HealthQuest - Fall 2021 by Skagit Regional Health

FALL 2021

A publication of

Skagit Regional Health

Keep up with screenings, now more than ever Skagit Regional Health offers wide range of screenings 8, 12, 13

Guidance on COVID-19, upcoming flu season What you need to know to stay well | 6

Robotic surgery

Arlington patient is quickly back to work and play | 4 New Era of Foundation Board Stewardship Begins | 22

THE

SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE 33RD ANNUAL

An important step on our journey

NOVEMBER 26-28, 2021 1550 S BURLINGTON BLVD

(IN THE FORMER BURLINGTON KMART) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TITLE SPONSORS

View dozens of stunning designed Christmas trees and more!

GALA AND AUCTION

SATURDAY, NOV. 27 SPONSORED BY DWAYNE LANE’S SKAGIT SUBARU HERITAGE BANK FUND A DREAM SPONSOR PACIFIC WOODTECH

Event proceeds benefit the Family Birth Centers at Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital For further details, visit SKAGITFESTIVALOFTREES.ORG

Skagit Regional Health is taking a very important step on our journey to becoming a high reliability organization by holding systemwide huddles with a focus on safety, quality and rapid prioritization and action on issues. System huddles are held Monday through Friday. They are attended by executive leadership team members, directors and others who play key roles in providing patient care. The system huddles follow a series of earlier daily huddles including those held by units, bed huddles at Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital and a clinic-wide session for leaders of the system’s nearly 30 clinics. Issues raised in the earlier sessions feed into the system huddle in what’s called a tiered huddle system. These huddles keep our focus firmly on patient care and safety issues across the organization. Huddles are the most visible action in highly reliable organizations (HRO), allowing rapid escalation and remediation of daily issues, alignment as a system and communication of necessary information across the organization.

We have seen success in the safety huddle process recently with the early identification of a nationwide supply shortage of blue top tubes, used to collect blood for coagulation testing. The concern was advanced in a huddle by lab personnel. An action plan, involving multiple departments, was quickly developed and strategies announced to conserve blue top tubes and use substitute methods as clinically appropriate. The early identification and action plan helped Skagit Regional Health extend the supply, making a big difference for our patients. I attend the huddles each day and I can see that these behind-thescenes activities offer an excellent venue for staff and leaders to raise concerns and inspire teamwork, communication and awareness across the healthcare system. This level of consistency and focus on safety and quality are key in our journey to become a high reliability organization and is a great step forward.

Brian Ivie President and CEO

FALL 2021 | VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 2 HealthQuest is published by Skagit Regional Health and the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation. For additional copies of HealthQuest or more information, contact Regional Vice President of Communications Kari Ranten at 360-814-2370 or go to our website at www.skagitregionalhealth.org.

04 Robotic surgery

Arlington patient is quickly back to work and play

06 Guidance on COVID-19, upcoming flu season 08 Direct Access 09 Telestroke What you need to know to stay well

Screening colonoscopy is just a phone call away

HealthQuest Classes

Program links experts to patient at Skagit Valley, Cascade Valley hospitals

12 New oncologist joins cancer care team Provider balances science, research, caring for the whole person

14 17 Graduate Medical Education 26 New mom feels ‘surrounded by family’ 28 Now hiring! Now training!

New providers join Skagit Regional Health Primary Care, specialty providers join healthcare team

Program welcomes new residents and students

Patient recounts experience of welcoming first child

Board of Commissioners

COVER PHOTO Robin Schultz of Arlington is back to work and enjoying her family after having robot-assisted lung surgery by Skagit Regional Health’s Thoracic Surgeon Richard Leone, MD, PhD, FACS.

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Skagit Regional Health offers several training programs in key positions

Fall 2021

Robin, who works as a Pharmacy Tech at Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington, credits the screening exam for catching her illness early. “I had no kind of symptoms at all,” she said. “It was caught so early I had no chemo, no radiation. I’m good and I have a great life ahead of me.”

Arlington patient calls robot-assisted surgery ‘awesome’

Robin Schultz had no symptoms or clues that she may have a lung issue. No cough. No shortness of breath. She keeps up with her granddaughter and always bounded up the stairs at work. She was, however, a smoker and fully understood that her habit could raise the risk of developing lung disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, smokers are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers.

Knowing that smoking is a risk factor, Robin has had an annual low-dose CT screening for the past 10 years to check her lungs. In April 2021, the test showed a mass in her left lung and the discovery triggered a series of tests, physician visits and ultimately robotic-assisted surgery by Skagit Regional Health Thoracic Surgeon Richard Leone, MD, PhD, FACS.

The diagnosis for Robin was not cancer, but rather an old infection. The CT scan was followed by a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, biopsy and surgery. Dr. Leone used the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System at Skagit Valley Hospital to remove the top lobe of Robin’s left lung in a minimally invasive procedure that required just a two-day hospital stay and left only very small scars. “I’m sold on it as an amazing tool,” Dr. Leone said of the robotic system. “It allows us to do procedures more gently and in a much less invasive manner using precise, tiny instruments.” Another benefit to the less invasive approach is that many patients don’t need narcotics, Dr. Leone said.

ABOVE: Robin Schultz of Arlington enjoys spending time with her granddaughter Maria Currey.

Low-dose CT lung screening available in Arlington, Mount Vernon

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Early detection is a proven and successful strategy to reduce lung specific mortality. Lowdose computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening is able to detect lung nodules better than a chest X-ray and maintains a relatively low radiation exposure. If there are any nodules detected, recommendations for further procedures are made.

Low-dose CT screening, available at both Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital, is now covered by Medicare for high-risk patients ages 55 to 77.

“Most of the time, lung cancer has no symptoms at all until the disease is very advanced,” said Thoracic Surgeon Richard Leone, MD, PhD, FACS. “CT scanning is the best way to identify early, treatable lung cancers. The newer CTs are amazingly good in finding tiny nodules.”

Who should be screened?

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends that healthy adults at high risk for lung cancer talk to their primary care provider about screening with lowdose CT.

• Are you a current or former smoker between the ages of 55 and 74? • On average, did you smoke one pack per day for 30 years or two packs per day for 15 years? • Has it been less than 15 years since you quit smoking? • Has it been more than a year since your last CT scan?

How Does the Study Work? The patient lies on the CT scanner and will slide in and out of the CT scanner. The scan itself takes about 30 seconds. There is no special preparation and no contrast is needed. “It’s so important for people to know about the CT screenings,” said Robin Schultz, who was diagnosed with a lung issue that was not cancer, but did require surgery, after having a scan last spring. “It’s very quick and easy.” For more information or for a referral for a low-dose CT screening, talk to your primary care provider.

Dr. Leone also uses a navigational bronchoscopy to inject special dye in a detected lung mass that is picked up visually by the robot’s camera and helps guide the surgeon during the procedure. “Sometimes, these nodules are so small you can’t see them with the naked eye. With these special dyes, it glows under the 3D imaging of the robot’s camera, helping me target the area,” Dr. Leone said. Robin’s remaining left lung lobe has expanded to fill the space and she quickly returned to work and normal activities with family and volunteering. “She will do just fine with it,” Dr. Leone said. “It’s amazing what the body can do,” Robin said. “I was back to work in 11 days because of that robot. You heal up so much faster. It’s amazing.” Robin, who lives in Arlington, was pleased that she could get

all of her care, from the CT and PET scans to bronchoscopy and robotic surgery, close to home at Skagit Regional Health. “I was confident in going to and staying with Skagit Regional Health,” she said. “Everybody was so awesome.” Dr. Leone also credits the outstanding Operating Room staff of physician assistants, nurses, techs and anesthesiologists for the success of the growing robotic-assisted surgery program at Skagit Valley Hospital. “This is an awesome team. It’s not just me doing the operation, the OR team is really great,” Dr. Leone said. “It’s a whole team effort.” Robin is proud to say she has officially quit smoking and looks forward to traveling, helping out at her granddaughter’s school and serving as the board president of the Camp Fire location known as Camp Zanika on Lake Wenatchee, which she calls “her special place.”

Robotic surgery at Skagit Regional Health: General, colorectal and thoracic surgeons are all using the daVinci surgical robot system in the Skagit Valley Hospital operating rooms. The robotic-assisted da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System, added to the OR technology in 2018, is shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce recovery time and shorten hospital stays. General Surgeon Allison Porter, MD, FACS, said her robotic practice is going extremely well and she is performing a high volume of foregut operations including repairs of hiatal hernias, paraesophageal hernias, Heller myotomies for achalasia, ventral and inguinal hernia repairs and colectomies. “My patients have been extremely satisfied and our team in the operating room is more efficient than ever,” Dr. Porter said. General Surgeon Josh Hawkins, MD, FACS, continues to perform robotic cases, which account for about 10 percent of his patients. General Surgeon Joel Dean, MD, completed a Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship with a focus on robotic surgery, putting his skills to use when Skagit Regional Health added the surgical robotic program in 2018. The da Vinci surgical robot system features three main pieces:

Thoracic Surgeon Richard Leone, MD, PhD, FACS sits at the surgeon console of the da Vinci® XI™ Surgical System in the Skagit Valley Hospital operating room.

1. The surgeon console where a physician is seated in the operating room and views high-definition, 3D images on a monitor while using foot pedals and finger instruments to remotely control the camera and surgical instruments. 2. The patient-side cart with overhead arms, mounted on a boom, designed to hold threedimensional cameras and surgical instruments at the surgical site. 3. The computer “tower” to support the robotic system. Fall 2021

COVID-19 Q & A The latest on variants and vaccines By Mary Bavaro, MD, FACP, FIDSA, Infectious Disease Specialist

NOTE: COVID-19 continues to evolve rapidly. This information is current as of our publication date, September 2021.

What is a variant? Variants are strains of viruses that have mutated. The longer that viruses circulate, the more opportunity they have to mutate. Some of these mutations result in viruses that may be more fit to survive. Some of these more fit variants seem to spread more easily and quickly, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and death.

How has the Delta variant affected children?

Why do I still need to mask if I’m vaccinated?

There appears to be more cases presenting in children likely due to the Delta variant being more infectious and children returning to camp, schools and socializing. Most children have mild disease, however, there are some children who are presenting with more severe illness requiring hospitalization.

The vaccines are good, but not perfect. There is still the chance that you can develop either asymptomatic infection or mild disease if vaccinated and transmit the virus to others who may not have responded well to the vaccine or who are not vaccinated. Masking is another way to help decrease the number of cases.

What makes the Delta variant different?

Do the current vaccines cover the Delta variant?

Do I need a booster?

The Delta variant is more contagious than the other strains of the virus. Patients with the Delta variant appear to have higher concentrations of virus and are more easily able to transmit the virus. While some patients have symptoms of infection, there are people infected with the virus who do not have symptoms and can transmit the virus to others without knowing they are infected.

What are the symptoms of the Delta variant? Unlike the earlier strains of the virus that causes COVID-19 associated with loss of taste and smell and cough, the Delta variant tends to present with headache, sore throat, runny nose and fever.

DO I NEED A FLU SHOT THIS FALL? YES! While influenza was an uncommon event worldwide last year, likely due to social distancing and mask wearing, now that children are back in school and businesses have opened up, there is the potential for more influenza cases this upcoming flu season.

Yes. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (mRNA vaccine) appears to be 88 percent effective against symptomatic disease and 96 percent effective against hospitalization from the Delta variant in studies, while OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine (adenovirus vector vaccine) was 60 percent effective against symptomatic disease and 93 percent effective against hospitalization. As of August 10, 2021, data regarding the Moderna mRNA vaccine and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine is still pending.

What is a breakthrough case? The term breakthrough case is used to describe someone who has detectable levels of SARSCoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19 illness, in their body at least 14 days after they’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Why should I still get vaccinated if some people who were vaccinated are still getting COVID-19? The majority of patients who were vaccinated and still get COVID-19 are either asymptomatic or have mild disease. The mRNA vaccines are 96 percent effective at preventing severe disease and death. The J&J vaccine is 85 percent effective at preventing severe disease and death. Prevention of severe disease was one of the main goals of vaccination.

Studies are in progress to address this question but, as of August 25, 2021, boosters are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for patients with compromised immune systems such as transplant patients, patients on certain immunosuppressant medications and some cancer patients. The CDC is working on further guidance on boosters, however, it appears that boosters will likely be recommended for all vaccinated people eight months after initial vaccination. Please watch for further information from the CDC on boosters.

