Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

EvergreenHealth Board Appoints Dr. Ettore Palazzo New CEO

 


EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners Appoints Dr. Ettore Palazzo new CEO

Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP will assume his new role as CEO of EvergreenHealth on Dec. 10

 

KIRKLAND, WA – The EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners has appointed Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP, CEO of EvergreenHealth, the community-owned public hospital district and two-hospital healthcare system effective Dec. 10, 2023. Dr. Palazzo assumes the role following the retirement of CEO Jeff Tomlin, MD.

 

“Over the past 20 years, some of the greatest, as well as most challenging, moments of my personal and professional life have taken place at EvergreenHealth,” said Dr. Palazzo. “It is the honor of a lifetime to work for this organization and serve its community as the next Chief Executive Officer.” 

 

Dr. Palazzo has served EvergreenHealth and its community for 20 years. He joined EvergreenHealth in 2003 as a hospitalist and most recently served as the Chief Medical and Quality Officer.

Friday, November 10, 2023

EvergreenHealth -- "America's COVID Hospital"

EvergreenHealth / Seattle Times

EvergreenHealth's website...

"On February 28, 2020, EvergreenHealth's Kirkland campus became the first hospital in the U.S. to respond to the first known cases of community spread of COVID-19, marking the beginning of the global pandemic in the U.S. Given that we had been actively engaged in disaster readiness planning for many years prior to the pandemic, our hospital system was ready to face the challenge."  

Read more about EvergreenHealth's response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

The East Lake Sammamish Trail is ready to walk, roll, and bike


King County Parks completed construction of the East Lake Sammamish Trail, its latest contribution to the 44-mile Locks to Lake Corridor that connects Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood to Eastside cities and the Cascade foothills with an uninterrupted paved path.

Posted by Bob Yoder, 10/25/2023 

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

CONNECTIONS of Kirkland, Behavioral Health Crisis Center Forum


"Connections Health Solutions" is King County's first of five immediate access multi-service behavioral health crisis response centers.  It will be located in the 405 Kirkland Corporate Center behind Olive Garden Restaurant, two blocks from the Kirkland police.  It's scheduled to open June/July of 2024. 


Heather Genovese, V.P. Clinical Operations of Connections Health Solutions held this ZOOM forum on 9/26, to inform viewers of the facility. Donna Lurie, Board President of NAMI Eastside led Q&A.  Notable items from their Tucson facility:    

  • 24/7 Urgent Care Mental Health Clinic open to all. Treats adults over 17 years of age. 
  • 15+ chairs for observation by psychiatric providers. No triage. Individuals are seen within 90 minutes.
  • 65% stabilized within 24 hours.  65% have comorbid substance abuse. 
  • 16-bed unit for crisis stabilization; stabilization is usually within 24-hours. 
  • 16-bed unit for sub-acute crisis stabilization usually within 4 days. 
  • 60-70% of involuntarily committed individuals convert to voluntary commitment. 
  • accepts 100% of those coming through the door, regardless of insurance.
  • 50-55% are brought in through the back door by police. No one turned away. Peer support specialists remove remove hand cuffs with care compassion and dignity.    
  • 90% receive outpatient care by a mental health provider within 7 days off discharge.  
  • 45-Day Transition Program:  "warm hand-off to community care" - recovery, support, and coaching.
  • For profit. 
  • EvergreenHealth isn't funding the Center. 
"King County invested $11.5 million of state and local dollars toward this crisis center located in Kirkland.  It will service five North King County cities.  It's the start of what we can achieve together when it comes to community behavioral health." -- King County Executive Dow Constantine.

 Posted by Bob Yoder, 10/4/2023 / I participated.

Monday, September 18, 2023

NAMI Eastside Annual Fundraiser

 

NAMI Eastside is holding their Annual Fundraiser Luncheon on October 5th at the Marriot, Redmond.

SUPPORT NAMI Eastside AND Register for the Luncheon HERE! 


Saturday, September 2, 2023

Redmond Rainbow Crosswalk

Beautiful art!  But don't stare down at it when you're in the crosswalk.  
Drivers may get distracted and not recognize it's a crosswalk. 

