for triage. The master plan leaves room on the site for a future EMS and medical office building.

Bouten Construction has already initiated communication with subcontractors, said Shelby. Once final construction documents are completed, subcontractors will begin bidding. The new hospital project is on schedule to break ground in Spring 2020. Expected occupancy is late 2021.

“It’s very rewarding to see the teamwork and effort staff put into the new hospital project,” said Phyllis Gleasman, LCCHC Board Chair. “Without their understanding and insight, we would not have been able to get schematic drawings where they are today. It was a total team effort, and we’re excited to move forward.”

Dr. Ann Diamond will help you prepare for this year’s annual Max Family Fun Run with four Walk-A-Doc events at Riverwalk Park on Thursday mornings at 7:30. Lake Chelan Community Hospital & Clinics (LCCHC) invites all ages to these informal walking activities. They begin Thursday, Aug. 22.

It’s a great chance to get some exercise and ask a family physician questions about healthcare. Meet Diamond at the flagpole at Riverwalk Park. She’ll be wearing red tennis shoes.

Then join Max, mascot ambassador of the hospital’s kids’ wellness program, Saturday, Sept. 14 for the annual free Family Fun Run at Wapato Point. Online registration is now open at LakeChelanHospital.com. Participants can choose between a 2.5 and 5 K, and the first 100 people checked into the event on Sept. 14 will receive a race t-shirt (sizes and quantities limited). The race begins at 9:30 AM. Check in and onsite registration starts at 8:30 AM. Participants are eligible to win prizes after the run, which is funded by the Lake Chelan Health & Wellness Foundation.

The Max program began six years ago. Since then, community outreach has included the annual Fun Run, a Facebook family fitness challenge, Max parking spaces at local grocery stores, and the “Catch You” bike helmet campaign. As part of that campaign, LCCHC ambulance crews stop children wearing bike helmets and give them vouchers for free frozen treats at Green Dot Sub Shop in Chelan or Manson.

The wellness team also partners with local schools to sponsor and support after-school programs like Max Attack Healthy Snacks and family wellness events. Each year, more than 200 children and parents attend Max’s Fit & Fun Night in Manson. Community fitness organizations and businesses, including yoga, dance, cross fit, Zumba, bowling and skiing, set up displays to introduce families to fun ways to stay healthy.

“Max has become the supporter of kids’ health in our community,” said Agustin Benegas, LCCHC wellness coordinator. “The kids know Max encourages them to eat healthy and move more!”

This year, the LCCHC wellness team partnered with Chelan Rotary for a new twist. Any child 18 years and younger can participate for free in the Chelan Chase 5K on Oct. 19, if they wear a Max Fun Run t-shirt (from any year) to the event. They must register on site the day of the event. The Chelan Chase supports the LCCHC’s mammography program

The Max Family Fun Run is a partnership with the Manson High School Cross Country Invitational. On the day of the event, please park at North Shore Bible Church. You are welcome to stay after your race to watch the high school athletes compete. No pets please.

Lake Chelan Community Hospital & Clinics (LCCHC) invites you to a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) focus group meeting on Thursday, Aug. 8 from 5:30 – 6:30 PM at the Chelan Senior Center.

Every three years, the hospital and regional partners from Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties collaborate and perform a CHNA to better understand north central Washington’s community health needs. The organizations use gathered information to provide direction and impact population health.

The region developed its last CHNA in 2016. The four highest priority needs identified at that time were mental health care access, access to health care, education and obesity.

The 2019 CHNA steering committee is now collecting community input about what impacts health in Chelan County and, specifically, in the Lake Chelan Valley. The upcoming focus group will help the committee determine the community’s biggest health needs and provide direction for improving health and well-being in the LCCHC hospital district.

Focus group participants will identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to health in our community. Please join the group to improve the health and wellness of the Lake Chelan Valley. The Chelan Senior Center is located at 534 E. Trow.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Agustin Benegas, LCCHC Outreach Coordinator at abenegas@lcch.net or 509-682-8525.