monitor SPRING 2022
Continuing our Legacy of Exceptional Care and Service for our Community
6 | Back in the 1970s 8 | Health Tips from Our Providers 14 | 50 Ways to Be Your Healthiest Best
th
0Issue 5 l a eci sary p S ver ni n A
Continuing our Legacy: Celebrating 50 Years of Care and Service for our Community Dear Friends, We are very excited to share with you this special edition of Monitor, celebrating EvergreenHealth’s 50th anniversary. It is inspiring to reflect upon how much health care has changed through technology and scientific advances since our humble beginning. At our opening, EvergreenHealth served approximately 80,000 residents. Today, we serve over 850,000. As you read through this edition, you will learn about our history from some of our longest-tenured nurses and doctors. We hope you will enjoy this reflection of the proud history of our organization – created with the sole purpose to enrich the health and well-being of every life we touch. I have had the privilege of watching our organization grow and evolve firsthand for the past 32 years since I joined EvergreenHealth as an anesthesiologist. Since then, EvergreenHealth has become a significant part of my life – not only as a professional, but as a patient and resident of our district. Like many of the families we serve, my family has trusted EvergreenHealth throughout the years to provide high quality, personalized care that our organization is known for. I am incredibly proud and humbled to contribute to our continued legacy and flagship culture of care. Looking back at our continued growth, with expanded services and new facilities to meet the needs of our growing Eastside community, it’s amazing to think that EvergreenHealth was once a stand-alone hospital that some affectionally referred to as “the little hospital on the hill.” Today, we have grown into a system of care that includes more than 50 primary, specialty, and urgent care clinics; a home care and hospice service that is one of the largest in the nation; a vibrant medical group with over 350 physicians and advanced practice providers; a 318-bed hospital in Kirkland and a strong, growing affiliation with EvergreenHealth Monroe.
On behalf of all those who have served at EvergreenHealth, past and present, thank you for your support as your public district hospital for these 50 years. Our staff and our Board of Commissioners, elected from those living in the district, are committed to being the best possible stewards of the resources you commit to us. We know that we would not be here without the generous support of our community and the district. Our commitment to you and your families have formed our mission, vision, values and ultimately – our celebrated culture. Our staff’s commitment to care and service, along with your support has resulted in a health care system that you can be very proud of. For two consecutive years, EvergreenHealth has been named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals™ by Healthgrades. Other awards include a 5-Star Rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an “A” grade for three years running from the safety and quality organization Leapfrog, and most recently the Lown Institute recognized EvergreenHealth as #2 in the nation for delivering high-value care. Though much has changed in health care, what has not changed is our commitment to you to provide the safest, highest quality, compassionate care possible; and in doing so, becoming your trusted source for your health care. Thank you again for your very generous support and we look forward to serving you for the next 50 years and beyond!
We invite your feedback and questions. Contact us at patientrep@evergreenhealth.com 02
CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
With Gratitude,
Jeff Tomlin, MD EvergreenHealth Chief Executive Officer
As we celebrate EvergreenHealth’s 50th anniversary, we pause to honor our roots and the progress we’ve achieved together, while envisioning the future of health care in our community. To welcome you to this commemorative issue of Monitor, EvergreenHealth’s longest-tenured publicly elected Commissioners shared their sentiments on the impact of serving this community for these past decades.
Al DeYoung
Board member since 1980 When I began my tenure on the EvergreenHealth board, the organization provided health care in a very different environment. Our surrounding Eastside community was considered by many to be a rural suburb, and many residents traveled to Seattle for their care. But our board had a sense that the region was poised for change, and we shared a vision for a culture and services that could serve Eastside residents with quality care and service closer to their homes. With the community’s support, we’ve pursued ambitious growth that has mirrored our region’s expansion, while preserving the values that have fostered the warmth of EvergreenHealth’s unique culture.
Rebecca Hirt
Board member since 1984 One of the things I’ve valued most as a commissioner of a public hospital district is our accountability to listen to our community. Not only do we get to hear directly from the residents who elect us to serve on their behalf, but their perspectives and feedback guide us in being thoughtful stewards of our community’s resources. As an extension of that, EvergreenHealth’s Community Advisors program, which invites local residents to serve on volunteer committees to provide input on a range of topics, began when I first joined the board 38 years ago. I think it remains one of our most powerful tools for guiding the health system as we look toward our future growth.
Charles Pilcher, MD
Features
4 | Exploring Advancements in Health Care 6 | Back in the 1970s A look back at EvergreenHealth Archives 8 | 50 Tips from EvergreenHealth Providers 10 | Get to Know EvergreenHealth’s LongestTenured Employees 12 | 50 Years: Continuing our Legacy of Exceptional Care and Service 14 | 50 Ways to be Your Healthiest Best – Join the Community Challenge
In Every Issue 2 | Message from the CEO 16 | Health Classes 18 | EvergreenHealth Foundation
Jeff Tomlin, MD caring for a patient in 1994.
Board member since 2010 I first joined EvergreenHealth as an emergency physician about 18 months after the hospital originally opened in the 1970s. After 36 years of service in the Emergency Department, and now throughout my tenure as a commissioner, one thing continues to resonate with me – that health care is a team sport. Throughout our history, we’ve been fortunate to recognize the value of collaboration and have made smart decisions by working together. That approach has not only led us to achieve superior outcomes for our patients in quality and safety, but it’s also instilled a great deal of respect which we share among our colleagues and with our patients and families.
EvergreenHealth Monitor | Spring 2022 03
Exploring Advancements in Health Care Greg Aeschliman, MD, EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Woodinville
A look back at where we’ve been and a glimpse into the future of the patience experience Over his 40-year medical career on the Eastside, Dr. Greg Aeschliman, a physician at EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Woodinville, has been fascinated by researching the ways clinical informatics and advances in technology have the ability to transform health care delivery and the patient experience. Not only has he witnessed the evolution of technology’s impact on patient care first hand, he predicts that a true digital health care transformation will upend the way we view health care as it’s delivered today. Monitor sat down with Dr. Aeschliman to hear his perspective on what’s to come.
