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| Providence-Everett Behavioral Health Urgent Care waiting room |
A letter to the EvergreenHealth CEO Tomlin and the Commissioners:
Thank you Executive Secretary Candace for your and Commissioners/CEO Tomlin's interpretation of the "Seattle Times" April 11th article on behavioral health.
The article flatly states: "The county has no walk-in urgent care center for people experiencing a mental health crisis, youths and adults wait hours or days in emergency departments before landing an inpatient bed." Seattle Times, 8/11/2022.
EvergreenHealth's two emergency departments are not the only option for community members requiring "same day intervention." Providence/Everett has proven that. CEO Tomlin can do more than advocating for greater resources. He can provide medical treatment. Your rooms given for NAMI Eastside forums and other "soft" resources are appreciated but by no means enough.
Thank you CEO Tomlin for as you say, "evaluating and evolving your services to remain in close contact with the county and other community organizations" however, the Eastside population is exploding and Overlake can't carry your burden. You must be willing to give a little to get a lot. (goodwill, bond passage assurance, positive media exposure, county support and resources, grants,) The commissioners owe it to their "constituents" and community members to provide medical treatment rather than whitewash a remedy with advocacy.
Of note: "The Providence Medical Group Behavioral Health Urgent Care provides timely access to behavioral health services for adults 18 and over presenting in a mental health crisis. The program is designed as an alternative treatment setting for those who need urgent (same day) intervention, but do not necessarily require the services of the Emergency Room." -- Providence BHUC website
Before the pandemic, Kay Taylor, the Director of Nursing, et all were days away from a site visit to Providence Medical Group Behavioral Health Urgent Care. At that time it was a pilot program for Providence. They passed the test under severe Covid conditions with flying colors and operate today. The community was running to their door. CEO Tomlin, when you have staff resources, I encourage you to visit Providence/Everett, listen, learn and act. Thank you.
My regards to commissioner Pilcher.
Best,
Bob Yoder
Redmond, WA.
425-802-2523
file
Cami, I'm sorry you've had to go through all of this. Since EvergreenHealth is a public hospital their commissioners tax us with bonds and levies. Sadly, only 2 of their 7 commissioners are elected and report to constituents. I've gone to their meetings; they're focused on surgery and cardiology, where they can get the most market share. They're supposed to be a community hospital. We taxpayers built much of the hospital over the years, when they opened in 1971, yet they've lost touch. Expect a bond measure sometime soon, so I've heard from CEO Tomlin. -- Redmond Neighbors FB Group.
ReplyDeleteSigrid (Carnation Facebook Group) -- Yes! The services in a regular ER/Urgent care are not specialized enough. Trust me....I know. Providence in Everett has a special Mental Health Urgent Care. My son has been there twice. Last time just to see a Psych to get him titrated on one of his meds he didn't take for three days. To have a place that is JUST dealing with mental health issues is invaluable. Going to Harborview every time if people are in crisis is not always reasonable, although they do a pretty good job. Overlake does alright if you get admitted. Evergeen...not so much. But battling in an ER/Urgent care to see someone who is specialized in mental health issues/crisis would be amazing.
ReplyDeleteFROM a Kirkland Facebook reader:
ReplyDeleteThis would actually be a great resource everywhere since there is a lack of therapist and psychiatrists that are available for appointments ASAP.
This is the same as having urgent cares for you because you cannot get into your doctor ASAP because you sprained your ankle or if you needed stitches
Why is there a problem with it? [$$$ & attitude]
Our team "Empower Youth Network" in Carnation would like to see this happen as well as a continued commitment to prevention and early intervention. -- Facebook comment, 8/27/2022
ReplyDeleteJennifer Z D Baldwin (Friends of Neighborhood Blog comment)
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, including multiple mental health trips to Seattle Children’s ER is that our current mental health system, at least in King County, is solely crisis focused. Meaning we do have systems in place for someone who’s immediate safety is in danger. But there is very little, adequate, on-going, accessible, and meaningful/effective treatment for actually helping people heal. Imagine what it would be like if we treated mental health like we do physical health. Imagine if our minds were part of our bodies and that anything that impacted one impacted the other. Imagine if we dropped the shame around mental illness and had annuals, well visits, sick appointments, and talked openly with friends about what we were struggling with, trying, working on, and freely shared provider recommendations. That when we knew a family was struggling with mental health we organized meal trains, picked up groceries, or offered to take the kids. Like we do with physical health. Imagine if we had enough providers and treatment options and that they took insurance because dealing with insurance wasn’t a nightmare for everyone.
My rant is done (for now. I know this is bigger than just King County. But the solutions to these problems start with awareness, social investment, public conversation, and specific needs assessments which can lead to increased funding and infrastructure.
Thank you Bob Yoder for sharing this and providing a public space for (what I hope is thoughtful and civil) conversation.
Molly Schroeder (Carnation Facebook group)
ReplyDeleteI am a mental health therapist and have seen first-hand how frightening a mental health emergency can be when there is no resources readily available! And how many client shave I treated over the years for the trauma they endured by resorting to a local ER?! If the ER is all that is available, I support that route, but Urgent Care for behavioral health would be an amazing option!
Maggie Quintus (Carnation Facebook Group)
ReplyDeleteAs someone with a person with mental health issues in my family I can assure you that having more resources for mental health would be invaluable. There is nothing worse than being sent home with someone in crisis and no help available
(This is Bob Yoder)
ReplyDeleteFor clarification purposes: I found Cami's Maggies, and Jennifer's comments on Facebook sites and pasted them here. Thus the comments you see are theirs, not mine.
I'm so sorry about what they had to go through.