The Public Works Director was there.  He said they bought a thermo-applicator machine to paint this crosswalk and will use it for painting other asphalt art.  NAMI Eastside mental health art near the Together Center would be another good candidate!  Don't you think? 


- photo and comment by Yoder, 9/2/2023

UPDATED: 9/17: EvergreenHealth Commissioners Considering $789,500,000 Bond, 8-story Tower

EvergreenHealth Public Hospital
 
The proposed North Tower will have 12 floors:  2 underground parking, 1 underground mixed-use, 2 above ground facility and ancillary, 7 inpatient care floors (3 will be left vacant.) 

At the EvergreenHealth Commission's May retreat, the V.P. of Operations reviewed the proposed Master Facility Plan projects, including a 12-story North Tower expansion with 255,000 square feet and adding another level of parking to the Central Parking Garage.  He also reviewed the bed capacity status and current shortage.

The proposed North Tower would have: 

  • two underground parking floors
  • 1 mixed-use underground floor 
  • 2 above ground support and ancillary care floors 
  • 7 floors of inpatient care
  •  expanding capacity and modernizing surgical services, 
  • address community health needs for behavioral health services  (how?)
  • increasing seismic resilience 
  • improving Emergency Department capacity,
  • and improving energy efficiency and environmental stewardship 
The V.P. of Operations noted that they are in one of the better places in the greater Seattle area to serve the public in the event of a large seismic event and we may be one of few facilities operational. 

He stated, " the anticipated UTGO Bond amount is approx. $798,500,000, and would include a new North Tower. We would plan to buildout 6 of the 9 floors in the new North Tower to start and keep the remaining 3 floors for future expansion as needs arise or change.  The levers used to achieve break-even Net Income over the 10-year proforma period were labor and overhead." 

It was noted the UTGO BOND would equate to a tax rate of $.13 per $1,000 of assessed value (or $156.24 incremental tax increase per year for a $1.2M home in Kirkland, which is the 2023 median assessed home value).  (However, 2024 King County appraisals for homes are reduced by ~ 20% from 2023. Thus, the hospital commissioners will probably launch the bond measure in 2024.)

Additionally, it was noted that the public hospital district taxes are 2.1% of the entire King County levy.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  Paul Hess, Kenmore resident, asked if EvergreenHealth has implemented lean organizational strategies, noting that it will help close the gap. Additionally, he spoke about the Foundation, how their staff report to EvergreenHealth, and hopes that no Foundation funding will be used for a UTGO Bond.  He also spoke critically about how he and other District residents pay taxes to fund the hospital but don’t use the services, while others who don’t pay taxes to fund the hospital use the services.

SOURCES:

-- Minutes: May 16th, 2023, Regular Board Meeting - 2 comments
-- Minutes: May 11th 2023, Special Session Commission Retreat
-- Minutes: May 2 2023, Special Session Leadership Educational Session  1 comment
-- May 10  Special Session Leadership Educational Session  - 8 comments

posted by Bob Yoder, 9/2/2023

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

UPDATED: Watch Out For Exorbitant Emergency Department Expenses / Mental Health Awareness Month

EvergreenHealth Medical Center - supported by District taxpayers

A month ago I was transferred from Fairfax Behavioral Health Hospital to EvergreenHealth Emergency Department (ED) for a concussion evaluation and incidental mental health care.  For ED services I was charged. 

$2,024 for a Level 4 Visit, $515.00 for intravenous hydration, $1,687 for a CT scan, $270 for an acetaminophen blood level, $270 for a urine toxicology screen, $379.00 for an ECG, $270.00 for an alcohol blood level, $309 for a lactic acid blood level, among other charges, totaling $7,079.  (Not counting the radiologist fee.)  

My insurance company had a contract with EvergreenHealth which helped.  I read somewhere on Evergreen's website tax-payer funds (via the levy) sometimes kick-in when insurance companies can't.  Our Emergency Department charges at Overlake were high, as well.  It seems ED physicians always need to take a CT; at least for us. We've had four CT's at four visits.  Stay out of ED's at all costs (no pun intended.)  Go first to Urgent Care or your Primary Care physician, if possible.  

As we all know, the cost of healthcare has sky-rocketed everywhere.  It's come to the point that people have had to resort  "medical credit cards."  Yahoo Business has an excellent article on these cards.