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CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
Q: When you think about advances in health care delivery over the past 50 years, what have been the most significant changes? A: One of the biggest transformations we’ve witnessed over the past few decades has been our ability to digitize patient information. Many of us remember the old days when patient medical records were handwritten in paper charts, which were sometimes inches thick or stored in several volumes, making it nearly impossible to find critical information quickly. Information was often relayed by phone or fax, introducing the possibility for error or delay. When electronic health records (EHR) came onto the scene for most providers, beginning in the 1990s, it revolutionized the way both clinicians and patients can access information – most notably, dramatically reducing the chance for patient harm and instead increasing safety at the bedside and beyond, thanks to the immediate availability of patient data. The latest generation of EHR technology not only makes it so all the information I need during a patient encounter is right in front of me, it also essentially allows clinicians across specialties to build one comprehensive medical record collaboratively, eliminating duplication and increasing convenience for both patients and providers. But today’s health care consumer demands more than just a slick patient portal – we must invest in the work to monumentally disrupt the way we deliver care using automation and informatics, while also deepening the relationships that are sacred to the patient experience. Q: What’s next on the horizon for the health care industry? A: The most urgent topic we must address is digital health care transformation, which I’ve been dedicated to researching since completing graduate studies in clinical informatics many years ago. Achieving truly meaningful transformation that reinvents and improves upon the traditional health care model is rare – and the work is no doubt incredibly challenging and expensive when it’s done well. However, there is much we can learn from other industries that have successfully transformed their respective industries’ business models – think Amazon and Netflix. To be truly innovative, they identified their consumers’ pain points and then developed novel solutions centered on the customer experience. Within health care, our added challenge is not only to innovate operational solutions, but also to sustain the highly personalized care that our organization is known for, while growing the relationships we build with our patients on an individual level. Health care should never feel transactional, but the transactions that are necessary should be as personalized and seamless as possible for our patients. Q: What does digital transformation look like in health care? A: Transformation brings to mind the notion of metamorphosis – evolving from one state into a completely different one. For the health care industry, I think that means moving as much of the health care delivery process as possible to a cloud-based informatics platform, while optimizing our care and patients’ well-being and preserving our personal connections. The steps involved are complex, beginning with reorganizing workflows and introducing automation and artificial intelligence wherever possible, to present patient consumers with simple interfaces that make it easy to learn what they need to know about their personal health, effectively and efficiently. The end game is about having a complex digital experience platform that tracks a multitude of data points from the patient journey so that providers can best anticipate and address individualized health care needs.
EvergreenHealth Monitor | Spring 2022 05
Back in the 1970s
When you think of the 1970s, what comes to mind? Bell-bottoms and disco? The Watergate Scandal? Or maybe you weren’t born yet. Whatever you think of, one thing is for sure – a lot has changed in 50 years. Here’s a look back at what major events were happening in 1972 when EvergreenHealth first opened its doors to the Eastside community.
In the U.S. in 1972: • The Godfather took home the award for Best Picture at the Academy Awards • Clothes had less static cling when Proctor & Gamble introduced Bounce dryer sheets • On June 17, agents of the Richard Nixon White House and the Nixon reelection campaign were arrested while breaking into the office of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) spurring the scandal known as Watergate • A new house cost $27,600 and gasoline cost $0.55 per gallon
In Washington in 1972: • Led Zepplin played at the Seattle Center Coliseum (now the site of Climate Pledge Arena) • Washington state’s Highway 72, dubbed the North Cascades Scenic Highway, opened • Starbucks had a single location on Western Avenue before later moving to Pike Place Market • The Washington Huskies football team ended the season with a record of 8-3
Did you know the name “Evergreen General Hospital” was chosen by a contest? In 1968, the community was asked to participate in a name-thehospital contest. Ms. Peg Martin, a resident of Bothell, won the contest with her submission of “Evergreen.”
In 1972, EvergreenHealth: • Opened its doors as “Evergreen General Hospital” with 76 inpatient beds on March 9 • Became the 11th hospital in the state to join the Blue Cross Hospital Computer Service Center, a data processing system aimed at controlling administrative costs • Director of Nursing Services Carol Hutchins, RN, describes the new Evergreen as “functional not fancy,” and newspaper articles tout it as the “epitome of the modern hospital” • About 150 physicians served patients within 15 medical specialties
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CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
EvergreenHealth’s first logo in 1972
A Look Back at the EvergreenHealth Archives
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Evergreen General Hospital took place at the construction site on Saturday, July 18, 1970. Pictured: Newly elected Board of Commissioners (left to right) Lars Watson, Mark Strange, Matthew Evoy, Dan Broughton and Roy Swenson.
Volunteer Auxiliary Guild members participate in the groundbreaking ceremony on July 18, 1970. Pictured: Donna Conover, Auxiliary president; Josephine Carman, daughter of Peg Martin, who named Evergreen General Hospital; and Margaret Gragg; charter Auxiliary Guild member and subsequent Evergreen volunteer services coordinator.
Evergreen Hospital Administrator Al Gray (left) joins King County Executive John Spellman (center) at the groundbreaking ceremony. Bonnie and Dana, daughters of Commissioner Dan Broughton, and others, lend a helping hand. Evergreen Hospital in 1972
Joseph Jerome became the first baby born at Evergreen Hospital on March 15, 1972. A few months later, three separate sets of twins were born in one week, establishing a new record for the hospital’s nursery. The hospital welcomed a total of 367 babies that year.