What about other respiratory viruses? There has been a significant rise in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and other respiratory virus infections since businesses and schools, etc. have opened up and mask-wearing has decreased. RSV is a respiratory virus that tends to circulate during the fall and winter especially in children and patients with suppressed immune systems. Much like influenza, RSV was not seen as much last year due to social distancing and masking. While most children and adults only have cold symptoms with this virus, adults and children who are immunosuppressed can develop more severe illness.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

‘New person’ Heart patient receives implant, finds hope

John Branstiter of Sedro-Woolley credits Skagit Regional Health Cardiac Electrophysiologist Ramy Hanna, MD and the latest in implantable heart devices for saving his life. Branstiter, 68, suffers from severe cardiomyopathy (heart muscle weakness). This condition is compounded by his extreme Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and surviving a heart attack in 2015. He found himself without the energy to perform nearly any activity. Branstiter said he was told he had lost a significant percent of his heart function in his left ventricle, one of four chambers in the heart. “It was tough to do everything,” Branstiter said, noting he would easily grow short of breath and sweat after just a couple of minutes of a simple activity like vacuuming the floor. “It was unbelievable how quickly I wound down. I just had to sit down and take a rest.” In 2016, he took a fall, shattered a hip and damaged a rotator cuff in his shoulder, which required surgeries. “That knocked me back,” he said. The combination of healing from injuries and lack of heart function weighed heavily on him. He has always been an active person with a passion for boating and backpacking. “I felt like I was just taking up space,” he said. “I just wanted to do more and it wasn’t there.” Enter Dr. Hanna and the team at Skagit Regional Clinics – Cardiology. Dr. Hanna was familiar with Cardiac Contractility Modulation CCM™ therapy and had researched

an implantable device called the Optimizer Smart™ from Impulse Dynamics. “This option serves a unique population set who otherwise doesn’t have any option, other than pills – and we’ve gone down that road,” Dr. Hanna said of his patient. “It’s the only implant that has a hope of improving the heart function and how they feel.” Hanna added that the implant is designed for people with low ejection fraction, like Branstiter, whose heart is simply not strong enough to pump blood normally to the body, Hanna said. “It delivers precisely timed electrical impulses that the patient does not feel,” Dr. Hanna said. “It helps the heart squeeze harder.” Branstiter’s road to receiving the implant was extended by a couple of years by insurance company denials. Approved by Medicare and the FDA, he finally received the go-ahead for the procedure from a new insurance company earlier this year and Dr. Hanna performed the implant in July 2021. Similar to a pacemaker implant with two leads into the heart, the implant was placed in Branstiter’s chest in the cardiac electrophysiology lab at Skagit Valley Hospital. According to the manufacturer, Impulse Dynamics, it is the first procedure to place the Optimizer™ in Washington state.

“I feel like a totally new person; I have hope again,” Branstiter said. “I can’t believe the difference it’s done already.” Branstiter recharges the device weekly, which takes about 30 minutes, and he otherwise “doesn’t feel a thing” as the device sends electrical signals to his heart. “My outlook is totally changed. I owe it all to Dr. Hanna and his crew and everyone at Skagit Regional Health. Dr. Hanna is why I’m still alive today,” he said. “I’ve had people tell me they see a big difference. I’m a totally different person. I look better. My color is better. I sound better.” Dr. Hanna said he expects continued positive results for Branstiter. “My expectation for him is that he breathes more comfortably, has more energy and higher function,” Dr. Hanna said. Branstiter had his sights set on working on his boat and a late summer road trip to Colorado with a brother to see some cousins and a few national parks. “This has really given me hope,” he said. “Now, I have something to look forward to.” ABOVE: John Branstiter of SedroWoolley looks forward to returning to hobbies and activity after receiving an implanted device that helps his heart pump more effectively.

At the time of the interview, Branstiter was 30 days post-procedure and feeling good, even taking a recent walk around the block. Fall 2021

SKAGIT REGIONAL HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY TEAM • Suresh Alagugurusamy, MD • Samit Datta, MD • Emily Jette, PA-C • Nassim Karimi, MD • David Liang, MD • Megan McMahon, PA-C • Brittany Rowan, PA-C • Duane Webb, MD

SKAGIT REGIONAL HEALTH GENERAL SURGEONS WHO PERFORM ENDOSCOPY • James Barger, DO, FACOS • Joel Dean, MD • Allison Porter, MD, FACS • Monroe Whitman, MD • Peter Wolff, MD ABOVE: Gastroenterologist Suresh Alagugurasamy, MD, answers a patient’s questions in the Endoscopy Department at Skagit Valley Hospital.

DIRECT ACCESS:

Screening colonoscopy just a phone call away Skagit Regional Health’s Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Departments offer a Direct Access program in Mount Vernon and Arlington to allow healthy adults to register and schedule a screening colonoscopy with the ease of a phone call.

convenience. Colonoscopy is one of the most powerful means of prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer.

The colonoscopy appointment is typically scheduled to occur within two weeks or at the patient’s

Mount Vernon: 360-814-5739 Arlington: 360-618-7975

To schedule a colonoscopy through Skagit Regional Health’s Direct Access program, call:

New GI provider joins team Samit Datta, MD joined the gastroenterology team at Skagit Regional Health in August 2021 and sees patients and performs procedures in Arlington and Mount Vernon. Dr. Datta and two Physician Assistants will offer patient appointments at Skagit Regional Health – Smokey Point. Endoscopy, including upper and lower procedures, are performed by GI specialists and also by general surgeons in both locations,

at the Arlington Surgery Center adjacent to Cascade Valley Hospital and at Skagit Valley Hospital. Dr. Datta received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and completed an Internal Medicine residency at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. He was a Gastroenterology Fellow at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee and also completed an advance Endoscopy Fellowship at GI Associates in Milwaukee.

Telestroke program enhances patient care

Stroke is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of serious disability for adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The good news is that 80 percent of strokes are preventable by making slight lifestyle adjustments such as controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels and taking prescribed medications. In addition, the telestroke program makes urgent consult more accessible than ever before.

A stroke is sometimes called a brain attack. It happens in one of two ways: An ischemic stroke (when the blood supply to the brain is blocked) or hemorrhagic stroke (when a blood vessel breaks inside the brain). There are different treatments based on the type of stroke a person is experiencing and when the symptoms start—the sooner help arrive the better chance of recovery. In all cases, it is essential to call 911 right away when a person starts to see changes from their baseline (See BE FAST). Time is brain. Skagit Regional Health is a Primary Stroke Center certified by DNV-GL, a designation that indicates Skagit Regional Health provides high-quality treatment for a broad range of stroke conditions, is able to provide acute therapies and offers stroke-specific inpatient care for stroke patients. The majority of stroke patients who are brought to the Emergency Department are managed within the Skagit Regional Health system, which allows patients to stay in the community where they live while receiving excellent care. Skagit Regional Health conducts essential tests to determine what type of stroke a patient is having and provides appropriate treatment through state-of-the-art medical management. If a patient is a candidate for clotdissolving medication, the Intensive Care Unit at Skagit Valley Hospital is

equipped and has specially trained staff members to care for these patients.

make critical decisions about the appropriate treatment plan for stroke patients.

In certain circumstances, patients may be eligible to receive specialized invasive procedures involving a neurointerventionalist to assist in minimizing stroke deficits. In these situations, patients are transferred to the system’s telestroke partners.

This partnership provides a conduit to emerging treatment for a stroke such as endovascular treatment made available through this partnership. Endovascular treatment, available at Swedish and Providence, is done only by cerebral vascular experts who use catheterization treatment. These procedures open vessels in the brain, similar to those procedures for coronary artery disease that open vessels in the heart. With the telestroke program, the team is able to identify appropriate candidates for these procedures and transport patients by helicopter to ensure urgent evaluation and additional treatment.

Skagit Regional Health has a partnership with Swedish/Providence for the telestroke program. Skagit Valley Hospital has been a partner with the telestroke program for many years and, as of May 2021, Cascade Valley Hospital went live with the program. Using video and audio technology, the program allows for 24/7 remote access to specialized neurology services and specialists with Swedish and Providence for patients who need an urgent consult. This specialized, immediate consultation, in conjunction with the expertise of Skagit Regional Health’s providers, allows the team to collaborate to

Facial Droop Does their face look normal or is there one side that seems to be drooping?

Arm Weakness Does one side feel heavier or are they having a difficult time holding one side up?

Speech Difficulty Is the person having a problem with their speech or does it sound different?

Time When was the last time the patient was seen normal?

BE FAST: B

Balance Is the person having a hard time walking?

Eyes Is there any difficulty with their vision?

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Fall 2021

Center for Sleep Disorders welcomes new medical director SLEEP MEDICINE

Nikhil Samtani, MD Specialty: Sleep Medicine Location: Skagit Valley Hospital

What do you enjoy the most about your chosen specialty? I believe that Sleep Medicine is one of the most rewarding specialties to be in (obviously some bias there). We spend a third of our lives sleeping and having difficulties in that third has shown to spill over into so many facets of our health and overall quality of life. Being able to assist people with their sleep difficulties is truly a very rewarding experience.

What are your special interests within your practice? My personal interest is the interaction between sleep-disordered breathing and its effect on cardiac function. I do not think of sleep disorders as simply fixing one’s snoring or shortterm problems, but more of an overall quality of life measure that has both short- and long-term benefits. Dr. Samtani attended University of Seychelles American Institute of Medicine followed by Internal Medicine Residency training at Medstar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Samtani remained in Baltimore to complete a Sleep Medicine Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Samtani and his wife are new to Washington. They are foodies who love exploring the outdoors and spending time with their yellow Labrador Retriever puppy.

Nikhil Samtani, MD recently joined Skagit Regional Health as the Medical Director for the Center for Sleep Disorders. The Center for Sleep Disorders at Skagit Valley Hospital includes a sixbed sleep lab, featuring specialized sleeping recliners and adjustable beds. The program offers evaluation, management and testing for sleep disorders at the lab and the outpatient clinic. The program is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Samtani said he is glad to join the Skagit Regional Health team and further develop the Sleep Medicine program. “The Pacific Northwest is something that my wife and I have always enjoyed in our travels,” said Dr. Samtani. “Given my clinical and administrative background and interests, I very much related to the project of growing the Sleep Medicine department here at Skagit Regional Health in order to provide a comprehensive sleep program to our community.” “Dr. Samtani has brought an energy and enthusiasm to the sleep center. He absolutely loves the field of Sleep Medicine which you can see in the way he interacts with both patients and staff,” said Marie

Burger, Practice Manager for Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary, Nephrology and Infectious Disease. “Dr. Samtani has a wonderful rapport with our patients, making sure to explain things in a way they can understand and welcoming any questions they may have.” In addition to his excellent relational skills, Dr. Samtani brings an interest in looking at the wholehealth picture when it comes to sleep. “Sleep medicine is still relatively new,” explained Dr. Samtani. “We are learning so much every year on how poor sleep can affect cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic and immunologic health. My personal interest is the interaction between sleep-disordered breathing and its effect on cardiac function. I truly find that fascinating. The team at the Center for Sleep Disorders cares for patients with a variety of sleep issues related to the sleep apnea spectrum, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, circadian dysregulation and parasomnias. Sleep Medicine appointments can be made by calling 360-428-2550

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

COVID-19 Q & A What about FDA approval of the vaccines?

UW School of Pharmacy names Preceptors of the Year Cascade Valley Hospital Clinical Pharmacist Val Wilkins, RPh, MS, MBA, MHI HIM, and Pharmacy Director Robert Cockrell, PharmD, were recently honored as Preceptors of the Year by the University of Washington School of Pharmacy for their participation in the “Wednesdays in Practice” (WIP) program. The pair also received Certificates of Merit in Precepting. This is the first year that UW has given the award and the second year they have received the certificates of merit. “Both of us were incredibly surprised and honored,” said Wilkins. “This award comes from our students – they nominate us and tell the school why they think we deserve it. The submission takes a fair amount of time and effort on their part.” “We expect honors like this to go to the large teaching hospitals like you find in Seattle,” said Cockrell. “For CVH Pharmacy to be selected is truly humbling for us.” In the “Wednesdays in Practice” part of the PharmD curriculum at the UW School of Pharmacy, Wilkins and Cockrell serve as preceptors for first-year pharmacy students, giving

them an opportunity to gain realworld understanding and application of what they are studying in the classroom. “Val and Robert were early adopters of the new Wednesdays in Practice (WIP) program; they were excited to partner with our school to offer this innovative early experiential education at Cascade Valley Hospital,” said Jennifer Chang, PharmD, BCPS, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. “They embody the spirit of innovation and transformation of WIP and have provided an incredible learning environment for introductory learners.” The two of them have proven that medical excellence is not bound by any border, and their efforts help ensure the next generation of medical care will continue with quality and compassion. ABOVE: Val Wilkins, RPh, MS, MBA, MHI HIM, Clinical Pharmacist and Robert Cockrell, PharmD, Pharmacy Director at Cascade Valley Hospital were named Preceptors of the Year by the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.

As of August 23, 2021, the Pfizer mRNA vaccine was FDA approved and the Moderna and J&J vaccines are approved under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The Moderna and J&J vaccines will be next up for approval. The FDA has a mandate to ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines. All three available vaccines have been extensively studied and have completed the three clinical study levels required before a vaccine can be approved. While the timeline has moved quickly given the nature of the pandemic, all the appropriate steps to ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccines have been done.