-- Bob Yoder, 5/16/2023

May is "Mental Health Awareness Month."  Under "comment" (below in blue,) I wrote in detail my recent experience of treatment and recovery at Fairfax Behavioral Health Hospital.  I hope you read it. Bob

Thursday, February 23, 2023

UPDATED 3/3/2023: The Story Of EvergreenHealth's Attitude Toward Mental Health

 EvergreenHealth - King County Public Hospital District #2

This "Silver Tower" and a 2nd Emergency Department were funded by the district
taxpayers of Redmond, Sammamish, Kirkland, Woodinville, Bothell, Mill Creek,
Kenmore, Shoreline, Duval, Carnation, and Snohomish County.

EvergreenHealth serves it's community well.  An exception is their almost complete non- performance in treating mental illness.  COVID removed stigma, raised awareness; uncovering the high incidence of those struggling. They should do better and they're not.

Overall though, we are blessed to have EvergreenHealth in our community and region.  They led the Nation through the pandemic onslaught and are deserving of every award earned,  For a hospital with their pandemic experience, they should have no problem finding bandwidth for Mental Health hybrid programming.  
 
Below, is decade's long news and my accounting of EvergreenHealth's lack of progress towards the implementation of mental health treatment and care:


Mission, Vision, Values
The Monitor newsletter 




 --News and Opinion, Bob Yoder, 3/1/2023

Public Board meeting information is here. Only thing missing are times of the meetings! The public comment period starts at 6:30 p.m.

Brain disorders are generalational in my family.  It's been quite a tortuous ride. BY

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

UPDATED: County Council Votes "Yes" On $1.25B Behavioral Health Levy


The King County Council voted Tuesday to send a $1.25 billion behavioral health levy to voters for consideration on an April special election ballot.


The proposal, which would raise the funds through a property tax levy spread over nine years, would fund:

  1.  creation of five regional crisis care centers,
  2.  the preservation and restoration of residential treatment beds,
  3. growth of the behavioral health workforce pipeline, and 
  4. provide immediate services while centers are being constructed. 

In 2024, the levy will cost the owner of a median-valued home about $121.


With council approval, the proposal will now appear on the April 25 special election ballot


KOMO News:  Broadcast of King County Executive Dow Constantine's' Announcement. 

Friday, December 2, 2022

Snippet From Hank Myers City Hall Complaints

Hank Myers, retired Redmond Councilmember

Hank Myers is a retired Redmond council member of over a decade.  Several weeks ago he addressed our elected officials on a variety of topics:  1)  "the 53 - 47% Safety Levy loss, 2) the high cost of Redmond government as compared to other cities, 3) He accused some past tone-deaf councils for punishing businesses and residents for not approving even higher taxes."  4) His talk on COVID is summarized below:  

Redmond firefighters

Hank Myers says....

Hello Mayor Birney and Council members, 

"We just celebrated Veteran's Day and as a veteran I can say the leaders most appreciated are those who support their troops."

"Two years after the COVID pandemic science taught us vaccines don't dramatically lessen its effect.  That's why I'm triple vaxxed."  

"The City of Redmond did not handle the pandemic well:

  1. From the mishandling of Fire Chief Tommy....
  2. To the firing of many good firefighters who served the city honorably.
At long last the official COVID emergency is over. The city can do the right thing and reinstate their dedicated and highly trained firefighters who have been proven to be correct in their beliefs." 

###

And of course, my 2-cents  ☝

* 1)  Week after week in City Hall I watched firefighters, highly trained medics, and their families plead for their jobs and rights. It was heartbreaking and very sad to watch.  I had hoped the Mayor would accommodate as did many other cities. Freedom was at stake and it hurt to see a little of it taken away. In the meantime, the new Fire Chief rushed to hire and train replacements.

  2) Jumping forward, my 31-year old daughter got COVID last week.  She was primary vaxxed with two boosters.  Her infection was very mild.  However, her husband was only primary vaxxed and he was bedridden for over a week with a serious infection.  The *COVID emergency may be over (as defined by mask mandates and Myers) but the Omicron "long haul" looms for seniors like me. I have the primary vaxx and three boosters.  Cutting edge science amazingly protects me!  Medical requirements aside, I chose not to wear a mask. Free at last!