On Saturday, March 4, 1972, about 200 people turned out in the rain to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours and official grand opening event at the new Evergreen General Hospital. The hospital began seeing its first patients a few days later on Thursday, March 9, 1972.
EvergreenHealth Monitor | Spring 2022 07
EvergreenHealth Providers Commemorate 50 Years by Sharing Their Best Advice to Help You and Your Family Live Well for Years to Come EvergreenHealth providers past and present have long shared the common goal of advancing the health of the community. While health tips have come in all shapes and sizes over the last five decades, the current generation of EvergreenHealth providers and physicians weighed in with the wellness tips they implement in their own lives.
“ Every morning, imagine what your day would look like if you were doing everything you could to be healthy. Imagine the perfect day designed for perfect health. Then try to do a half or a quarter of that, and you will discover that you are well on your way to your health goals.” – Kevin Herron, MD | EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Lakeshore Bothell Dr. Herron specializes in family medicine, including the care of infants, teens and adults.
“ Life itself demands the best of us all. So, keep moving and pay attention to your body. It can tell you a lot.” – Paul Boone, MD, MS | EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Sammamish Dr. Boone is a primary care physician with more than 20 years of clinical experience in preventive medicine, acute illness, chronic disease and primary care procedures.
“ I try to focus on doing things I enjoy. I find running enjoyable and therapeutic. I was born into a vegetarian family and returned to these roots later in life. I do believe that traditional home cooking that developed over millennia is likely a good way to live.” – Prakash Varadarajan, MD | Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at EvergreenHealth Dr. Varadarajan is an experienced hematologist and oncologist. He particularly enjoys partnering with patients through clinical trials to help improve their quality of life.
“ I find that motivation, or lack thereof, is often the biggest deterrent to making progress toward a goal. We may desperately hope to transform our lives but find it difficult to take that first step. My biggest tip is that motivation follows action, not the other way around. Leap before you feel good and ready, and in turn, you will give yourself the opportunity to pleasantly surprise yourself.” – Harlie Bourdo-Brown, PA-C | EvergreenHealth Obstetrics & Gynecology Care Bourdo-Brown is a certified physician assistant who specializes in routine gynecologic care, infertility evaluations and pre- and post-natal care, and performs a number of gynecologic procedures, such as pap smears, IUD insertion and removal and cervical biopsies.
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CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
“ I like to take 20 minutes every evening to lift weights, and I like to get outside and be active with my family every chance I get. Staying strong has helped me keep up with my two young boys!” – Analisa Armstrong, MD | EvergreenHealth Surgical Care Dr. Armstrong is a general surgeon with fellowship training in minimally invasive and robot assisted surgery.
“ Health maintenance is a marathon not a sprint. You will not always see immediate changes with modifications. The most important thing you can do is choose a healthy lifestyle that you can maintain in the long term.” – Scott Cuthbert, DO | EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Monroe Dr. Cuthbert is a primary care physician with expertise in family medicine, osteopathic medicine and integrative medicine.
“ Too often, we think of exercise as a chore. Our days are full with work, family, tasks and more. Sometimes taking a walk or practicing yoga is the only thing we do for ourselves in an entire day! I try to make sure I am taking time for myself and embrace those minutes of self-care.” – Jennifer Lee, MD | EvergreenHealth Pain Care Dr. Lee is trained in both anesthesiology and pain management. She is involved in clinical research, where she’s focused on the improvements of conditions such as, Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease.
“ Starting the day with a warm cup of tea (caffeine-free if you’ve got the willpower) or water can help you wake up, feel more energized and ensure you’re hydrating yourself.” – Joseph Castro, PA-C | EvergreenHealth Neurosurgery Castro is a board-certified physician assistant who specializes in neurosurgery. He treats injuries and disorders of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and the extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.
“ Everything in moderation and laughter with those you love is truly the best medicine.” – Leticia Huynh, MD | EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Redmond Dr. Huynh is board-certified in family medicine and specializes in preventive medicine, pediatrics, reproductive medicine, geriatric care and behavioral health.
EvergreenHealth Monitor | Spring 2022 09
A Culture of Caring EvergreenHealth’s longest-tenured employees say support and compassion from generations of leaders and colleagues have kept them committed to the health system’s mission for decades Liz Minetti, RN Joined Evergreen General Hospital in 1976 On December 10, 1976 – four years after Evergreen General Hospital opened its doors to the Eastside community – Elizabeth Minetti began her 45-year nursing career with the health system. An Eastern Washington native, Minetti attended Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Spokane, graduating in 1973. After a quick detour to Portland, Minetti moved to Seattle where she met and married her husband in 1974. After a few years of working as a nurse at a Seattle hospital, Minetti was excited to learn that Evergreen General Hospital was planting its roots on the Eastside. Not only was the hospital located within walking distance of her house, she also no longer had to wear an all-white dress ensemble – she could finally wear pants to work. As Minetti was beginning her career at EvergreenHealth, the hospital and the surrounding community were rising from their humble beginnings. In 1976, the hospital was brand-new – deer still wandered the grounds and Minetti and her colleagues spent their breaktimes picking blackberries in the bushes where the Central parking garage is now located. “EvergreenHealth feels like a family, and it did right from the start,” said Minetti. “When you walk in the door, you feel an energy from the people – the employees, the patients, leadership – everyone is treated with respect and empathy. It is a true culture of caring.” During the first couple years of Minetti’s tenure at EvergreenHealth, she cared for patients in the four-bed intensive care unit before transitioning to recovery room nursing, where she’s cared for tens of thousands of patients. “I never needed to look anywhere else to get what I needed. EvergreenHealth has always had a willingness to work with their employees and provided the flexibility I needed.” Today, Minetti works per diem in the Interventional Spine Center and says she isn’t sure when she’ll retire. When she isn’t caring for patients, she’s spending time with her three children and four grandchildren – all of whom were born at EvergreenHealth – and volunteering at a local food bank.