If I had COVID-19 illness should I still get vaccinated? Yes, it is unclear how long a person is protected from a prior infection. It is wise to get immunized as a first step to help you and others from COVID-19. Right now the recommendation is to wait until at least 10 days since onset of symptoms, be fever free for 24 hours and have improved symptoms. People who received monoclonal antibodies as part of treatment for COVID-19 should wait 90 days until vaccinated.

What can I doto help limit the spread of COVID-19? • Get vaccinated • Practice the 3 W’s 1. Wear a mask 2. Watch distance (social distancing) 3. Wash your hands

Dr. Bavaro is an Infectious Disease specialist with Skagit Regional Health.

Fall 2021

Oncologist balances science, research, caring for the whole person Oncologist Arthur Molina, MD is an experienced cancer care provider, researcher and teacher who enjoys caring for patients and supporting their families. “I like to look at both sides of medicine with the science and the research and also the human side that deals with people as a whole person, not just a disease,” Dr. Molina

Get Your Pink On! Schedule your mammogram today! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a perfect time to schedule a mammogram for early detection. Skagit Regional Health now offers 3D breast tomosynthesis in Mount Vernon and Arlington. In MOUNT VERNON, the Women’s Imaging Center will offer special Saturday hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 9 and 23. Get your mammogram and wear pink to your Saturday appointment to be entered into a random prize drawing! Call 360428-7275 to schedule an appointment. In ARLINGTON, the Cascade Valley Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Department will offer extended hours for mammograms on Wednesday, October 6, 13 and 20 with the last appointment at 6 p.m. Special Saturday appointments will be offered on October 23. Call 360-435-2133 to schedule an appointment. A 3D mammogram combines several breast X-rays to produce a threedimensional image of the breast, offering more detail and precision that previous 2D technology. 3D technology generates highresolution images of the breast, improves detection of cancer, works well for women with denser breast tissue, lessens the uncomfortable compression time and lowers the number of recalls for additional tests.

said. “I have the ability to work with families and help them to deal with the demanding challenges a cancer diagnosis can bring.” Dr. Molina joined the Skagit Regional Health Cancer Care Center oncology group in June 2021. He spent the first 10 years of his career in academics and research, including bone marrow transplant work at Ochsner Cancer Institute at Louisiana State University in New Orleans and at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Since 2014, he has practiced inpatient care including stops in Olympia and Yakima. Dr. Molina is a graduate of Stanford University in California and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He completed an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Texas in San Antonio and a Fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. During his internship, both his father and aunt were diagnosed with cancer, an experience that pointed him in the direction of medicine that he wanted to pursue. “I just felt that the doctors and those who took care of the two of them practiced medicine the way that I saw myself practicing medicine,” Dr. Molina said. “They had the technical and scientific side along with compassion and empathy. I like to interact like a family practice provider, in some ways, as you are dealing with the whole family.” Dr. Molina noted that he enjoys working with a variety of different cancers and blood disorders and is impressed with the strength of the community-based program at Skagit Regional Health.

“The program is robust. You have everything you need to practice oncology at a high level, as if you were in a big city,” he said. “We have surgical support, diagnostic imaging, pathology and strong hospitals in the system.” The Skagit Regional Health Cancer Care Center is a network member of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), a partnership of UW Medicine, Seattle Children’s and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The network connection provides a variety of benefits including access to experts, referrals and clinical trials. “The relationship with SCCA is unique for a practice our size and it’s nice to have that relationship in place,” he said. “It’s a real benefit to the community.” Cancer care continues to evolve and change, which is exciting for the providers and excellent for patients, he said. Immune therapies are replacing chemotherapy, in some cases, offering a less toxic and more targeted way to treat cancer. “Immune-targeted therapies look at cancers at the molecular, genetic level,” he said. “You can focus on the genetic mutations which become a set of targets you can treat with therapies and you don’t have all the side effects. It’s revolutionizing cancer care.” Dr. Molina and his wife have two college-age children and he enjoys travel, photography, nature, birds and orcas. They were drawn to northwest Washington by the community feel. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “And, it’s got a lot of appeal and a slower pace.”

“The program is robust. You have everything you need to practice oncology at a high level, as if you were in a big city. We have surgical support, diagnostic imaging, pathology and strong hospitals in the system.” - Arthur Molina, MD

More focus on cancer screening September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The Centers for Disease Control notes there are two tests that are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer: Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: A blood test called PSA measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate. The levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. The PSA level may also be elevated in other conditions that affect the prostate. Because many factors can affect PSA levels, a doctor – often a urologist – is the best person to interpret PSA test results. If the PSA test is abnormal, your doctor may recommend a biopsy to find out if you have prostate cancer. Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): A DRE is when a health care provider performs a physical exam to feel the prostate for anything abnormal, such as cancer. Contact your Primary Care Provider or Urologist to schedule your screening today.

NOVEMBER IS LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH See page 4 for more information about a low-dose CT scan available at Skagit Regional Health in Mount Vernon or Arlington to screen for lung cancer. Contact your Primary Care Provider for a referral.

MARCH IS COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH See page 8 to learn more about the Direct Access program. With a phone call, healthy adults may register and schedule a screening colonoscopy in Mount Vernon or Arlington.

In ARLINGTON, call 360-618-17975 In MOUNT VERNON, call 360-814-5739

We are so proud of our Skagit Regional Health team as we work to keep our patients, staff, providers and community safe. Thank you for your great work in a challenging time.

You are appreciated!

If you would like to express gratitude to the Skagit Regional Health team, please do so by sending an email to thankyou@skagitregionalhealth.org. Fall 2021

New Providers GENERAL SURGERY

Christina Clark, PA-C

Specialty: General Surgery Practice Location: Skagit Regional Clinics – Mount Vernon

CARDIOLOGY

Angelica Kominsky, ARNP

Specialty: Cardiology Practice Location: Skagit Regional Clinics – Mount Vernon Cardiology

ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE

Alexander Willis, MD

Specialty: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Practice Location: Skagit Regional Clinics – Riverbend

What motivated you to pursue a career in medicine?

I pursued a career in medicine because I have a strong interest in biology and desire to connect with people in my community.

As a third-grader with a heart murmur, I became fascinated with all things “heart” related.

I have had a number of orthopedic injuries that required surgery. My surgeon’s care had a huge impact on my life and ability to get back to sports and the activities I enjoyed. I decided I wanted to have that role in other people’s lives.

What do you enjoy the most about your chosen specialty? General Surgery allows me to work in a broad field of medicine, interact meaningfully with patients and be part of a team focused on maximizing patient outcomes.

What would you like patients to know about you? I have genuine care and concern for all of my patients. I encourage open communication and welcome their feedback. Clark has lived locally for many years and considers the Pacific Northwest her home. She earned a Master of Clinical Health Services through the University of Washington’s Medex Northwest program. General Surgery appointments in Mount Vernon can be made by calling 360-428-2586.

What do you enjoy the most about your chosen specialty? Establishing a rapport with patients and their families and long-term improved health progression.

What are you most passionate about professionally? I enjoy educating patients about their health, collaborating with patients to meet their health goals and the rewards of seeing those goals flourish.

What brought you to Skagit Regional Health? The reputation, core values and the sense of small community “feel” brought me to Skagit Regional Health. Kominsky, who is fluent in Spanish, earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Gonzaga University in Spokane. When she is not in the office educating her patients and providing preventative care, she can often be found hiking, baking, running and spending time with her family.

What do you enjoy the most about your chosen specialty? The best part about hip and knee replacement is taking a patient from being afflicted by severe joint pain to walking pain-free. I love hearing about how people are finally able to get back to taking care of their kids or grandkids or finally being able to go for that long walk with their partner. Dr. Willis attended Princeton University for his undergraduate studies before attending medical school at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr. Willis completed residency training at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey followed by fellowship training at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He recently moved to Washington to be closer to family. The area has afforded him the opportunity to enjoy hiking, boating, skiing, amazing views and the friendly people of the Pacific Northwest. Orthopedic appointments are available by calling 360-814-6800.

NEED A PROVIDER?

Use our online search tool to find a provider by specialty or location. Provider profile pages include biography and educational information, how to schedule an appointment and videos about the provider or specialty. Visit our website to learn more: https://provider.skagitregionalhealth.org.

FAMILY MEDICINE

Rachel Tangaro, MD

Specialty: Family Medicine Practice Location: Skagit Regional Clinics – Benson Family Medicine

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Katie Kunnen, DO

Specialty: Internal Medicine Practice Location: Skagit Regional Health – Internal Medicine Division Street

CARDIOLOGY

Meris Lehecka, ARNP

Specialty: Cardiology Practice Location: Skagit Regional Clinics – Mount Vernon Cardiology

What motivated you to pursue a career in medicine?

I chose medicine so I could apply what I learned in my science classes to help people live healthier lives.

While in high school, I very much enjoyed math, so I originally went into college as an accounting major. After working just a few weeks at my community college bursar’s office, I quickly realized that accounting was not my passion. I ended up taking an EMT1 course to obtain a part time job in EMS and loved it! I found the subject matter fascinating, which caused me to switch majors to Biology. I soon realized that I experienced the greatest sense of fulfillment when I was able to walk alongside other individuals and help them through their own hardships. My interest in disease processes and my desire to work with others is what led me to pursue a career in medicine.

I wanted a career that would allow me to help people daily and that would push me to continue a life full of learning.

What do you enjoy the most about your chosen specialty? The thing I enjoy most about Family Medicine is learning people’s stories and meeting their families. I love when I get to care for multiple generations in one family.

What are you most passionate about professionally? Professionally, I’m most passionate about helping people improve their quality of life and teaching them how to advocate for themselves in a complex healthcare system.

What are your special interests within your practice? My interests within Family Medicine include Women’s Health, office-based procedures, nutrition and mental health. Dr. Tangaro earned her medical degree at Chicago Medical School in Illinois. She went on to complete Family Medicine residency training at University of California, Irvine. In her free time, Dr. Tangaro enjoys hiking, cooking, listening to music and reading.

Dr. Kunnen earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Touro University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, California. She remained in California to complete Internal Medicine residency training at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Outside of the office Dr. Kunnen enjoys hiking in the mountains and spending time with her family. Appointments are available by calling 360-814-2980.

Appointments are available by calling 360-399-7700.

What do you enjoy the most about the field of Cardiology? I love Cardiology because of the profound effect you can have on patient’s lives and the constant innovation and improvement in the field that keeps me on my toes.

What are your special interests within your practice? I enjoy working with my patients on moving towards a heart healthy lifestyle to reduce their risk of further events and improve their quality of life. Lehecka was born and raised in Burlington, WA and has had a longtime goal to return to the area as a healthcare provider. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Gonzaga University in Spokane and completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Washington in Seattle. In her free time, Lehecka can be found taking advantage of the abundant outdoor activities available in the Pacific Northwest. Cardiology appointments are available by calling 360-336-9757.

GUIDE TO PROVIDER CREDENTIALS: MD: Doctor of Medicine DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine ARNP: Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner PA-C: Certified Physician Assistant

Fall 2021

New Providers CARDIOLOGY

Kirsten Carlson, DNP, ARNP

Specialty: Cardiology Practice Location: Skagit Regional Clinics – Mount Vernon Cardiology

Jodie Brewer-Peet, PA-C

Specialty: Family Medicine Practice Location: Skagit Regional Clinics – Camano Island

FAMILY MEDICINE

Jennifer Lawrence, MD

Specialty: Family Medicine Practice Location: Skagit Regional Clinics – Stanwood

What motivated you to pursue a career in medicine?

My daughter was born with special healthcare needs, including a congenital heart condition. It was a long, difficult journey for all of us as she underwent multiple surgeries and clinic visits. I learned firsthand how important it is as a patient/ caregiver to feel supported as part of the medical team. The physicians, nurses and other medical staff who cared for my daughter inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field and use my experience to help others. I understand that whether you are being seen for a routine annual exam, or were just given a critical diagnosis, it is important you feel that your provider listens, understands and cares about you as a person, taking into consideration your emotional, physical, spiritual, social, psychological and professional goals of care. I feel honored to take the lessons I’ve learned through our family’s journey to provide empathetic, whole-person, patient/ family-centered care to my patients.

I wanted a career in which I could use two of my major strengths - my intellect and my passion for helping other people. Being a PA has been the perfect mix of both.

I want to help people to live their healthiest lives. I want to deliver culturally competent whole-person care (bio-psycho-social model) that meets people where they are at and sees individuals not diagnoses.

Carlson was born and raised in Washington. She is a former U.S. Air Force C-17 pilot who flew combat missions in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Carlson earned a Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Seattle University. Outside of the office, she enjoys traveling, gardening, playing piano and violin, reading and, most importantly, spending time with family.

Brewer-Peet earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Wichita State University in Kansas. In her free time, Brewer-Peet enjoys reading, cooking, sewing and singing. She and her husband also enjoy watching movies, hiking and biking.

Dr. Lawrence earned her medical degree from Lewis Katz Medical School at Temple University in Philadelphia. She remained in Pennsylvania for an internship at Bryn Mawr Hospital before moving to Washington state to complete Family Medicine residency training at Central Washington Family Medicine in Yakima. When she is not in the office, Dr. Lawrence enjoys staying mentally and physically active and spending time with her family and dog.