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 12/2/2022

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Almost Half of High School Seniors Felt Sad or Hopeless in Past Year

 


Youth mental health is in a state – 45% of high school seniors reported feeling sad or hopeless in the past year, according to the statewide Healthy Youth Survey. If nearly half of youths grapple with feelings of depression, every youth is due some education to help them recognize and overcome those feelings.

Washington state schools and leaders are building a variety of supports to improve the school climate, strengthen student resiliency, and intervene with supports when youth need them most.

“Mental health is getting talked about. That’s probably why students are recognizing, ‘Maybe I’m not alone in this, maybe there’s something that can help me,’” said Staci Cornwell, youth mental health coordinator for the Mead School District.

From bus drivers to teachers to parents to legislators, every Washingtonian can play a critical role in supporting youth and improving their mental health.

Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's Medium here.

Remember that here in Redmond and across the Eastside, we have an awesome organization for our kiddos, namely Youth Eastside Services or YES. They treat kids from birth to age 22 for any mental illness, depression, suicidal thoughts and/or substance abuse. They have a sliding scale that goes to zero, (thanks to generous donations), they accept all insurance plans and Apple Health. Whether it’s in the schools or in one of their offices in Redmond, Kirkland or Bellevue, they are great at intervening with our kids, Supporting families, and educating the community. Don’t forget about this important resource -- Comment by Cami.

Saturday, October 8, 2022

Domestic Violence


OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

Last Wednesday at the "Community Court Resource Center" I met Danielle Caldwell, Program Director of the "Eastside Legal Assistance Program" (ELAP.)  ELAP "believes everyone deserves access to legal help." Her phone number is 425-747-7274.  

We had a nice talk about Domestic Violence. The statistics in Washington State are astounding. Danielle said the incidence of domestic violence is still at the same level as the pandemic. At a public meeting, Redmond Police Chief Lowe reported during the pandemic physical violence was uncommon, but generally speaking the noise level increased.  

ELAP "empowers domestic violence survivors and their families to use the legal system to stay safe. They partner with other nonprofits to combine their legal expertise with their housing, medical and other services to meet critical needs of survivors and their children."  

"Their team of six staff attorneys, together with support from more that 160 pro bono attorneys, provides hundreds of hour of free civil legal help to people throughout KING COUNTY every year."  In addition to Domestic Violence, program areas include Project Safety, Medical-Legal Partnership, Housing Stability, and Free Community Legal Clinics and Info Sessions.

In addition to Domestic Violence empowerment, there's a great need for Housing Stability in Redmond.  In this area ELAP empowers people to stay in their homes. In partnership with local cities and community partners, ELAP works with low income residents facing legal issues that threaten their housing stability.  

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is here:   https://www.thehotline.org/

Stay well, Stay healthy

by

CONTACT:  Danielle Caldwell, Program Director, ELAP,  Danielle@elap.org. 425-747-7274; 1239-120 Ave NE, Bellevue, WA.

CC:  City of Redmond elected, King County Community Court, Hopelink, King County Council Member Sarah Perry,  EvergreenHealth Community Hospital

Sunday, October 2, 2022

King County Executive Proposes Broad Investments to Behavioral Health Infrastructure

King County Executive Dow Constantine

Redmond Reporter, Cameron Sheppard, 9/27/2022

A 9-year property tax levy (14.5 cents/$1K ) submitted to voters in 2023 would generate $1.25 billion to stabilize and strengthen the County's behavioral health crisis care system.

On Sept. 26, King County Executive Dow Constantine and a regional coalition of leaders announced a plan to address behavioral health in the county by creating a countywide network of five crisis care centers, investing in the recruitment and retention of the community behavioral health workforce, and restoring the number of residential treatment beds in the region.

Saturday, September 10, 2022

Inslee Announces End of COVID State of Emergency


Governor Inslee, credit NY Times

 Inslee announces end of COVID-19 state of emergency by Oct. 31

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that all remaining COVID-19 emergency proclamations and the COVID-19 state of emergency will end by Oct. 31.

