UPDATED: Evergreen Health Public Meeting had something for everyone.

The welcoming hospital commissioners meet here.
Public Meeting Room, Phys. & Surgeons Bldg.

Updated:  The  primary goal of my attendance at the Evergreen Hospital Board of Commissioner meeting last Tuesday was visibility and research for Yoder & Associates (Y&A). Y&A is Redmond-based business in the seedling stage of growth (no customers) positioned to provide facilitator services for government and non-government organizations with the communities they service. More on this exciting stuff later...

OPINION:  Of the many public Evergreen meetings I've attended, this one was quite upbeat and informative.   Pres. Al DeYoung greeted the public prior to the meeting and we enjoyed a very quick chat about  way-finding signage and the recent healthcare court decision.  After the meeting, Laurene Burton, Administrative Director indicated Evergreen is taking a leadership role in for establishing opiate prescribing guidelines within the Washington State Hospital Association.  No one from the public addressed the Commissioners this evening.

Laurene also announced a surplus of volunteers that continues to grow owing to the attractiveness of the organization.  School districts are in need of mentors and tutors and may be attractive to these volunteers.

The buzz of the meeting was Evergreen Health's Consumer Reports top rating in Washington State for Hospital safety.  Evergreen is #2 in the state only to Kadelac Hospital in Richland.  Hospital safety is a big deal to Consumer Reports.  According to Peter Pronovost, MD, senior VP for patient safety and quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, "Medical harm is probably one of the three leading causes of death in the U.S...."  (Consumer Reports, August, 2012)  [Inside joke:  AKA:  stay out of hospitals whenever you can.] 

Malte announced a new, competitive Urgent Care clinic coming into Kirkland though he doesn't know if they'll use the Physician Assistant model (Overlake) or Physician model (Evergreen). Evergreen Health will stay the course with a physician model in their Urgent Cares saying successful Specialty care services underpin Primary care services.  COO Neil Johnson, RN, MPH stands in for Malte when he's away. 

Commissioner Hirt (Kirkland/Kenmore district) announced CEO Bob Malte and CFO Chrissy Yamato  successfully completed of the Seattle To Portland Bicycle 204  mile event.   Chrissy paced herself with 100 mile splits in two days.  Bob pushed it with a 147 mile ride the first day.  They plan to do it together next year. 

Commissioner Auggie Kempf (Redmond/Sammamish) said something about Derby Days. Commissioner and Secretary Jeanette Greenfeild took notes.  Jeanette is a Commissioner-At-Large Position #5.  Her term expires in 2013 as does Ms. Hirt's.