Appointments are available by calling 360-387-5398.

Family Medicine appointments are available by calling 360-629-1600.

Appointments are available by calling 360-336-9757.

FAMILY MEDICINE

What do you enjoy the most about your chosen specialty? I enjoy the variety that Family Medicine brings. I never do the same thing every day. I get to meet so many people and get to know them more personally than I would if I worked in a single specialty. I’ve had the opportunity to see everyone in a family and watch kids grow up. I’ve seen teen patients grow up and have babies of their own. I’ve had the privilege of helping people through some very difficult times, at all stages of life.

What are your special interests within your practice? I am especially interested in mental health and Women’s Health.

What are your special interests within your practice? My interests include Women’s Health, underserved populations, adolescent medicine and behavioral health.

Is there anything else you would like your patients to know about you? I look forward to working with you! It is a great privilege to be your doctor and one I do not take lightly. I want to be an integrated part of the community and look forward to knowing you all for a very long time.

G R A D U AT E M E D I C A L E D U C AT I O N

Medical students continue their training Twelve third-year medical students from Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) in Yakima joined Skagit Regional Health in June 2021 to continue their training with two years of rotations in a variety of specialties.

BACK ROW: Hayley Crabtree, Noah Paisner, Amineta Sy, Zachary Ward, Mckalin Cox and Calvin Lee. FRONT ROW: Nalee Little, Diana Chavez, Jenna Gilbert, Rachel Kim, Phoebe Domingo and Andrew Tagle.

Skagit Regional Health welcomes new residents, students Skagit Regional Health’s Graduate Medical Education program is entering the tenth year of providing training for residents, welcoming six Family Medicine residents and eight Internal Medicine residents.

INTERNAL MEDICINE Hannan Dogar, MD was born in Southern California where he spent most of his life. He enjoyed the outdoors, theme parks, beaches and the sun that Southern California had to offer. For undergraduate he studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Medical Anthropology. His interest in Medical Anthropology provided an understanding of how culture, healthcare infrastructure and socioeconomics affect the delivery and practice of medicine. This led him to pursue a Masters in Healthcare Administration to focus on administrative infrastructure of healthcare systems affecting health outcomes and medical treatment. Afterwards, he completed his medical education with clinical rotations

focused on internal medicine. As a physician, he said he hopes to use what he learned during his educational trail to help approach medicine from an integrated view with an understanding of administrative and socioeconomic impacts. He enjoys time with family and friends and looks forward to exploring the Pacific Northwest. Some of his hobbies include basketball, swimming and exploring new locales. He said he looks forward to his medical training in Washington and hopes to improve healthcare in the community he practices. Ivona Kovacevic, MD was born in Croatia and spent her childhood living on a small farm in the rural area. She graduated from the University of Zagreb School of Medicine and became the first in her

family to graduate from college. After graduation, Ivona wanted to give back to the community that raised her, so she started working as a primary care provider in her home rural area in Croatia. In 2018, she migrated to Washington with her husband and became a mother. She enjoys cooking, baking, reading and spending time with her family. She said she is excited that she is able to continue her medical education in the Pacific Northwest. Jagdeep Sandhu, MD was born in Punjab, India and moved to the United States at the age of 13. He lived in West Seattle and went on to attend Seattle Pacific University to obtain a BS in Physiology. He then attended Ross University School of Medicine to get his medical degree. He said he is extremely grateful and CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Fall 2021

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 eager to provide care for patients in his home state. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, going for a run, watching football and playing games. Joshua Larson, DO is a Pacific Northwest native, growing up in Federal Way. He received a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a Biochemistry emphasis from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master’s of Medical Sciences from Heritage University before attending Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM) in Yakima. He is an avid Seattle sports fan, especially the Seahawks and Mariners. In his free time, he enjoys home brewing, playing tabletop RPGs and spending time with his family and friends. Pujitha Sonti, MD was born in India before she moved to New York City to live with her parents after her first birthday. After spending the first few years of her life in New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, she moved to Texas with her family. Inclined towards the sciences, Pujitha studied Biology at the University of Texas at Austin as her interests in Global Medicine and health education germinated. Further inspired by her physician grandfather’s career of providing culturally competent and equal care to underserved and underprivileged communities, Pujitha went on to pursue her medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine. She said she hopes to continue her trajectory by practicing

evidence-based medicine and dismantling the barriers to care in at-risk populations. In her free time, Pujitha enjoys volunteering, trying new and unique desserts and exercising. Qasim Javed, DO was born in Sacramento, California and was raised in the small town of Coalinga. He studied human biology at the University of California, Merced. He later followed his career in medicine at PNWU-COM. His inspiration to become a physician grew deeper when his younger sister fell very ill and had to endure two weeks of inpatient treatment. As a physician, he said he hopes to provide compassionate and holistic care to his patients where everyone can feel welcome. He said he has enjoyed his four years in the Pacific Northwest and is excited to spend the next three years at Skagit Regional Health and further increasing his footprint in the region alongside his wife and cat. His hobbies include playing basketball, working out, running, hiking, finding new places to eat and gaming. Ridhima Ohri, MD was born in California and raised in Tacoma. She is a proud daughter of firstgeneration Indian immigrant parents and the oldest of three siblings. After completing her undergraduate education at Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York, she attended St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine, where she successfully obtained her Medical Degree. Although she is passionate about all areas of medicine, the part she said she finds most rewarding is

listening to her patients and being able to impact their overall quality of life. As a physician, she said she aspires to serve the underprivileged, under-represented community and educate patients regarding preventative medicine measures. During her free time, Ridhima enjoys travel to different parts of the world and learning about different cultures, hiking with her dog, cooking, dancing and spending time with family and friends. Samuel Urrutia, MD was born and raised in Puerto Rico and received his bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico. At age 23, he moved to St. Kitts and Nevis to start medical school at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed his clinical rotations around the East Coast of the United States. He is fluent in Spanish and English. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, being physically active and playing sports, specifically soccer, outdoor activities, watching movies and TV. He said he is very excited about moving to the Pacific Northwest and spending the next few years helping the community and learning.

FAMILY MEDICINE PGY1 INTERNS Anastasia Bernhard, DO is a graduate of PNWU-COM and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in microbiology and a minor in art history. She was born and raised in Everett and has deep roots in the Pacific Northwest. She first

Residents:

Internal Medicine and Family Medicine The Internal Medicine PGY1 Class

BACK ROW: Jagdeep Sandhu, MD; Joshua Larson; DO, Samuel Urrutia, MD; Qasim Javed, DO; Hannan Dogar, MD FRONT ROW: Ridhima Ohri, MD; Pujitha Sonti, MD; Ivona Kovacevic, MD

became interested in medicine while caregiving for her grandmother while she underwent cancer treatment. She said she is excited to provide holistic care for the entire family and is interested in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), preventative medicine and women’s health. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with new dessert recipes, gardening and spending time with her fiancé, Josh, and their two rescue tabbies Sammi and Tillie. Dallin Brownell, DO is a native of Burlington and is thrilled to be returning to the area to practice medicine. He attended Brigham Young University in Utah where he received a bachelor’s degree in English and graduated from medical school at Des Moines University. He also served as a religious missionary in Utah, Georgia, and Brazil, where he learned to speak Portuguese and Spanish. He said he is passionate about effective patient and provider communication which leads to informed patient healthcare decisions. He, his wife, and their two children enjoy spending time together, reading, going on walks, quoting movies and cooking. Naomi Hoyle, MD Originally from Skagit Valley, Dr. Hoyle has returned to the area after an extensive period abroad where she studied bacteriophage, an alternative approach to the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections. She has contributed to research in this area working at the Eliava Institute in Tbilisi for the past 15 years. She received a dual BA/BS degree from The Evergreen State College in expressive arts and

health sciences and obtained her Medical Degree from the Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) in 2010. She continued on to specialize in pediatric emergency medicine, completing residency at the TSMU G. Jvania Children’s Hospital in Tbilisi. She lives in Mount Vernon with her husband Vakhtang and is the mother of three boys and an Old English Sheepdog. She enjoys playing at the beach with her family, watching I Love Lucy reruns and cooking Georgian food. She hopes to integrate her unique experiences into a family medicine practice in the area. Sabahuddin Shrinzada, DO is originally from Bothell and a graduate of PNWU-COM. His roots are in the Pacific Northwest because his family resides in Washington State, and his wife resides in Vancouver, B.C. He has completed his medical clinical rotations in Skagit Regional Health and said he is excited to continue providing care for patients in Skagit County. Before Medical School, Dr. Shrinzada attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg for his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and Heritage University in Toppenish, for his Master’s Degree in biomedical sciences. He said he is very passionate about providing holistic patient care with a wide spectrum of practice which includes OMT, obstetrics and gynecology and sports medicine. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and family, as well as golfing, camping and hiking.

The Family Medicine PGY1 class Sabahuddin Shrinzada, DO; Dallin Brownell, DO; Anastasia Bernhard, DO; Naomi Hoyle, MD

NEW FAMILY MEDICINE PGY2 TRANSFER RESIDENTS Catherine Lynch, MD was raised doing mission work in several different countries, which sparked her interest in service and medicine. She received an undergraduate degree in biology from Whitworth University in Spokane and went on to graduate from medical school at the University of Washington. She completed her first year of residency as a surgical intern at the University of Washington, and said she realized during this time that she was passionate about treating the whole patient and maintaining long-term continuity of care with her patients which has led her to become a family physician. She enjoys the Pacific Northwest, and said she wants to give back to this community. She and her husband enjoy hiking, gardening, cooking and spending time with their pets. Joshua Ramos, MD is a native of south Florida and graduate of Florida State University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Science. He attended St. George’s University School of Medicine, where he relished two years living abroad on the island of Grenada soaking up the Caribbean sun. Dr. Ramos completed his medical education in hospitals throughout South Florida, New Jersey and New York City. Ready to settle down with his partner, Erika, he has moved to Washington to establish his home and work as a primary care physician. He enjoys tabletop games, creative writing, hiking, camping and marksmanship.

The Family Medicine PGY2 class Yevgeniy “Eugene” Elikh, MD; Christina Lynch, MD; Joshua Ramos, MD; Firuz Yumul, MD

Fall 2021

Skagit Regional Health

around the REGION LIFENET HEALTH HONORS LEADER

DAISY AWARD® NOMINATIONS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE As loved ones experience less access to patients in our hospitals, the Daisy Foundation has added an online nomination process that can be accessed through the Skagit Regional Health website. Patients, loved ones and fellow co-workers can fill out the online form to submit nominations for the amazing work inpatient nurses do each and every day. A family created the national DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses program as a way to say thank you in memory of a family member who received skillful and compassionate care during an eight-week hospitalization. To learn more about the DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses and to nominate an inpatient nurse, visit www. skagitregionalhealth.org/daisy.

LifeNet Health, Skagit Regional Health’s tissue donation partner, recently recognized Michelle Marty, MSN, RN-BC, NPD-BC, Director of Clinical Practice and Education, for outstanding support of organ donation by honoring her with the Clinical Educator Award. In a letter to Skagit Regional Health, LifeNet Health President and CEO Rony Thomas praised Michelle’s commitment and

efforts in facilitating, supporting and educating hospital staff about tissue donation. “We are grateful for our partnership with Skagit Regional Health, including all that we have accomplished together to save and enhance patients’ lives in our region. This would not be possible without the care and dedication from your team members, like Michelle,” he said.

PHYSICIAN APPOINTED TO NURSING HOME BOARD Skagit Regional Health provider David Escobar, DO was named to the state Board of Nursing Home Administrators by Governor Jay Inslee in May. According to the state Department of Health “The mandate of the Board of Nursing Home Administrators is to protect the public’s health and safety by regulating the competency and quality of nursing home administrators under its jurisdiction. The board accomplishes this goal through a variety of activities working with the Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance division.” Dr. Escobar practices Family Medicine at Skagit Regional Clinics - Smokey

Point and Stanwood. He received his DO from Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, is Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians. “It is an honor to be able to serve civically and contribute to the well-being of our elders and those needing long-term care,” Dr. Escobar said. “This is a chance for me to use my experience working in nursing homes and longterm care facilities, combined with my interests and training in health policy and legal studies. I am thankful for the chance and humbled by the opportunity Governor Inslee is entrusting to me.”

DIGITAL GET WELL CARDS GET MESSAGES TO PATIENTS While we know words of encouragement and love are crucial to the healing process, with current visitation and travel restrictions, visiting or speaking with a loved one in the hospital can be difficult. To help provide a way for people to connect, spread these messages, maintain personal connections and support, Skagit Regional Health has created a way for people to send these words digitally. By visiting www.skagitregionalhealth.org/getwell a person can write a message to a loved one, or friend who is hospitalized at Skagit Valley Hospital or Cascade Valley Hospital. These messages are then handwritten and hand-delivered by a staff member or volunteer to the patient Monday through Friday.