Though the state’s emergency orders are ending, public health leaders continue to emphasize the importance of vaccines and masks in keeping communities safe. Vaccines and therapeutic treatments are available to prevent hospitalizations and death. However, COVID-19 remains a threat, killing 300 Americans every day and more than 10 people a day in Washington state. In his announcement, the governor reiterated the importance of vaccinations and booster shots.

“We’ve come a long way the past two years in developing the tools that allow us to adapt and live with COVID-19,” Inslee said. “Ending this order does not mean we take it less seriously or will lose focus on how this virus has changed the way we live. We will continue our commitments to the public’s well-being, but simply through different tools that are now more appropriate for the era we’ve entered.”

Washington was the first state in the U.S. with a reported case of COVID-19. Inslee was swift to enact protective measures that have since resulted in one of the lowest per capita death rates in the nation.

“I can’t express enough how grateful I am for all the health care workers, public health teams, and other frontline workers who have helped save thousands of lives during the past two years and will continue to support our communities in staying safe and healthy,” Inslee said.

Washington had the fifth-lowest death rate from COVID-19 in the nation, per CDC data.

Washington had the fifth-lowest death rate from COVID-19 in the nation, per CDC data. A decisive state response to COVID-19 saved thousands of Washingtonian lives.  Posted by Yoder 9/10/2022


Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Road To Recovery


Proclamation on National Recovery Month, September, 2022

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

"This National Recovery Month, we thank peer recovery support professionals, counselors, addiction specialists, first responders, scientists, family members, and everyone who works tirelessly to help our fellow Americans recover from substance use disorder.  We offer strength to our loved ones at every step of their recovery process.  

My Administration is working to ensure that achieving and sustaining recovery is within reach for every American and that everyone has equal access to economic mobility and improved health.  This year, we secured nearly $22 billion from the Congress to support drug prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services, with a focus on underserved communities.  With the additional $4 billion investment from our American Rescue Plan, my Administration is expanding recovery community organizations, recovery high schools, collegiate recovery programs, and recovery residences.  These vital support networks allow people to balance healing with their everyday responsibilities.  We are also advocating for recovery-ready workplace policies across the public and private sectors to promote inclusive hiring, enable employers to assist in the recovery process, and help companies retain talent.  And to incentivize new innovations, the Department of Health and Human Services is launching its first-ever behavioral health Recovery Innovation Challenge to award funding to peer-run and community-based programs that advance recovery and can be scaled nationwide.   As I outlined in my State of the Union address this year, a key pillar of my Unity Agenda is beating the opioid epidemic. ...."   JRB

Find a substance abuse treatment center near you.  Find behavioral health care treatment near you.

Find an opioid treatment center in your State 

Posted by Yoder, 9/6/2022

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Sunday, July 24, 2022

The Status Of Mental Health Care At EvergreenHealth Public Hospital


This "Silver Tower" and second Emergency Department was funded by the taxpayers of
EvergreenHealth Public Hospital No.2 in Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish,Woodinville,
Kenmore, Bothell, Mill Creek, Duval, Carnation, Shoreline and Sammamish County.

EvergreenHealth serves the community well. 
A gross exception is their failure to provide on-site mental health treatment.

Click title:

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Young Children May Soon Be Eligible For COVID Vaccination

 

Children Ages 6 months - 4 Years May Soon Be Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccination

Long-awaited pediatric vaccinations are currently in the authorization process

OLYMPIA: Several COVID-19 vaccination series for children are being considered for emergency use authorization in the coming days, including:

  • A Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 6 months -- 4 years
  • A Moderna vaccines for children ages 6 months -- 5 years
  • A second Moderna vaccine for youth ages 6 -- 17 years

Friday, May 13, 2022

COVID-19 Vaccination Data For Washington State

coronavirus.wa.gov

COVID-19 Dashboard:  May, 9, 2022:

74.4% of 5-year-olds-and-up in Washington State have completed the "primary  series." (fully vaccinated, not boosted.) 

81.8% of 5-year-olds-and-up in Washington State received at least one dose.  

###

Vaccination Data Summary, May 11, 2022

Unvaccinated 12-34 year-olds in Washington are:

• 1.5 times more likely to get COVID-19 compared with 12-34 year-olds who have completed the primary series. (fully vaccinated, not boosted.)

4.2 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with 12-34 year-olds who have completed the primary series. (fully vaccinated, no boost.)