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CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
Marta Cipriano Grapensteter, MN, RN, CCRN-K, CNML Joined Evergreen General Hospital in 1978 As one of EvergreenHealth’s longest-tenured employees, Marta Grapensteter, RN, always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Over her 43 years of service to the health system, and the community, she’s served thousands of patients and families with her true passion for caregiving. In fact, the alignment of EvergreenHealth’s genuine commitment to enriching the health and well-being of the community with her own philosophy of care is what drew her to join the health system when she was just 22 years old – but it took several attempts to get her foot in the door. “There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to work at Evergreen. I came specifically because of the hospital’s Purpose, but at the time, they weren’t hiring for new nursing positions,” Grapensteter recalled. But that didn’t stop her. For several months, she walked her paper application into the hospital every week, hoping for an opening. Then, in October 1978, Grapensteter finally got her break. Grapensteter was hired to cover for a nurse going on maternity leave, and then moved over to the intensive care unit (ICU) where she trained under Liz Minetti, RN. And the rest, as they say, is history. Since then, Grapensteter, a double-board-certified nurse, has dedicated her entire career to caring for patients at EvergreenHealth. After 38 years in the ICU, a cancer diagnosis gave Grapensteter the opportunity to pursue her passion in a new way. Today, she is a nurse recruiter for the health system, where she’s able to find the best talent because of her nursing expertise, and says she has no plans to retire. When asked why Grapensteter has continued her career at EvergreenHealth, she says it’s not only because of the genuine support she receives from leadership and her colleagues alike, it’s also because of EvergreenHealth’s commitment to superior clinical excellence. “A lot has changed in health care since the 1970s and EvergreenHealth has always led the pack. Through the AIDS epidemic, today’s pandemic and everything else in between, I’ve always felt safe and supported working with patients and have known my talents were valued. Every person here oozes compassion and caring; you won’t find that anywhere else.”
“Nursing 77” In 1977, Evergreen General Hospital’s chief nurse Carol Hutchins, RN, penned an article for a nationally published nursing journal on the state of the profession and the hallmarks of excellence in nursing. Grapensteter read the article in the journal Nursing 77 while she was caring for her grandfather in Upstate New York, and it propelled her to return to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her passion for nursing at EvergreenHealth.
EvergreenHealth Monitor | Spring 2022
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Continuing Our Legacy: Your Public Hospital District Since 1972 When residents voted to form an Eastside public hospital district in 1968, EvergreenHealth made a promise to partner with the community, continually striving to meet the growing needs of patients and families and enriching the health and well-being of those we serve. Over the decades, a key part of delivering on that promise has been the health system’s accountability as stewards of the community’s resources. As a public hospital district, EvergreenHealth has always offered a range of programs and services, benefiting thousands of community members each year, supported in part by residents’ tax dollars as part of its mission to advance the health of the community.
Levy-Funded Programs With programs and services including the complimentary 24/7 Nurse Navigator & Healthline, to EvergreenHealth’s nationally recognized hospice and palliative care programs, the health system’s levy-funded programs provide resources for all community members often at no charge.
Growing Alongside Our Community 1972 to Today EvergreenHealth Kirkland in 1972
EvergreenHealth Kirkland Today
EvergreenHealth Kirkland & Monroe Today
Hospitals
1
1
2
Emergency Departments
1
2
3
Urgent Cares Centers
0
7
7
Primary Care Centers
0
12
12
Specialty Practices
0
48
48
Hospital Licensed Beds
76
318
390
Physicians & Providers
138
1,100+
1,400+
Employees
149
4,700+
5,000+
Check-Up Chat Podcast
Babies Welcomed
367
4,753
4,753
Check out EvergreenHealth’s Check-Up Chat podcast, where physicians, providers and staff break down what you need to know about important health and wellness topics. Listen online at www.evergreenhealth.com/ podcast or anywhere else you stream your podcasts.
Inpatient Admissions
8,253
14,650
15,276
0
413,121
440,296
22,000
337,131
449,466
Community Health Education Classes From childbirth preparation and healthy cooking, to advance directive planning and diabetes education, thousands of participants of all ages have found a class or group that fits their lifestyle. See a full list of upcoming classes on page 16 or visit www.evergreenhealth.com/classes-events.
HealthiestBest.com EvergreenHealth’s blog offers an abundance of resources to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Read wellness tips from our providers, browse recipes and fun physical activity ideas, and learn about common health conditions. Visit www.healthiestbest.com.
EvergreenHealth’s 24/7 Nurse Navigator & Healthline
Outpatient Visits District Population
To learn more about our EvergreenHealth’s growth milestones visit www.evergreenhealth.com/about-us/public-hospital-district/history.
Each year, EvergreenHealth’s free 24/7 Nurse Navigator & Healthline offers personalized care and services to more than 90,000 callers. At any time of the day or night, community members can call an EvergreenHealth nurse navigator for help with symptom triage, provider referral and scheduling, community health class registration and more. Call 425.899.3000 to learn more.
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CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
What is a Public Hospital District? • Each member of the EvergreenHealth board represents a different community within the district—acting as an advocate for the interests and health care needs of their region, and supporting the greater district as a whole.
Since 1972, the community has embraced EvergreenHealth as the Eastside’s public hospital district, supporting the organization’s evolution every step of the way, as we strive to meet the needs of patients and enrich the health and wellbeing of the community. Today, EvergreenHealth is one of almost 60 public hospitals in Washington. • A public hospital district is created and owned by a community and its residents, authorized by the state to provide health care services to the community it serves – much like a school or fire district. • As a public hospital district, EvergreenHealth is governed by a publicly elected board of commissioners, which differs from private hospitals, which are led by internally appointed boards of directors.