ANDERSON RECEIVES AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE Jay Anderson, Diagnostic Imaging Manager for Skagit Valley Hospital, was recognized by the American Healthcare Radiology Administrators (AHRA) for his innovation, leadership and administrative capabilities. This honor is awarded to only five AHRA members each year and was presented at the AHRA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Nashville in August.

OUR WEBSITE NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH Skagit Regional Health’s website, a source of information about health, wellness, providers and services, is now available in Spanish. For users who have their computer/browser preferences set to Spanish, the system’s site will now automatically load in Spanish. For users who prefer to go back and forth from English to Spanish, there is a convenient button on the top right

heading of each page to allow easy transition back and forth. Content that is added to the site will automatically be translated overnight to ensure the most up-todate information is available. Translating the site to even just one additional language paves the way for us to add additional languages more easily in the future.

Jay was nominated for his recent work on improving safe patient handling and infection control. He has been a strong proponent of enhancing employee safety by promoting the implementation of the Mobile Air Transfer Systems with the Emergency Department, Diagnostic Imaging and nursing staff to prevent push/ pull injuries. He has also focused on areas of patient safety and infection control processes related to safe oxygen tank transport and handling.

the association for medical imaging management

VIRTUAL VISITS GET AN UPGRADE Skagit Regional Health implemented outpatient virtual video visits for primary care and a variety of specialties early in 2020 due to COVID-19. The implementation enabled Skagit Regional Health to meet the virtual needs of patients. With continued demand for virtual visits, effective in June 2020, Skagit Regional Health upgraded the platform for virtual visits to American Well (AMWELL). AMWELL is a leading telehealth platform in the United States. With more than a decade of experience, AMWELL powers telehealth solutions for more than 160 health systems comprised of 2,000 hospitals. The move to AMWELL aligns Skagit Regional Health with an overarching

telehealth strategy. AMWELL is the platform Skagit Regional Health also currently uses for on-demand visits through MyEClinic. The switch to AMWELL’s robust services sets up Skagit Regional Health for growth and additional virtual visit functionality in the future.

THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO SCHEDULE A VIDEO VISIT: • MyChart Patient Portal: Visit skagitregionalhealth.org/MyChart • Patient Resource Center: Call 360-428-2500 • Your Provider’s Office: Contact the office directly RIGHT: Jennifer Benson, MD with Skagit Regional Clinics – Benson Family Medicine, offers video visits for patients. Fall 2021

New Era of Foundation Bo The Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation installed five new board trustees at its June 3, 2021 board dinner. Foundation trustees support the Foundation’s mission to raise, manage and distribute funds to assure the continued availability of quality healthcare services and programs at Skagit Regional Health. The Foundation board and staff welcome these community leaders.

MISSION

The mission of the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation is to raise, manage and distribute funds to assure the continued availability of quality healthcare services and programs at Skagit Regional Health. The Foundation will foster awareness of and community support for Skagit Regional Health through the involvement of the people it serves.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Volunteers are the key to the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation’s efforts in securing philanthropy. We are pleased to acknowledge the efforts of our trustees who unselfishly give their time and resources as an example to all, and who provide leadership in the Foundation’s prudent stewardship of gifts. Zach Barborinas Katie Biringer Lesha Boucher Kati Collins Travis Coulter Mary June Curtis Viry Delgado Bobbi Fisher Laura Fisher

Jacqueline Hawkins Dr. Joshua Hawkins Duane Henson Alicia Huschka Brian Ivie Katie Jungquist Aldi Kllogjeri Matt Lehman Mike Lervick

Mike Marken Evelyn Morse Holly Nielsen Larry Otos Dale Ragan Scott Railton Brent Thompson Kris Wollan

Travis Coulter is the president and CEO of Principal Warranty Corp. Travis and his wife Kelly are longtime Foundation donors and avid tree purchasers generously supporting the annual Festival of Trees. He has been active as a Rotarian and a Boys and Girls Club of Skagit County board member. The Coulters live in Mount Vernon and have two grown daughters.

Viry Delgado is the owner of COA Mexican Eatery & Tequileria in Mount Vernon. She currently serves on the boards of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, Latino Business Chamber and Community Action and is a member of the Washington Restaurant Association. Viry, her husband Luis and their two children reside in Mount Vernon.

S TA F F Linda Frizzell Executive Director

Wendy Ragusa Stewardship and Annual Fund Manager

Kylee Dowe Development Associate

To learn more about how you can support the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation, visit

www.skagitvalleyhospitalfoundation.org Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation P.O. Box 1376 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 360-428-2140

Like us on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/ SkagitValleyHospitalFoundation

Estate Planning/Living Wills Workshop Join local attorney James Dolan for a presentation on estate planning, trusts, powers of attorney and wills. He will also speak on the importance of living wills and proactive care planning. This event is sponsored by the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021 10 a.m. Mount Vernon Senior Center No charge, but pre-registration is required by calling 360-814-2424.

THE

oard Stewardship Begins Laura Fisher resides in Bow with her husband Dan and their two sons. She is an active parent volunteer at Immaculate Conception Regional School where she serves on the auction committee, coaches, directs school stage productions and provides classroom support. The Foundation board is pleased to have Laura’s expertise in brand management and marketing.

Duane Henson is the President of WAFD Insurance in Mount Vernon. He is an active member of Skagit Rotary, is the current president of the Washington State Independent Insurance Agents Association and serves on the boards of Skagit Valley Youth Soccer and Skagit Valley Family YMCA. Duane and his wife Lynn live in Mount Vernon.

Scott Railton currently practices immigration, naturalization and border law in Whatcom and Skagit counties. He is a longtime, active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Scott also served for several years on the Executive Committee of the Western Washington University Alumni Association. He and his wife Deborah live in Mount Vernon.

The Foundation expresses its deepest appreciation to these outgoing board trustees: Jill Pickering and Jim Spane, both serving nine years; Barbara Jensen for four years of service and Bob Fielder for three years of service. During their tenures, Foundation fundraising campaigns included the Women’s Imaging Center, Surgical Services, Kidney Dialysis and the Heather Schols Cardiac Rehabilitation Center. We honor their commitment to steward these patient-centered projects through to completion. The Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees is comprised of 25 community leaders who provide leadership in the Foundation’s prudent stewardship of donor gifts.

You can now support the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation on your Phone! 1. Download or update to the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app on your phone. You can find it in the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android. 2. Join AmazonSmile. Simply sign up by selecting Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation as your charity. 3. Turn on AmazonSmile. Open the app and find ’Settings’ in the main menu. Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile on your phone.

SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION IS PLEASED TO PRESENT

Star of This bright white glassybaby is etched in gold with this year’s Festival of Trees star logo and is exclusively available through the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation. Each ‘star of hope’ glassybaby is presented in a white gift box with white ribbon. LIMITED OFFER! Order online by October 31 and each glassybaby is $90.

Purchase IN-PERSON during Festival of Trees November 26 – 28 and each glassybaby is $100. VISIT the ‘star of hope’ glassybaby pop-up shop at the Festival of Trees venue, 1550 S Burlington Blvd (in the former Burlington Kmart store). Visit SKAGITFESTIVALOFTREES.ORG for more information.

Online orders and in-person purchases will be available for pick-up at the Festival of Trees venue. Shipping is not available. Guests ordering online will receive an email with specific instructions for pick-up.

OF TREES WEEKEND FRIDAY, NOV. 26 - SUNDAY, NOV. 28 Proceeds from the sale of ‘star of hope’ will support the Family Birth Centers at Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital.

Call for Greeting Card Artwork Entries The Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation Public Relations Committee calls amateur and professional artists of our region to submit a digital image of original artwork – thematic of the season or Christmas holiday – for the Foundation’s annual year-end greeting card. The winning artist will have the artwork featured on the Foundation’s 2021 year-end greeting card. The winning artist will receive a $100 honorarium for use of their artwork. The Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation selected this watercolor image by Mount Vernon artist Margaret Horak for its 2020 holiday greeting card. Application deadline is Monday, September 20, 2021. Visit https://www.skagitregionalhealth.org/foundation/ foundation-events/greeting-card-contest to obtain an application. Fall 2021

Golfing “FORE” a cause!

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR TITLE SPONSORS:

The Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation hosted its 17th annual Par Tee Golf Classic, in partnership with Title Sponsors Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Chandler’s Group, on June 25, 2021 at Skagit Golf and Country Club. The Foundation Board of Trustees and staff are thrilled to announce that $93,000 was raised to benefit the Family Birth Centers at Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital. A full field of 144 golfers and nearly 100 volunteers enjoyed a beautiful day on the course and golfed FORE an amazing cause.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: •

Alfie Hill Banta Baird Management, Jeff Stewart, CFA Banner Bank Biringer Nursery Cascade Natural Gas Chad Fisher Construction CPI Plumbing & Heating Crothall Healthcare & EVS Dr. Rob Zwick Dwayne Lane Skagit Subaru Foster Garvey G&W Commercial Interiors Harris Company HomePlace Memory Care In Loving Memory of Paige Marken

Lisser & Associates Marathon Petroleum McKinstry Energy Services Mount Vernon Police Services Guild Optimum Properties Peoples Bank Piper Sandler & Co. PRIMAC Electric Property Trio Retail Lockbox SaviBank SB&C, Ltd. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Skagit Aggregates Skagit Law Group

Skagit Regional Health Skagit Valley Hospital Auxiliary Smiley Insurance State Farm Insurance Agents: Carol Lawson, Brad Methner and Keith Sorestad The Truss Company Gary and Anne Thompson Thomas Cuisine VECA Electric & Technologies VSH CPAs WAFD Insurance Group Where the Heart is Assisted Living Whidbey Coffee

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes: Can you help support our tiniest patients? In the Spring of 2021, the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation made the commitment to raise $460,000 to purchase new and updated equipment for the Family Birth Centers at Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital.

We are nearly 60 percent of the way to our goal!

Skagit Regional Health has helped welcome thousands of babies into the world!

$500,000 $450,000 $400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0

The funds being raised will help purchase new and updated: • Newborn warmers and monitors • Fetal monitors • State-of-the-art infant security system for both campuses • Halo bassinets • Newborn scales • Fetal telemetry units • Ultrasound and central line system • Patient recliners for comfortable labor

Here’s how you can help! • Make a cash donation • Use this QR code • Call the Foundation office at 360-428-2140 • Mail your check payable to the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation to: Family Birth Center Project Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation P.O. Box 1376 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 *Gifts of $1,000 or greater will be recognized on the Family Birth Center’s “Garden of Generosity” donor wall. Gifts of all size matter and will be recognized in the Foundation’s annual report in the Spring edition of Healthquest. The Foundation is happy to discuss additional giving opportunities. Please call or email us at 360-428-2140 or foundation@skagitregionalhealth.org.

Help us grow our Family Birth Centers The Family Birth Center Campaign’s “Garden of Generosity” will recognize donors at the following gift levels:

$10,000-$24,999 (Butterfly) with name

$5,000 - $9,999 (Iris) and stem with name

$2,500 - $4,999 (Tulip) and stem with name

$1,000 - $2,499 (Daffodil) and stem with name

Fall 2021

Welcome Baby visits resume at Skagit Valley Hospital After a 15-month pause in direct services at Skagit Valley Hospital’s Family Birth Center, United Way of Skagit County’s Welcome Baby program resumed hospital visits to families in June. The voluntary visits by trained Welcome Baby staff members offer information on safe sleep and early literacy as well as resources and a central point of contact to rely on when parents have questions, concerns or just need a listening ear related to their child’s development or parenting. Welcome Baby began visiting families at Skagit Valley Hospital’s

Family Birth Center in 2019 as part of an upstream approach to meet United Way’s bold goal: By 2025 every child entering kindergarten in Skagit County is ready to learn. “Skagit Regional Health wants to actively help new parents and their children develop a nurturing and safe home environment,” said Chief Medical Officer Connie Davis, MD. “Welcome Baby provides the opportunity for every parent with a new baby to learn about ways to optimize their child’s early development, to obtain assistance on issues such as nutrition, breastfeeding and improving home safety.”

During the hospital visit, parents and caregivers are provided a gift from Welcome Baby and information on safe sleep and early literacy. Once families leave the hospital, Welcome Baby Coordinators are available by warmline (360-922-2644) to connect families to critical resources, assist with systems navigation, and provide social connection through parenting groups. For more information, go to skagitwelcomebaby.com or contact Jen Lindbeck at United Way at 360-755-9521 ext. 6, or email jen@ unitedwayskagit.org.

New mom ‘surrounded by family’

Savannah Perkins and her husband, Jake Pace, welcomed their first child, Thea Dawn Pace, on April 22, 2021 at Cascade Valley Hospital. Arriving at 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 20.5 inches, Thea was immediately placed on her mother’s chest after birth, creating a memory Savannah cherishes.

ever do in my life. We were all in it together.”

