LAKE CHELAN HEALTH REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE CARE FOR ALL

Chelan, WA, February 20, 2025– Chelan, WA – The mission of Lake Chelan Health (LCH) is to provide the highest quality healthcare with compassion and respect to the community we serve. LCH hospital and clinic services want to reassure our community that our hospital and clinic campuses are a place of healing, open to everyone, no matter their immigration status. We understand that some people may be afraid to seek medical care due to concerns about immigration enforcement, but we want to make it clear: we are here to provide care for all.

Washington State hospitals, including Lake Chelan Health, are taking steps to protect the rights and privacy of all Washington patients. While hospitals must follow legal court orders or warrants, we are committed to making sure our patients feel safe and secure when they come to us for care.

What Lake Chelan Health is Doing to Protect Patients:

  • Controlling Access to Facilities – Private patient care areas, such as the Emergency Room, Radiology, Labor and Delivery, Inpatient Unit, Surgical Services, Rehab Department, and Primary, Express and Specialty Care clinics, are only accessible to approved individuals to protect patient privacy and safety.
  • Supporting Our Staff – Hospital leaders are prepared to handle immigration enforcement situations. Our staff has been trained to direct any enforcement actions to a designated administrator who can access legal support.
  • Verifying Enforcement Requests – We will not allow immigration officers access to patients or private areas without a properly executed court order or warrant. Our staff is trained to verify these requests before taking any action.
  • Protecting Patient Privacy – We follow strict state and federal privacy laws and will not share patient information unless required by law.
  • Offering Opt-Out Options – All patients have the right to opt out of being listed in the hospital directory, which means their presence at the hospital will not be confirmed to anyone who inquires. Undocumented immigrants and their advocates may want to ask to be opted out of the patient hospital directory.

At this time, there have been no reports of immigration enforcement actions at Lake Chelan Health or any other hospitals in Washington State. Our focus remains on providing quality care and ensuring that every patient feels safe when seeking medical attention.

We encourage anyone in need of medical care to visit us without fear. Your health and well-being are our top priorities.

Lake Chelan Health
509-682-3300 • Info@lcch.net
LakeChelanHealth.org

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