• Because public district hospitals are created by the community, for the community, the public district hospital model is vital to ensuring residents throughout the area have access to the health care services they need. This model also empowers public district hospitals to respond to their population’s changing and growing health care needs over time, as the sole mission of a public district hospital is to serve its community, and respond to its own unique demands and challenges to provide the best possible care for patients and families.
Pictured right: Plans for EvergreenHealth’s original public hospital district service area, published in the East Side Journal, 1968 Pictured below: EvergreenHealth’s total service area today, including two public hospital districts and more than a dozen locations. Granite Falls Tulalip
< Sequim
Marysville
Lake Stevens
Puget Sound
Everett Paine Field Silver Lake
Mukilteo
Snohomish Mill Creek
Monroe
Sultan
Lynnwood
Shoreline
Kenmore
Maltby
Gold Bar
Woodinville
SERVICE AREA
Duvall
EH District Boundary EH Primary Service Area
Lake City
EH Monroe District Boundary | Primary Service Area
Kirkland Redmond
EH Total Service Area
Bellevue
Lake Sammamish
Lake Washington
Carnation
Mercer Island
Seattle
Index
Bothell
Edmonds
Canyon Park Mountlake Terrace
Sammamish
Fall City Snoqualmie
Newcastle
EvergreenHealth Medical Center
EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Imaging, Urgent Care
EvergreenHealth Monroe
EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Imaging
EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Imaging Urgent Care, Freestanding ED
EvergreenHealth Primary Care
Issaquah Renton
North Bend
EvergreenHealth Monitor | Spring 2022
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50 Ways to Be Your Healthiest Best! Grab your friends and family and join us in a communitywide health challenge Scan this QR code to print this checklist or simply tear out these pages.
For the past 50 years, EvergreenHealth’s purpose has been driven by our goal to help you and your family live your healthiest best. To us, being your healthiest best means living well and striving for fulfillment in all aspects of life. In celebration of EvergreenHealth’s 50th anniversary, we invite our community to join us in challenging ourselves to live a healthy lifestyle by being active, trying new things and making meaningful connections. Grab your friends and family (after all, studies show pursuing healthy behaviors together creates accountability and more success!) and spend this milestone year prioritizing your wellness within all aspects of everyday life – nutrition, exercise, emotions, social connections, intellectual and preventive care. *Note*: This challenge is simply a guide to living your healthiest best. Please feel free to modify any of these challenges to fit your needs and values.
Nutrition
■ 1.
Add a green vegetable to each meal for several days in a row.
■ 1.
Commit to going for an after-dinner walk each day this week.
■ 2.
Research three fruits and vegetables that are currently in season and incorporate them into your meals this week.
■ 2.
Try a new way to move your body once this week – swimming, biking, dancing, Pickleball, Pilates or strength training.
■ 3.
Learn a new way to prepare your favorite vegetable – blanching, roasting, steaming or boiling.
■ 3.
■ 4.
If you don’t already, put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) and plan your family’s dinners for the week. Find inspiration here: www.bit.ly/3olbKz8.
For a week straight, as soon as the sun is up, head outside for 10-minute walk sans sunglasses. This helps regulate circadian rhythms so your body can wake up and sleep better.
■ 4.
Strength training is important for everyone – no matter your gender or age. Learn the proper form for your favorite strength training exercise. Don’t know where to start? Try squats, push-ups or deadlifts.
■ 5.
Stretching is often overlooked but crucial to your health. Commit to stretching while watching TV for at least five days in a row.
■ 5.
Incorporate more healthy fats into your diet for a day – try avocados, coconut milk, nuts, chia seeds, and even dark chocolate).
■ 6. Switch up your pasta for a month – transition from
refined-carbohydrate pasta to brown rice pasta (like Jovial brand), which won’t spike your blood sugar as much.
■ 6. Make one of your errands this week an active errand – that
means leave your car at home and walk or bike to complete your task.
■ 7. ■ 8.
Commit to “meatless Mondays” for a month. Add one fermented food (sauerkraut, kombucha, miso, yogurt) to your meals three times this week.
■ 7.
■ 9.
Commit to a day of eating zero processed food and focus on whole foods. Usually, that means choosing foods without labels, or labels that only include one ingredient.
Leave a set of dumbbells (or something heavy!) in your kitchen and while your morning coffee or tea is brewing, lift the dumbbells for a week straight.
■ 8.
There’s no need to spend hours working out – commit to exercising in 10- to 15-minute increments, with the goal of hitting 30 minutes every day for a week.
■ 10. Think of your favorite meal and instead of cooking
from a traditional recipe, look for a healthier alternative. You’ll be surprised by how a few healthy swaps can make you feel better and don’t force you to sacrifice on flavor.
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Exercise & Movement
■ 9. Hit 10,000 steps per day for 5 days in a week. ■ 10. Use your lunch break to move your body – take a walk, stretch between meetings or do a quick yoga flow.
CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
Emotional Well-Being
■ 1.
Tap into mindfulness and download a meditation app (many are free!) and meditate for at least five minutes every weekday for a week.
■ 2.
Light your favorite candle to add some Zen to your space.
■ 3.
Try 4-7-8 breathing during a workday – inhale for four seconds, hold for seven and exhale for eight seconds.
■ 4.
Institute a “no phone zone” in your bedroom. Sleep without your phone in your room for a week straight – notice the quality of your sleep!
■ 5.
Try a guided relaxation. Pick one from this list: www.bit.ly/3GrbXqC.
■ 6. Notice negative self-talk. Catch yourself when you say
Social Connection
■ 1.
Call someone you haven’t talked to recently and catch up.
■ 2.
Cook dinner with your entire family – every person gets their own “job” in the kitchen and spends more time together.