“The most important moment for me was after my daughter was born and she was laid directly on my chest,” Savannah said. “I remember looking around the room and feeling like everyone there with me, the nurses, my midwife and my husband, had all just helped me accomplish the most important thing I would

“From the moment we walked into the hospital to the moment we walked out with our daughter, I felt like I was surrounded by family. Everyone was welcoming and encouraging,” she said. “Everyone helped me feel like I was in control of what was going on and empowered me in every decision.”

Thea was two weeks overdue and first-time mom Savannah was admittedly nervous and exhausted. The team and her midwife, Amy Loughlin, CNM, offered amazing support.

Since Thea arrived, the family has enjoyed some travels and special time together. “Thea has been the best travel buddy. We have traveled to Utah, Arizona and Hawaii since she was born and she is such a trooper,” Savannah said. “She is also such a good sleeper which has really helped me catch up on sleep. Recovery for me has been going well, I am just taking it slow and soaking up all of the baby cuddles.” ABOVE: Savannah Perkins and her husband, Jake Pace of Marysville, welcomed their first child Thea Dawn in April 2021 at Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington.

Station Square

New clinic set to open late 2022 Skagit Regional Health is opening a clinic in a new development at the entrance to Downtown Mount Vernon that will be called Skagit Regional Health – Station Square.

seven days a week,” said Chief Executive Officer Brian Ivie. “We are also looking forward to being part of the vibrant downtown of Mount Vernon.”

The 30,000-square-foot, three-story clinic will include Urgent Care and Primary Care, including behavioral health, midwifery, X-ray and a lab.

The new facility will help address the need for medical office space, which is in short supply.

“Station Square is a visible location that will provide patients with easy access and ample parking. The proximity to I-5 is excellent for Urgent Care, which will be open

“Skagit Regional Health is working hard to recruit Primary Care providers to address the continuing need in the communities we serve,” Ivie said. “Skagit Regional Health has been highly successful in recruiting

providers and the system simply needs more clinic space to align with our growth as a system. This clinic will offer much-needed, state-of-theart space with a focus on Primary Care.” The clinic also will be the start of a new care model. “This will be Skagit Regional Health’s first deployment of a patientcentered medical home concept in Primary Care with a behavioral health provider embedded within the clinic,” Ivie said. “We are looking forward to using this model for the benefit of the patients we serve.” Construction is due to begin in September 2021 with the target for opening is fourth quarter 2022.

ABOVE: Members of the Public Hospital District Board of Commissioners and Executive Leadership Team for Skagit Regional Health and Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau celebrate the start of construction at the site of the new Station Square clinic near downtown Mount Vernon.

Fall 2021

MA-R Program helps medical assistants advance The health care worker shortage across the nation and up and down the I-5 corridor remains a challenge for health systems and private practices. To help bridge the gap of supply and demand for allied health care professionals, Skagit Regional Health supported the development and ongoing expansion of a Medical Assistant on-the-job training program. The role of a Medical Assistant is to support the provider practice care team in a clinic setting. This entry-level category is recognized as a Medical Assistant - Registered (MA-R) with the Washington State Department of Health upon validation of training and competency. The MA-R on-the-job training program provides an introductory level of training to work safely as Medical Assistants. The eightweek program provides theory and hands-on training in basic, routine clinical and administrative tasks in the provider office setting. The curriculum is comprised of 228 hours of didactic and skill-building sessions in conjunction with 92 hours of practicum immersion in the department. Program content complies with the Washington State Medical Assistants Scope of Practice regarding education expectations. (RCW. 18.360).

Program participants are required to work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday during the training program, then assume the specified work hours of a job offer accepted when hired into the role. Upon successful completion of training, the MA-R will be prepared to support both providers and clinical team members in primary and specialty care areas within the Skagit Regional Health (SRH) system; fully understanding the role and scope of practice for the MA-R in Washington state.

Program instructors are highly respected, nationally certified medical assistants: Clinical Training Specialists Ciara Vega, BS-PH, CCMA and Jessica Leon, NCMA. “It is an honor and privilege to support this program and see the progression of staff go from novice to competent members of the healthcare team,” said Karen Hiatt, MSN, RN-BC, NEA-BC, Director of Clinical Practice and Education/Ambulatory Care at Skagit Regional Health. The MA-R program is open to internal and external candidates. Openings are posted in the SRH job posting online system and listed as Medical Assistant Registered. Qualified candidates will have a high school diploma or GED and a strong desire to work in directly with patients and the care teams. Prior experience in a healthcare setting or service industry is preferred. Start dates for the remaining 2021 cohorts are October 4 and December 13. For more information or to apply, go to www.skagitregionalhealth.org/ careers.

The initial cohort was comprised of five students who all successfully completed the course in February 2020 and all remain employed as MA-Rs with Skagit Regional Health. The most recent cohort of 10 students completed the program in July 2021.

Skagit Regional Health offers Nurse Residency program The first group of 24 nurses to enter Skagit Regional Health’s Nurse Residency Program graduated in August after a full training and mentorship. The organization currently has 71 nurse residents at different stages of the program and is hiring for cohorts five and six in the program. During the one-year program, nurse residents complete monthly education, including classroom sessions, simulation and patient experiences, to advance their knowledge, skills and confidence in the complex healthcare setting. Each nurse resident will also have a skilled preceptor to provide support. “We are so excited to have a program that will support our Nurse Residents as they transition from student nurse to Registered Nurse,” said Michelle Marty, Director of Clinical Practice and Education/Acute Care at Skagit Regional Health. Katie Comstock, RN, an acute care nurse at Cascade Valley Hospital,

was delighted to participate in the residency, after searching for the right career in the healthcare field. She recalls she was participating in the Operating Room rotation when she made an important realization. “It wasn’t the OR rotation that pulled me in, it was the people,” she said. “Some absolutely amazing people, who were loving and close knit, working together to truly care for the patients.” Comstock said that the setting in a smaller facility turned out to be the perfect learning environment. “Contrary to what I originally thought, I was actually going to be able to get a more diverse learning and care opportunity than I would have at a larger hospital because our patient population is mixed because of the size,” she said. “So, I got to learn some pediatric care as well, rotate up to help CCU, care for heart, pre- and post-op patients, children, mental health, respiratory, strokes and more because of our size.”

Comstock said she highly recommends the Nurse Residency Program. “The year of residency was pretty much everything we were told it would be. There were challenges, days when we wondered what we got ourselves into and days where we left knowing that, despite the hard work, we did good and right by our patients,” she said. Participants must be postbaccalaureate and associate degree nurses with less than six months experience and be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Washington. They will participate in a curriculum and program structure following the Vizient/American Association of Colleges of Nurses model. Applications for additional, future cohorts of students will be accepted. For more information on the Nurse Residency Program, go to www.skagitregionalhealth.org/ careers or email questions to HR@ skagitregionalhealth.org.

NOW HIRING! Skagit Regional Health has a wide variety of job openings for individuals seeking to start or advance a career in healthcare. Among the positions available are: Lab Assistant • Registered Nurses • Medical Assistants Surgical Technicians • Certified Nursing Assistants View job openings at www.skagitregionalhealth.org/careers

Phlebotomy training program under way

Skagit Regional Health’s Medical Assistant – Phlebotomy (MA-P) training program equips students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to work safely at the introductory level of phlebotomist. The primary role of the phlebotomist is to obtain blood specimens for medical testing, treatment and blood donations. These roles support health care teams

primarily in hospitals, laboratories and clinic settings. The training features three distinct sequential components to the course including independent online learning; classroom didactics with skill-building simulation; and practicum hours for validation of competency. Upon successful completion of all three course sections, students will be eligible

to apply for the Washington State Department of Health Medical Assistant Phlebotomy credential. The MA-P OJT program is currently open to Skagit Regional Health employees who are working as Emergency Department Technicians, with discussions in progress to expand the program.

Fall 2021

Medicare Advantage 2022 open enrollment begins soon

Do you need help comparing or choosing a Medicare plan? If so, free Medicare insurance agent support is available for all Skagit Regional Health patients with no obligation to buy. The Medicare annual enrollment period will run from October 15 through December 7, 2021. This is the time of year to determine your Medicare coverage for 2022. For Medicare patients who need help comparing and choosing the right Medicare plan, Skagit Regional Health offers a Medicare Insurance Helpline, serviced by MedicareCompareUSA.*

MedicareCompareUSA licensed agents provide patients with plan comparisons for Medicare plans that are accepted at Skagit Regional Health, including Medicare supplements (Medigap), Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans. MedicareCompareUSA agents are available to help by phone and personal appointment. This is the easiest and safest way to compare and choose a Medicare plan that is accepted by your Skagit Regional Health providers.

Call toll-free 866-389-0445 for more information or to schedule a no-obligation Medicare insurance consultation. * MedicareCompareUSA is an independent insurance agency not affiliated with the federal Medicare program. Services of MedicareCompareUSA are offered at no cost or obligation; MedicareCompareUSA is compensated directly by whichever Medicare plan a customer selects.

Ask for a Medicare Wellness Visit As the world and our community transition to establishing a new normal from impacts of COVID-19, Skagit Regional Health is here to help patients recognize the importance of primary care and preventive care. For a variety of reasons, patients have often delayed routine care over the past 18 months. With the safety of our patients and community in mind, it is essential to re-establish care with a provider. For those age 65 and older, one of the best ways for the care team to review a patient’s overall current health status is through what Medicare calls an Annual Wellness Visit. An Annual Wellness Visit allows the care team to ensure a patient’s care plans are appropriate and any health risks are identified. Annual

Wellness Visits are covered by most insurance companies and usually have no costs or copayments. Annual Wellness Visits are covered by Medicare, but do not necessarily include all laboratory testing. The structure of the visit revolves around reviewing medical history, chronic medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.), medication review and preventive health care needs (e.g., colon cancer screening, breast cancer screening). Providers also take the opportunity to discuss advanced care planning, such as living wills and what a patient’s desires are for end-of-life planning. These are all critical aspects of a person’s health, but depart from what patients are used to earlier in life with the good old-fashioned “physical” at the doctor’s office.

So, when you are thinking of calling your doctor’s office for a “physical,” and you are a Medicare-covered patient, ask instead for a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. Skagit Regional Health’s care teams will be happy to review availability for an Annual Wellness Visit and discuss any copayments with you. At the visit, a patient’s provider will offer a comprehensive review of the your overall health and have a conversation on planning for any health needs in the future. Be mindful of increased costs for any labs drawn, as these will likely go against the deductible with your particular Medicare insurance plan. Contact your Primary Care provider to request an Annual Wellness Visit.

Helping patients achieve their end-of-life goals Rob Guy – a man of the community For hospice patient Rob Guy and his wife, Andrea, taking to the sky was a lifelong ritual. “When we were dating 50 years ago, and of course after we were married, I noticed Rob was always looking skyward. He knew all the planes, the stars, the constellations, the planets, and more. He taught me and, of course, the grandkids,” Andrea said. “To this day I look skyward.” Rob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and began receiving hospice care at his home in Big Lake. A retired Big Lake Elementary principal, science teacher at SedroWoolley High School, and Big Lake Fire Commissioner for 12 years, Rob dedicated his life to education and serving the community. If you ask his former students, some of the most memorable days in his classes were during his unit on flight and space, which included building rockets and hot air balloons.

For Rob, and for all Hospice of the Northwest patients, hospice care is about more than dying. At Hospice of the Northwest, end-of-life care is built on the mission of “Compassion and Dignity Every Moment of Life.” The philosophy centers on quality of life and the respect and dignity of each patient to define what quality of life means for them. Hospice care is about living each day with dignity and choice. With their great love of flight in mind, the Guy family’s hospice social worker, Halley Harris, MSW, approached the Hospice of the Northwest Foundation to arrange a “final flight” for the family. Thanks to the profound generosity of Corporate Air Center owners Tim Lewis and Ronaye Kos, and their pilot, the Guy family took to the sky on January 23, 2021. For 40 minutes, Rob, his daughter and grandson Koen, explored the Skagit Valley in a Cessna aircraft. They flew over their home in Big Lake, saw Mount Baker at eye-level and created new memories.

With Hospice of the Northwest, those with a life-limiting illness are supported by a team of skilled professionals who deliver compassionate care by assisting the practical, emotional and spiritual needs of their patients. For patients like Rob Guy, flying over the Skagit Valley with his daughter and grandson is not just a pleasant afternoon, it is life-affirming. This flight was meaningful because it honored the patient’s interests, memories and traditions. Thanks to donors, compassionate and patient-centered care is always available to anyone in Skagit, Snohomish, Island and San Juan counties, regardless of ability to pay. Donations enable hospice patients to receive care that is so much more than the core team support - like this extraordinary flight experience. For more information or to make a donation, visit HospiceNW.org or call 360-814-5702.

Fall 2021

HealthQuest

Resources for a Healthy Life HEALTH SCREENINGS

Regularly scheduled screenings can detect cancer early According to the American Cancer Society, “screening increases the chances of detecting certain cancers early, when they are most likely to be treated successfully.” Several reliable, cost-effective screening tests are approved and available to help us detect breast, prostate, colon, lung and cervical cancers. Start the conversation with your healthcare provider today to determine what screening tests are right for you.

Direct Access – An easy way to sign up for a ccreening colonoscopy Skagit Regional Health’s Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Departments offer a Direct Access program in Mount Vernon and Arlington allowing healthy adults to register, schedule and receive a screening colonoscopy with the ease of a phone call. The colonoscopy appointment is typically scheduled to occur within two weeks or at the patient’s convenience. Colonoscopy is one of the most powerful means of prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer. To schedule a colonoscopy through SRH’s Direct Access program, call 360-814-5739 in Mount Vernon or 360-618-7975 in Arlington.

3D Mammography in Mount Vernon and Arlington Mammography is a specific type of breast imaging that uses lowdose X-rays to detect breast cancer early – before women experience symptoms – when it is most treatable. Mammography plays an integral part in the early detection of breast cancer because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before you or your healthcare provider can feel a noticeable lump.

MAMMOGRAPHY APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT: Skagit Imaging Pavilion

1320 East Division Street - Mount Vernon 360-428-7575 A service provided cooperatively by Skagit Regional Health and Skagit Radiology.

Cascade Valley Hospital

330 S. Stillaguamish Avenue – Arlington 360-435-0515

Skin Cancer Screening A provider from Skagit Regional Clinics – Dermatology will conduct visual inspections of skin abnormalities you are concerned about. These are free of charge, but pre-registration is required by calling 360-814-7007. Space is limited.

DEC 7 (TUE)

1 – 5 p.m. 2320 Freeway Drive - Mount Vernon

HEALTHY LIVING AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION Estate Planning/ Living Wills Workshop

Join local attorney James Dolan for a presentation on estate planning, trusts, powers of attorney and wills. He will also speak on the importance of living wills and proactive care planning. This event is sponsored by the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation. There is no charge, but pre-registration is required by calling 360-814-2424 or email HealthQuest@skagitregionalhealth.org.

OCT 21 (THUR)

10 – 11 a.m. Mount Vernon Senior Center

Medicare Compare – open enrollment begins Oct. 15 Do you need help understanding Medicare and how Medicare supplement plans work? Please call the Medicare Insurance Helpline at 1-866389-0445 for free, unbiased Medicare guidance provided by licensed, highly-trained insurance agents or visit skagitregionalhealth.org/medicare for assistance in comparing and enrolling in Medicare plans accepted by Skagit Regional Health. For more information, please visit page 30.

HealthQuest@skagitregionalhealth.org

INTERNET

www.skagitregionalhealth.org click on Classes and Events

PHONE

Call 360-814-2424 or for hearing impaired, please call TTY 360-814-2219

THERE IS A NATIONAL BLOOD SHORTAGE AND YOU CAN HELP. Bloodworks Northwest Donating blood is an essential and encouraged activity critical to sustaining community healthcare, especially during emergencies. A one-hour donation appointment is a safe and essential action to support local hospitals and patients. Appointments are required to ensure social distancing. To find a Donor Center near you, please visit bloodworksnw.org or call 1-800-398-7888.

American Red Cross Stilly Valley Health Connections in Arlington will be hosting Blood Drives for the American Red Cross every other month. For more information please visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.

PLEASE NOTE, all classes and group events are subject to change as we receive updates from the state Department of Health and the CDC regarding COVID-19. CASCADE VALLEY HOSPITAL

SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

CHILDBIRTH, PARENTING & FAMILY RESOURCES

Baby Line

330 South Stillaguamish Avenue • Arlington 360-435-2133

At Skagit Regional Health, our goal is to equip each mom with the knowledge and skills necessary to be the best mother she can be. We encourage new moms and their partner or support person to utilize the educational resources below or visit skagitregionalhealth.org and search Family Birth Center.

Lactation Service Skagit Regional Health offers newborn weight checks and breastfeeding consultations with our lactation specialists during your hospital stay and after you return home. For more information, call 360-814-2283 in Mount Vernon or 360-618-7754 in Arlington.

Family Birth Center Tour at Cascade Valley Hospital Scan the QR code to be directed to a video tour of Cascade Valley Hospital’s Family Birth Center. Questions, please call 360-618-7754.

300 Hospital Parkway • Mount Vernon 360-424-4111

If you have any questions about caring for your baby, call 360-814BABY (2229) in Mount Vernon or 360-435-2133 in Arlington to speak with a Registered Nurse who can answer questions about newborn care or any postpartum concerns.

Child Safety Seat Education South Snohomish EMS and Fire is offering a free, online car seat safety class to learn how to properly use your car seat. Classes are offered on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. and on the third Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. Registration is required by visiting southsnofire.org and click on Community Programs.

Nurse-Family Partnership The Nurse-Family Partnership serves first-time moms who are eligible for Apple Health or WIC. Moms are paired with nurses who meet with them from early pregnancy until their child turns two, providing personalized information and support for a healthier pregnancy and a more confident parenting experience. This program is provided by Skagit County Public Health at no cost to families. For more information, please call 360-416-1523 or visit nursefamilypartnership.org.

Family Birth Center Tour at Skagit Valley Hospital Scan the QR code to be directed to a video tour of Skagit Valley Hospital’s Family Birth Center. Questions, please call 360-814-2283.

SEPT 23 AND NOV 18 (THUR)

1 – 6 p.m. Appointment required

Fall 2021

Welcome Baby United Way of Skagit County’s Welcome Baby program has resumed visits to families at Skagit Valley Hospital. The voluntary visits by trained Welcome Baby staff members offer information on safe sleep and early literacy as well as resources as a central point of contact to rely on when parents have questions, concerns or just need a listening ear related to their child’s development or parenting. For more information, see page 26 or call Jen Lindbeck at United Way at 360-755-9521 ext. 6, or email jen@unitedwayskagit.org.

SPARC Skagit Preschool and Resource Center (SPARC) provides a comprehensive special education and therapy program for young children, birth through age six, who have a wide variety of disabilities and special needs, including autism, hearing impairment, blindness, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and any number

of developmental delays. Early intervention therapy, education and specialized services are provided free of charge throughout Skagit County. For more information visit SPARC at sparckids.org.

DIABETES EDUCATION

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

Skagit Regional Health offers a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive, individual education program for adults with diabetes, either newly diagnosed or for those patients who want additional guidance to help reduce the risks of long-term complications. A referral is required so talk to your healthcare provider. The program is covered by most insurance companies. Please check with your insurance provider to confirm. In person, virtual and telephone appointments are available. For other questions or more information about the program in Mount Vernon and Arlington, contact our Diabetic Education Program Scheduler at 360-814-8329 or visit skagitregionalhealth.org and search for Diabetes Education.

The WIC program provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and linkage to health and social services. WIC serves women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or post-partum and infants and children up to age five. Clinics are available at multiple locations across Skagit and Snohomish counties: • Anacortes: 360-416-7595 • Arlington: 360-435-3735 • Camano Island: 360-387-0184 • Concrete: 360-854-0435 • Granite Falls: 360-691-7039 • Marysville: 360-657-4102 • Mount Vernon: 360-416-7595 • Sedro-Woolley: 360-854-0435 • Swinomish Indian Health Clinic: 360-466-3900

Certified Diabetes Education Program

Where should I go for care?

MyEClinic/1-855-901-9139

Urgent Care

Emergency Department

See a provider online, anytime - at home, in your office or on-the-go. Get the healthcare answers you need with no travel time and no appointments needed.

Urgent Care is a good option when your doctor is not available, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Urgent Care is available without an appointment for the following non-life threatening conditions:

The Emergency Dept. should be used to treat life-threatening illnesses and injuries, such as:

• Acne • Allergies • Asthma • Athlete’s Foot • Back Pain • Bladder Infection • Burns • Colds • Congestion • Constipation • Cuts • Cough

• Dermatitis • Diarrhea • Ear Pain • Eye Issues • Fever • Flu • Headache • Hives • Insect Bites • Nausea • Pink Eye • Rash

• Scrapes and Bruises • Shingles • Sinus Symptoms • Sore Throat • Sprains • Stomach Flu • Urinary Tract Infection in Adult Women • Vomiting • Yeast Infection

For care, call or go online, request a visit, answer a few questions and receive a call back in 30 minutes or less. Each visit is $40.

• Abscess drainage • Abdominal pain • Allergies • Asthma • Burns and bruises • Colds, cough, upper respiratory infection, sore throat • COVID-19 and testing • Diarrhea • Ear and sinus pain • Fever • Flu • Fractures and sprains, splinting • Headaches • Injuries

• Injections (antibiotics, tetanus vaccine, steroids) • Insect stings and bites • IV fluid infusion • Lacerations, cuts, scrapes • Minor eye trauma (foreign body in eye) • Minor head injuries • Nausea, vomiting • Pediatric illness • Rashes and hives • Sports (school) physicals • Sports-related injuries • STDs • Suture/staple removal • Urinary tract infections • Work-related injuries/L&I claims

• Abdominal pain • Allergic reaction (severe) • Breathing difficulty, shortness of breath • Broken bones protruding from skin • Chest pain or discomfort • Coughing up blood • Head injury • Loss of consciousness • Pneumonia • Poisoning • Puncture wounds

• Burns (severe) • Trauma • Seizures/convulsions • Spinal injuries • Sudden severe headache, dizziness or weakness on one side of your body, sudden confusion, trouble with vision or speech • Swallowing of foreign object • Uncontrolled bleeding

Call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest emergency department if you experience any of these symptoms.

Gestational Diabetes Program

sodium, phosphorus and fluids that all play a part in how your kidneys function. In addition to the class oneon-one education with a Registered Dietitian is also available. For more information, please call 360-814-8329.

plus individualized education to help patients understand and learn how to manage and cope with daily activities. Participants learn self-management and relaxation techniques to improve emotional well-being, skills to help regain control of their breathing and pursue activities to the fullest extent of their abilities. The classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for approximately 12 to 16 weeks. For more information call 360-814-8368.

Diabetes during pregnancy, or gestational diabetes, can result in serious complications to your baby. Skagit Regional Health offers a referralbased education program to improve gestational diabetes self-management Cardiac Rehabilitation Program skills and provide tools for moms-toHave you had a recent heart attack, be to feel confident that they are doing bypass surgery, angioplasty or stent all they can to have a healthy baby. placement, heart valve surgery or Our highly-trained and dedicated congestive heart failure? We have a diabetes education team provides program to help you return to your participants with the skills to manage STILL TILLY Y VALLE ALLEY Y active lifestyle and learn how to reduce their blood sugar through healthy your risk factors. A team of clinical eating, stress management, increased HEA EALT LTH H CONNE ONNECT CTIO IONS NS exercise physiologists supervise the activity and blood glucose monitoring. classes to provide a safe, friendly The program at Skagit Valley Hospital Grand Opening Celebration: atmosphere to ask questions and learn offers individual nutrition therapy n your your your office office office Urgent Urgent Urgent Care Care Care isisis aagood agood good option option option when when when your your your doctor doctor doctor isisis not not not The The The Emergency Emergency Emergency Dept. Dept. Dept. should should should be be be used used used tototo treat treat treat lifelifelifeStilly Valley Health how to pace yourself as you recover. appointments. 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This program typically the the the following following following non-life non-life non-life threatening threatening threatening conditions: conditions: conditions: es s ••October • Trauma Trauma Trauma16 ••• Allergic Allergic Allergic reaction reaction reaction (severe) (severe) house(severe) on Saturday, lasts for 8 to 12 weeks. For more uises ises ruises ••• Abdominal Abdominal Abdominal pain pain pain ••• Headache Headache Headache from 10 a.m. to 4 • p.m. at their information call 360-814-8368. •• Seizures/convulsions Seizures/convulsions Seizures/convulsions • Breathing difficulty, • Breathing difficulty, • Breathing difficulty, new location, 3405 173rd Place es sles ••• Allergies Allergies Allergies ••• Insect Insect Insect bites bites bites shortness shortness shortness ofNE, ofof breath breath breath ••• Spinal Spinal Spinal injuries injuries injuries Arlington. Stilly Valley Health Pulmonary Rehabilitation Symptoms ymptoms Symptoms ••• Asthma Asthma Asthma ••• Lacerations Lacerations Lacerations ••• Broken Broken Broken bones bones bones protruding protruding protruding • • • Sudden Sudden Sudden severe severe severe headache, headache, headache, Connections, also known as Public Program ••• Burns Burns Burns and and and bruises bruises bruises ••• Nausea, Nausea, Nausea, vomiting vomiting vomiting Throat hroat oat Chronic Kidney Disease Snohomish from from from skin skin skinHospital District #3,dizziness dizziness dizziness ororor weakness weakness weakness This illness intensive ••• Colds Colds Colds ••• Pediatric Pediatric Pediatric illness illness program can help ns s County, provides and promotes Nutrition Class on on on one one one side side side of of of your your your body, body, body, • • • Chest Chest Chest pain pain pain or or or discomfort discomfort discomfort patients with Chronic Obstructive programs and resources that support ••• Cough Cough Cough and and upper upper upper ••• Rashes Rashes Rashes and and and hives hives hives Nutrition playsand an important ach hchFlu Flu Flu sudden sudden sudden confusion, confusion, confusion, trouble trouble trouble Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and ••• Coughing Coughing Coughing upup up blood blood blood a healthier community. 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COMMUNITY RESOURCES

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Three urgent care locations to serve you:

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226 226 226

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Riverbend Riverbend Riverbend Mount Mount Mount Vernon Vernon Vernon Freeway Dr. Dr. Freeway Freeway Dr.