■ 3.
Commit to one date night with your partner or spouse without phones. The first person to reach for their phone pays for the activity or meal.
■ 4.
Focus on connecting in real life. Put a screentime limit on your most used phone application. Once, you hit your limit, stop for the day.
■ 5.
Switch up your weeknight routine and plan time to meet friends for dinner or another activity after work.
something negative about yourself, stop the thought and say something positive about yourself instead.
■ 6. Ask a friend to join you for a walk so you can catch up
When you find yourself in a bad mood, change up your routine. Call a friend, take a walk, make your favorite breakfast, treat yourself to a coffee – changing your routine can change your mindset.
■ 7.
Eat dinner as a family at the table without any technological distractions fives times in a week.
■ 8.
■ 8.
Try mantra meditation – repeat a specific, short phrase while breathing for five minutes.
Plan and hold a casual outdoor picnic or BBQ with family and friends when the weather is nice.
■ 9.
■ 9.
Spend some time thinking about what consistent stressors you have in your life and ways you can combat them or lessen their impact on your well-being.
Be inquisitive. Ask your elderly loved ones three questions about their history and record their responses.
■ 10. Perform an act of kindness towards a stranger today –
■ 7.
while moving your bodies.
■ 10. Have fun – treat yourself to your favorite movie, activity or pastime today.
buy their coffee, compliment them, hold the door or try any other kind act.
Preventive Care and Intellectual Wellness
■ 1. ■ 2.
Research and find a new, engaging and informative podcast to listen to.
■ 3.
Do you know your family’s health history? Spend time learning more about what diseases run in your family and what steps you can take to prevent them.
■ 4.
Solve a puzzle – try a Sudoku, crossword or word game to train your brain to think in a different way.
■ 5.
Instead of watching TV after work, commit to reading a book or listening to a podcast for a week.
Have you seen your primary care physician this year? If not, call and schedule your annual check-up before year’s end.
Tag us on social media with #EvergreenHealth50 to show us your progress and for a chance to be featured.
■ 6. Take a class or learn something new. EvergreenHealth offers a variety of free and low-cost classes, which you can find here: www.evergreenhealth.com/ classes-events.
■ 7.
If you don’t already, improve your oral health by flossing, brushing and maybe even tongue scraping every day.
■ 8.
Try journaling two times in one week – you can write about a specific prompt or simply jot down your thoughts.
■ 9. Read a new book that doesn’t fall within your typical reading genre. ■ 10. Stop multitasking for a day – focus on each activity individually and give it your full attention.
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HEALTH CLASSES
Register for Classes Online or by Phone Due to COVID-19, many classes are being held virtually in lieu of an in-person format and class format may change. Please call the EvergreenHealth Nurse Navigator & Healthline at 425.899.3000 or visit www.evergreenhealth.com/classes-events for questions about a specific class. For your convenience, you may register and pay for classes 24/7 online at www.evergreenhealth.com/classes-events. You may also call the EvergreenHealth Nurse Navigator & Healthline at 425.899.3000, Mon.-Fri., 7 am-7 pm. Pre-registration is required for all classes. Checks, VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Refunds and rescheduling will only be given for cancellations two business days prior to the class. Let us know if you need special accommodations to participate. Free Seminars Live Your Healthiest Best Weight Loss Seminar Learn about EvergreenHealth Bariatric Care physicians, providers, care pathways and treatment options available. Register at www.evergreenhealth.com/weight-loss-seminar. Bunions A clinical expert will share insight into why some people develop bunions, why they present challenges and the range of available treatment options. Advance Care Planning Workshop This workshop offers facilitated conversations that help you reflect on values, choose a health care agent if you suddenly became ill, explore goals for treatment and take the first steps towards completing an advance directive. Contact Healthline to receive the virtual link. Fall Prevention: Take Action! Learn strategies for staying safe, active and independent. Each year, millions of adults ages 65 and older fall but fortunately, falls are preventable. You can watch previously recorded classes here: www.evergreenhealth. com/balance-fall-prevention. Bariatric Care Support Group To join this support group, email: WLBCSupportGroup@evergreenhealthcare.org to receive the monthly invite. Meetings are held every fourth Monday from 5:30-6:30 pm. Type 2 Diabetes Support Group Virtual and in-person options. Meets every first Thursday of the month from 5:30-7 pm. Hospice Volunteering: What’s It All About? NEW Join this one-hour virtual open house to learn about the EvergreenHealth Hospice volunteer program. We will explore what a hospice program is and how the volunteers can support. Open houses are in June, August and September. Register at HospiceVolunteerCoord@ evergreenhealthcare.org.
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Summer Travel Keep Moving The dangers of long flights are making some think twice about air travel. Simple seated exercises will be discussed and demonstrated, along with other techniques to keep the blood moving and muscles relaxed while en route. Offered virtually. Exercise Osteoporosis and Proper Posture Exercise plays an important role in the prevention and slowing of osteoporosis. If done improperly, exercise can put brittle and porous bones at further risk for injury. Learn what precautions and exercises are necessary to help without harm. Offered virtually.
Wellness & Healthy Living Youth Mental Health First Aid This seminar helps you assist a young person experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. King County residents 18 years or older are invited to attend. Self-Care and Gratitude The challenges of the pandemic have been many; now, as restrictions ease, we can use this opportunity to re-shape our habits and routines to better support our well-being. Are You Ready for an Emergency? Don’t be caught unprepared if an emergency happens. Learn what essential items you should have and where they should be stored.
Senior Health Classes In addition to the classes offered at EvergreenHealth Medical Center, we offer classes and health screenings at other convenient community locations. Visit www.evergreenhealth.com/classes-events for class schedules and locations. What You Need to Know About Stroke Learn steps you can take to prevent strokes. Stroke signs and symptoms, along with crucial first responses, will be covered.
CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
Neurological & Movement Disorders EvergreenHealth Neurological Care offers classes and support groups to aid patients living with a variety of neurological diseases and movement disorders. Parkinson’s Care Partner Support Group Please call Sarah Winter, MSW, LICSW, at 206.946.6517 for more information or the Zoom link. Women Living with Parkinson’s A professional-led support group for women living with Parkinson’s Disease. Contact T. Crandall, MSW, at tccrandall@ evergreenhealthcare.org or 425.899.5383, with questions or the virtual link. Meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 3-4:30 pm. Neuro-Nutrition Class A class and discussion group for people who live with Parkinson’s Disease, MS and other neurologic conditions. F rom-The-Ground-Up Strength and Flexibility Geared toward those with neurological challenges including MS, Parkinson’s, and post-stroke recovery, this weekly matoriented class includes focuses on strength of arms, legs, core and some balance exercises. Please contact Healthline for information. Living Well After Stroke Contact stroke@evergreenhealth.com E vergreen Men’s Parkinson’s Support Group Support group for those affected by Parkinson’s and other PD-related disorders. Please email andygordon1017@gmail.com for Zoom link and questions. Eastside MS Self Help Group Kirkland MS Self Help Group
HEALTH CLASSES Childbirth Preparation For class dates and times, or to register for classes, go to www.evergreenhealth.com/ birthing-classes or call the EvergreenHealth Nurse Navigator & Healthline at 425.899.3000. Register early during your pregnancy, as classes fill quickly.
Baby Care, Safety & Parenting Car Seat Safety Car Seat Checkup Contact Healthline for virtual and in-person options. Infant Safety and Injury Prevention
Journey to Birth This class will cover everything from what to expect for prenatal appointments, what medical professionals you will meet along the way and tools to help you make decisions during your own birth journey.
Day About Baby
Family Maternity Center Tour This free, 20-minute tour is currently offered via YouTube during the pandemic.
This Is Not What I Expected
Tour Para Personas De Habla Hispana This tour is currently offered in English only via YouTube during the pandemic. Meet a Midwife Considering birth with a midwife? This onehour session will introduce you to the unique, personalized birthing experience offered by EvergreenHealth Midwifery Care. Delivery Day – Birth and Beyond This class is for those who want to prepare for their upcoming birth, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery and life with a newborn. Class is interactive and taught by a live instructor. Delivery Day for Teens and Young Adults Contact Healthline at 425.899.3000 for more information.
Cancer Classes
Breastfeeding Basics and Beyond Pumping Class Bringing Baby Home Workshop Parent-Baby Groups Starting Solids Breastfeeding Your Older Baby Screen Savvy Parenting Toddler Talk This support groups allows parents of toddlers to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting a toddler. Baby & Family Boutique For more information visit www.evergreenhealth.com/ boutique.
Check out EvergreenHealth’s Childbirth and Early Parenting classes
Delivery Day for Multiples Register to attend during your fifth or sixth month of pregnancy. Labor Coping Skills Review Hypnobirthing Hypnobirthing emphasizes how well designed women’s bodies are and how by using tools and techniques to support their bodies in doing what it knows how to do, they can have a calm experience with minimal discomfort, and often, without the use of medication. Conscious Fathering Fit4Baby Program Yoga for Pregnancy Pelvic Health Class
Visit www.evergreenhealth.com/classes-events for a full listing of classes, descriptions, dates and times.
STRENGTH. DIGNITY. HOPE.
Cancer Lifeline at EvergreenHealth continues to support patients and caregivers during these challenging times of COVID-19. Join support groups, classes and presentations online. For a complete listing and class dates, visit CancerLifeline.org or call 206.297.2500. Classes are available in the areas of: • Exercise & Movement • Nutrition • Creative Expression
Presentations & Workshops • Self-massage: Increasing Range of Motion • Changing Bodies: Coping with the Physical and Emotional Impacts of Cancer • The Importance of Self-care • Coping with Cancer: Asking for Help • Palliative Care: An Important Component of Cancer Care • Coping with Anxiety • Coping with Cancer: Pain Management Techniques • Quality of Life in Cancer Survivorship • Sex, Intimacy & Cancer Care • Managing Daily Tasks During Treatment • Cancer & Complementary Care • Equine Support Workshops for Patients & Families • Expressive Arts Groups for Children and Adolescents
Cancer Support Groups • Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer – meets every third Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 am • Breast Friends Breast Cancer – meets every third Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 pm • Living with Cancer (patients & caregivers) – meets every second Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 pm • Living with Metastatic Cancer (patients & caregivers) – meets every second and fourth Saturday, 10 am-noon • Prostate Cancer – meets every third Thursday, 6:30-8:30 pm • Gastrointestinal Cancers – meets every first Wednesday, 6:30-8 pm • Lung Cancer – meets every first Tuesday, 4-5:30 pm • Oral, Head & Neck Cancers – meets every second Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 pm
Denotes virtual class meeting EvergreenHealth Monitor | Spring 2022
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EVERGREENHEALTH FOUNDATION
Save the Date for the 2022 Evergreen Gala June 25, 2022
Grateful Patient Makes Generous Gift to The Recovery Center at EvergreenHealth Monroe
Please note our new date! The 2022 Evergreen Gala, presented by Bellevue Healthcare, will again be reimagined this year. Everyone is invited to participate in the online auction and view our presentation of our Gala beneficiary, EvergreenHealth’s Halvorson Cancer Center. Proceeds will fund the purchase of a new high-precision TrueBeam machine that will enable EvergreenHealth to continue to provide the next generation of radiation oncology treatment to our growing community. To stay up-to-date on the Gala events (in-person and/or virtual), please scan the QR code below or visit www.Give.EvergreenGala.org.