S. 13 13 St. St. S. S. 13 St.

Broad Broad Broad St. St. St.

Urgent Urgent Urgent Care Care Care

Smokey Point Point Blvd. Blvd. Smokey Smokey Point Blvd.

Mount Mount Mount Vernon Vernon Vernon

Riverside Dr. Dr. Riverside Riverside Dr.

226 226 226

172nd 172nd 172nd St. St. St. NE NE NE

227 227 227 College College College Way Way Way

2320 2320Freeway FreewayDrive Drive 2320 Freeway Drive

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Smokey Smokey SmokeyPoint Point Point

206 206 206

3823 3823 3823172nd 172nd 172ndStreet Street StreetNE NE NE

Urgent Urgent UrgentCare Care CareHours: Hours: Hours:Mon. Mon. Mon.–––Fri., Fri., Fri.,7:30 7:30 7:30a.m. a.m. a.m.–––7:30 7:30 7:30p.m. p.m. p.m.|||Weekends Weekends Weekends888a.m. a.m. a.m.–––444p.m. p.m. p.m.|||Holidays Holidays Holidaysvar va va Urgent Care Hours: Mon. – Fri., 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Weekends 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Holidays vary

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Check urgent care wait times: www.SkagitRegionalHealth.org

Fall 2021

CPR and First Aid

Cooking Classes

Finding Solace

Classes from the American Red Cross take only a few short hours, but can help you save a life when every second counts. Designed for coaches, parents, adults and teenagers, the online and now a few in-person classes make it easy to gain the skills needed to respond during cardiac or breathing emergencies. CPR and First Aid courses are simple to access and easy to complete. Visit redcross.org to find a class near you.

Stilly Valley Health Connections is offering monthly cooking and nutrition classes. These free presentations and cooking demonstrations sponsored by Skagit Regional Health are led by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists from Sound Dietitians, LLC. Topics include nutrition and mental health, antiinflammatory cooking, holiday favorites for better blood sugar, and what’s for breakfast? Participants can sign up to attend in-person or online using Zoom. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register please visit stillyvalleyhealth.org or call 360-386-9918.

Join one of our skilled grief counselors via secure Zoom video for this 5-week series, providing concrete help and valuable suggestions for those new to grief. The group size is limited, and registration is required. Program costs are completely funded by donors of the Hospice of the Northwest Foundation. For information and for pre-registration, scan the QR code, visit hospicenw. link/HQG2003, or call 360-814-5589.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day – Oct. 23 The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. To find a public disposal location near you please visit takebackday.dea.gov. Skagit Valley Hospital’s secure disposal bin is located in the main lobby at 300 Hospital Parkway, Mount Vernon.

3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Zoom FREE

Hope for the Holidays

Grief Support Services Hospice of the Northwest offers grief services to all members of our communities, without any requirement that they be related to hospice. The Grief Services department continues to offer support through secure video chat via Zoom. This secure communication is HIPAA compliant and protects privacy as we provide remote services for those who are grieving. To schedule a secure video appointment with one of our counselors, call 360-814-5570 or visit HospiceNW.org for more information.

Grief Recovery Method Grief is the normal and natural reaction to a loss of any kind. The Grief Recovery Method is an 8-week class providing specific steps to help individuals move through grief. The classes build on each previous session, so consistent attendance and commitment are essential. Program costs are completely funded by donors of the Hospice of the Northwest Foundation. For more information and for pre-registration, scan the QR code, visit hospicenw. link/HQG2002, or call 360-814-5570.

SEPT 22 – NOV 11 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Zoom FREE

DEATakeBack.com DEATakeBack.com

SEPT 16 – OCT 14 AND NOV 4 – DEC 9

The holiday season can be a difficult time for many of us. If you have suffered a loss or are experiencing grief, the holidays can be especially hard. We invite you to join us as we teach strategies to cope. Program costs are completely funded by donors of the Hospice of the Northwest Foundation. For information and for pre-registration, scan the QR code, visit hospicenw. link/HQC1004, or call 360-814-5570.

NOV 18 AND DEC 9 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Zoom FREE

Volunteers are appreciated at Hospice of the Northwest A unique and meaningful volunteer opportunity is available through Hospice of the Northwest, serving patients and families in Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties. With more than a dozen different “job descriptions,” volunteers offer their skills, support and companionship to staff, families and individuals who are receiving hospice services. Volunteer training is scheduled a few times a year, with a segment of the training available online. Information about ways to volunteer and the online application are available on the website at HospiceNW.org. To learn more, contact the main office at 360-814-5550.

Aging in Place Join experts from Hospice of the Northwest for this engaging class! Participants will learn tips for healthy aging and strategies to stay in your home longer. Attend from the comfort of your home through a secure Zoom link. Hospice of the Northwest will provide all resources and materials free of charge. For more information and to register, visit hospicenw.link/HQC1002, scan the QR code, or call 360-814-5550.

SEPT 24 (FRI)

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Zoom FREE

Advance Care Planning Join Käaren Flint, Community Outreach and Education Specialist from Hospice of the Northwest, to learn more about Advance Care Planning. In this class, participants will discuss important documents that every individual should complete. These include the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST), Advance Directives, and Health Care Durable Power of Attorney. Advance Care Planning outlines your care preferences, so your circle of support can be prepared in case you become unable to communicate those desires due to illness or injury. All documents are provided to you free of charge. Scan the QR code with your phone, visit hospicenw.link/HQC1001, or call 360-814-5550 to register.

OCT 1 (FRI)

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Zoom FREE

Hospice 101 - Myths vs. Realities of Hospice Care Join Hospice of the Northwest’s Community Outreach and Education Specialist Käaren Flint as she provides a true description of the goals and services of hospice care. Learn how hospice is paid for, when and how to refer and what support is offered. Free hospice support may be available earlier than you think! Scan the QR code, visit hospicenw.link/HQC1003, or call 360-814-5550 to register.

OCT 8 (FRI)

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Zoom FREE

How Grief Manifests Join Diane Hart, Bereavement Coordinator from Hospice of the Northwest, for a discussion on grief and loss. Understand how grief can manifest and learn tools for coping with and normalizing loss. Tips on self-care and available community resources will be reviewed. Scan the QR code, visit hospicenw.link/HQG2004, or call 360-814-5550 to register.

OCT 15 (FRI)

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Zoom FREE

PROGRAM FOR PARKINSON’S

Parkinson’s BIG® Program Skagit Regional Health Occupational Therapist Jenna Williams, OTR/L and Physical Therapists Dana Sturtz, DPT and Kaitlyn Ambrose, PTA have completed the required comprehensive hands-on training and testing through LSVT Global to become certified LSVT BIG®

clinicians. LSVT BIG® is a researchbased exercise program focused on amplitude (bigger movement) training for individuals with Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease often results in the slowing of movements and decreased size of movements leaving the individual struggling with daily tasks and walking. The LSVT BIG® program focuses on teaching the amount of effort needed to produce normal movements through intensive and high-effort practice. The protocol consists of 16 one-hour sessions, four days a week for four weeks. This program is appropriate for all stages of Parkinson’s disease and is offered at Skagit Valley Hospital. A provider referral is required. Please discuss program options with your healthcare provider. For more information, visit LSVTGlobal.com or call 360-814-2184.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES Connections Online Support Group

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Connections Support Groups are for people living with a mental illness. These groups are free, confidential and peer-led. Gain insight from hearing about the challenges and successes of others and leave knowing that you are not alone in living with a mental illness. These groups are led by NAMI-trained facilitators. Call 360420-6595 or 425-339-3620 to register.

Family-to-Family Evidence-Based Education Program A free, eight-session course for families of adults with mental illness or a brain disorder. The course focuses on helping family members understand the major mental illnesses and maintain their own well-being while providing needed support to their ill family members. This program is provided at no cost by NAMI Skagit, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Registration is required; class is limited in size. Call Marti at 360-770-5666 for more information.

Fall 2021

SUPPORT GROUPS Cancer Support

Cancer patients and survivors – please call 360-814-8255 to find resources near you.

Caregiver Support A safe and supportive group to share and learn from other caregivers. Provided by Skagit Adult Day Program in Burlington. Please email info@skagitadultdayprogram.org or call 360-755-1235 for more information.

Ostomy Support The Ostomy Support Group meets via Zoom on the second Tuesday of every month from 6 – 7 p.m. Call Cathy at 360-202-3410 to register.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE: VOLUNTEER

Volunteer Services at Skagit Regional Health GIVE BACK Whether it’s by pushing a wheelchair, escorting a visitor, delivering newspapers or mail, working in the gift shop, playing the piano or providing pet therapy, our dedicated volunteers play a vital role in creating a healing environment. Volunteers take the time to make patients and visitors feel comfortable and welcomed.

LEARN Many of our clinical and nonclinical staff began their journey in healthcare as hospital volunteers. Volunteering in a hospital setting can help students gain exposure to the hospital environment of care, standards and processes. If you’re interested in pursuing a career, there is no better way to learn about all that a hospital offers. Great volunteers can make great future employees.

CONNECT If you’re interested in making social connections, or networking for future goals, hospital volunteers can make friends that last a lifetime. • All volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 100 hours of service. • Most volunteers are asked to commit to one regularly scheduled volunteer shift each week. • Volunteers are asked to get a flu shot and to complete training updates each fall. COVID-19 vaccination is strongly encouraged.

CONTACT US While volunteer positions have been limited during the pandemic, we are always accepting applications online at skagitregionalhealth.org and search the word Volunteer. For more information about any of our volunteer programs or services, including programs at Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital, please call 360-814-2142 or email volunteer@skagitregionalhealth.org.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Get social and be the first in the know! Join us on social media to stay up-to-date with events and programs going on throughout Skagit Regional Health and the communities we serve. Get to know your healthcare team, participate in health awareness days and organizational events and read helpful articles on health and wellness. Follow Skagit Regional Health on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube today! Facebook – Skagit Regional Health Twitter – @SkagitHealth HealthQuest Minute eNewsletter – Scan the QR code to sign up for our eNews.

Need a Doctor? Call our free Find-a-Doctor phone line at 360-848-5555. The referral line is open Monday – Saturday between 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Skagit Regional Health’s Board of Commissioners The 2021 Board of Commissioners includes, from left, Julie Blazek, Peter Browning, Jeff Miller, President Gary Shand, Secretary Frei Burton, Bruce Lisser and Dale Ragan.

Rounding provides an up-close look at healthcare As Board members, we have the opportunity to partner with a Skagit Regional Health leader and spend time rounding with our team. Walking through a hospital unit to visit with staff members provides us with the chance to learn more about what they do, what they are concerned about, and what they are proud of. While the Board has plenty of data, reports and spreadsheets to help us in decision-making, the practice of rounding with nurses, techs, providers, social workers and front-line staff takes our understanding of the organization and commitment to our mission to a new level. In recent rounding, team members brought forward a variety of suggestions to make improvements. Their thoughtful ideas show that our healthcare team is truly focused on quality, safety and the patient experience.

One of my favorite encounters was with nurses at Cascade Valley Hospital involved in Skagit Regional Health’s Nurse Residency Program. The one-year program for new nurses (see page 29) involves education, simulations and patient care experiences to advance nursing knowledge, skills and confidence for the next generation of great nurses. The nurse was very enthusiastic about the program and bringing new nurses to the profession and to Skagit Regional Health. This program was suggested and headed by nursing leadership M.J. Tyler and Michelle Sand, our clinical education team and nurses to improve the patient care and experience. They are a great example of the dedication of the people at Skagit Regional Health.

with the staff and providers and hearing them speak with authority and compassion about the care they provide to the people of our communities is beyond impressive. They have a special calling and commitment to their patients and each other.

Healthcare is complex and even more so in the current environment with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Rounding

Gary Shand President, Public Hospital District No. 1 Skagit Regional Health Board of Commissioners gshand@skagitregionalhealth.org

Most importantly, rounding gives us the chance to say a sincere and heartfelt thank you to our team members. On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to express our appreciation to each member of the team – especially those who shared so openly. I look forward to my next opportunity to meet many more of our fine team.

Fall 2021

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

P.O. Box 1376 Mount Vernon, WA 98273-1376

PAID LITHTEX NW

Sponsored by Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation

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Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Specialized care for your: Forearm & Elbow Hand Shoulder Hip Knee

To learn more, visit: SkagitRegionalHealth.org/Orthopedics

CHRISTOPHER SHEU, MD

Orthopedics & Sports Medicine