Mitch B., former patient at The Recovery Center at EvergreenHealth Monroe
Mitch was a dedicated husband and father who rarely consumed alcohol. But in March 2020 his life changed when his father passed away and he suffered the sudden death of his young wife. Without the tools to deal with his significant losses and depression, Mitch turned to alcohol to hide from his grief.
After being admitted to the hospital due to alcoholism, Mitch made the decision to get his life back on a positive track. In October 2020, he enrolled in rehabilitation services at The Recovery Center at EvergreenHealth Monroe where he successfully completed the Center’s residential inpatient program. When asked what was most impactful to him during his detox and rehabilitation, he said the program’s cadence and routines made the experience comfortably predictable and helped him to adjust to normal life once he returned home. Today, Mitch credits the amazing people who selflessly work at the Center for saving his life. He now looks forward to traveling with his family and being a mentor for those going through similar circumstances. To show his appreciation for the staff and to help future patients of The Recovery Center, Mitch generously provided a
$37,000 investment so the center can continue to serve patients in a comfortable setting. His gift Scan here to learn more about how to participate in this year’s event.
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will be directed to improving furniture in communal areas and replacing aging kitchen appliances utilized by patients every day.
CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
EVERGREENHEALTH FOUNDATION
Celebrating EvergreenHealth Foundation’s History In 1991, the EvergreenHealth Foundation was established with the purpose of working with the community to serve the hospital’s greatest needs. Every year it’s been our
privilege to be the community’s partner in investing in clinical excellence and well-being.
As part of our commitment to these tenets, the EvergreenHealth Foundation has invested millions of the community’s philanthropic dollars to build new facilities, acquire life-changing equipment, expand access to health care and support the well-being of caregivers through clinical training, educational opportunities and employee financial assistance. Year after year, we’ve been humbled by our community’s generosity and encouraged by our shared purpose to care for one another. Words will never be enough to express our gratitude – thank you for your trust, respect and
kindness every step of the way.
As we reach EvergreenHealth’s 50th anniversary, we celebrate the advancements made possible by the community, but also acknowledge the tremendous opportunities to further invest in the future of local health care – we need our
community’s support now more than ever.
In the next year, the Foundation seeks to forward initiatives that support a broader purpose: to invest in clinical excellence and community well-being. We invite you to be part of helping expand and enhance women’s and children’s care units, establish a dedicated training facility for clinicians and invest in critical cancer care technology, among others. Become a partner of the EvergreenHealth Foundation and help build a healthier future for families in our community by making a gift at www.evergreenhealthfoundation.com or learn more by emailing foundation@evergreenhealth.com. Some ways EvergreenHealth Foundation has partnered with the community (pictured top to bottom): The Lee Johnson Family celebrates the opening of the new Intensive Care Unit, made possible by their investment; Renderings for EvergreenHealth’s new Family Maternity Center, made possible by the support of patient families and community members; Foundation staff accepts a generous donation of flowers from a local business to give to nurses during Nurse Appreciation Week.
EvergreenHealth Monitor | Spring 2022
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Presorted STANDARD U.S. Postage PAID Seattle, WA Permit #2100
12040 NE 128th Street Kirkland, WA 98034 www.evergreenhealth.com
For more information, contact EvergreenHealth by email at patientrep@evergreenhealth.com, or call the 24/7 Nurse Navigator & Healthline at 425.899.3000.
EvergreenHealth Once Again Named Among America’s 50 Best Hospitals™ by Healthgrades
EVERGREENHEALTH BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TIM McLAUGHLIN, CHAIR Redmond/Sammamish
For the second year in a row, EvergreenHealth has been named among America’s 50 Best Hospitals™ by Healthgrades, which places the health system among the top 1% of hospitals across the country. According to Healthgrades’ 2022 Report to the Nation, EvergreenHealth is the only hospital in the South Puget Sound region to achieve the America’s 50 Best Hospitals™ award for two consecutive years, and is the only public hospital district in the state to earn the distinction.
VIRGIL SNYDER, SECRETARY At-Large MINERVA BUTLER At-Large AL DEYOUNG Bothell/Duvall/Woodinville DAVID EDWARDS At-Large REBECCA HIRT Kirkland/Kenmore
To determine the 50 best hospitals in the United States for 2022, Healthgrades independently evaluated 4,500 hospitals across the nation, analyzing a range of metrics and inpatient data to measure quality and safety across multiple specialty lines and areas.
CHUCK PILCHER, MD At-Large
Since 2014, EvergreenHealth has placed among Healthgrades’ top 250 hospitals each year for nine consecutive years, and it has placed among Healthgrades’ top 100 hospitals for six consecutive years, beginning in 2017.
EDITOR EvergreenHealth Marketing and Public Relations Group and Firmani + Associates Inc.
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EvergreenHealth complies with applicable federal, state and local civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under the law. Español (Spanish) EvergreenHealth cumple con las disposiciones vigentes de leyes aplicables de derechos civiles, federales, estatales y locales y no discrimina en función del estatus que es protegido bajo la ley. (Chinese)
注意：如果您使用繁體中文， 您可以免費獲得語言援助服 務。 請致電 425-899-1000 （TTY：425-899-1000） 。
CONTINUING OUR LEGACY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARE & SERVICE
You may contact the Commissioners by email at CMScairpon@evergreenhealthcare.org.
PHOTOGRAPHY EvergreenHealth and archival records DESIGN SJ3 Design Studio PRODUCTION Arscentia EvergreenHealth Monitor is published as a community service by EvergreenHealth. Its contents are not intended to replace professional health care. See your health care professional for information relevant to your medical history. EvergreenHealth is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. For career opportunities at EvergreenHealth, visit our website at www.evergreenhealth.com/jobs.
