EvergreenHealth Commissioners Presents Mike Hallman With Community Service Award

 

(front row l-r)  President Virgil Synder, TOM HALLMAN, CEO Etorre Palazzo

(back row l-r)  Commissioners Charles Pilcher, Nancy Stewart, Suzane Greathouse, Norman Seabrooks, Robin Campbell, Secretary Jeff Cashman

EvergreenHealth Commissioners Presents Mike Hallman with Community Service Award. 

The Board’s resolution honors Mike Hallman for his partnership and contributions over several decades to advance the community’s health and wellness

 

KIRKLAND, WA — EvergreenHealth’s Board of Commissioners has recognized Mike Hallman with the 2025 Community Service Award in honor of his longstanding partnership, philanthropy and care for the health of our community.

For more than 30 years, Hallman and his late wife, Mary Kay Hallman, have shown immense dedication and championed the same values that guide EvergreenHealth. Their generosity and partnership have not only strengthened care across EvergreenHealth but has also supported long-term investments in clinical excellence, behavioral health access and advanced care. 

Hallman’s support for the Clinical Excellence Fund helped EvergreenHealth establish a simulation lab and education center where nurses and clinicians can advance their skills and safely practice a variety of important clinical scenarios. They also helped EvergreenHealth purchase a 3T MRI machine, which is significantly more advanced than the standard 1.5T MRI machine. 

“I am honored to receive this award,” said Hallman. “We have been very proud to support our community and EvergreenHealth, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to support the health and wellness of the Puget Sound region.”

Hallman also helped establish EvergreenHealth’s first Behavioral Health clinic integrated into Primary Care, driven by his belief that the community deserves access to mental health services before a crisis occurs. 

“Mike is an exceptional member of the Kirkland community as well as the entire Puget Sound region,” said EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners Chair Virgil Snyder. “His generosity over the last three decades has helped EvergreenHealth advance our mission and our commitment to our community. This award is a token of our immense thanks to Mike for his thoughtful partnership and contributions to EvergreenHealth.”

The award was presented during the August 18 Board of Commissioners meeting and is the second of two 2025 Community Service Awards that have been presented by the Board this year. The first award was presented to Dr. Francis X. Riedo in July. 

Since 1998, the Community Service Award has been presented to community members and groups who make a profound impact on enhancing the health of the Eastside and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to our most important values: compassion, respect, excellence, collaboration and accountability. See a list of past recipients here. 

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About EvergreenHealth   

EvergreenHealth is a community-owned health care hospital system serving more than one million residents in King and Snohomish counties. Since 1972, EvergreenHealth has evolved alongside the Eastside community into a two-hospital health system with a network of primary care practices, urgent care centers, specialty clinics, extensive home care and hospice services, and 24/7 emergency care in Kirkland, Monroe and Redmond. As a public hospital district, the health system’s purpose is to enrich the health and wellness of everyone in the community by providing equal access to high-quality, high-value care, partnering with local organizations to perform outreach and offering health education to address our community’s needs now and for generations to come. The hospital system is named one of Healthgrades America’s 50 Best™ Hospitals and holds a 5-Star Overall Rating from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS). Learn more at www.evergreenhealth.com.

Updated: United Healthcare And EvergreenHealh Reached An Insurance Agreement, Silver Tower Expansion

 

Silver Tower

Very good news!  

EvergreenHealthEvergreenHealth
2 days ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn

Following months of negotiations, EvergreenHealth and United Healthcare have reached an agreement on a new contract, allowing EvergreenHealth to remain a participating provider in United’s network.

Patient FAQ

And more good news!  At a Board meeting yesterday, I learned all our district levy money ($255,000,000) will over time pay for expanding the second floor of the Silver Tower and Plaza Building without need for a new levy or bond.  WE let Evergreen increase our property taxes for this to happen -- to build capacity and access for more doctors, more specialists, more beds, a cardiac-cath lab, instrumentation, woman's health services and more.  We'll soon be reaping the benefits!  Thank you Dr. Palazzo. Thank you Board of Directors.  

-- Bob Yoder, 3/6/2026, updated 3/8/2026, 3/9/2026

"Friends of Redmond Neighborhood Blog" Private Facebook Group

UPDATED: EvergreenHealth Prepares Patients For Negotiations with United Health

Below, are the measures from EvergreenHealth recommended to assist patients during the failed negotiations.

UPDATED: EvergreenHealth To Expand 2nd Floor Of Silver Tower, Insurance Issue Resolved.

EvergreenHealth community-owned hospital

ANNOUNCEMENT: 

EvergreenHealth will expand the 2nd floor of the Silver Tower with levy money for access to more providers, instrumentation and more.  A levy lid lift or bond won't be needed.  

EvergreenHealth reached and insurance agreement with United Healthcare, retroactive to March 1, 2026.

Details and FAQ  

EvergreenHealth is the largest public hospital in the State of Washington. It is community-owned and remains independent of the large hospital chains.  

Dr. Etorre Palazzo is Evergreen's CEO.  Here's a short clip of Etoree (1.5 min) explaining Evergreen's attributes and mission in our community. Dr. Palazzo has done much to enlarge capacity for services, including mental health treatment in primary care clinics and emergency departments.

My daughter was born at Evergreen General Hospital 33 years ago. Their maternity services are exemplary. 

-- Bob Yoder, 2/20/2026, updated: 3/34/2026, 3/9/2026, 3/13/2026

"Friends of Redmond Neighborhood Blog" --  Facebook Group

Unitited Health Care Resumes Insurance Coverage

Currently, Evergreen is negotiating with UnitedHealthcare for continuance of their insurance.  This is very common for all hospitals.  Almost always there's  resolution and services aren't disrupted.  

-- Bob Yoder, 1/25/2026

EvergreenHealth Executives Serve On Regional Advisory Boards

 

Four EvergreenHealth administrators served on health care and economic boards in 2025

 

Kirkland, Wash.—Last year, four of EvergreenHealth’s administration team were invited to serve on advisory boards throughout the region. These health system leaders give their time, skills and insight to organizations involved in health care and economic development across the state.

 

Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP, EvergreenHealth CEO, was elected to the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) Board of Directors effective January 2025, having previously served as the Chair of the Clinical Excellence Committee from 2023 to 2024. He also sits on the board of the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and the Steering Committee for the Washington Department of Health Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care.

 

Dr. Palazzo joined EvergreenHealth in 2003 as a hospitalist, and he held various roles before becoming CEO in December 2023. He is responsible for the leadership of all aspects of EvergreenHealth's purpose, mission and vision.

 

Christopher Bredeson, MBA, FACHE, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer, has been invited to sit on the boards of Washington Hospital Services (WHS), the Washington Health Alliance (WHA)—both statewide
de organizations focused on quality and value in health care delivery—and OneRedmond, a public-private economic development partnership.

 

Bredeson has held positions in health care leadership and community advocacy for more than three decades. In his role at EvergreenHealth, he supervises all facets of health system operations and planning.

 

Jessika Groce, MBA, PHR, SHRM-CP, Chief Human Resources Officer, was appointed to the Cascadia College Foundation Board effective July 1. The Cascadia College Foundation plays a crucial role in offering scholarships and grants to students needing financial support also backing key college initiatives. The board works to support the college’s mission of delivering accessible, equitable and superior educational experiences to inspire every person to achieve their educational and career goals.

EvergreenHealth Teaching Physician Assistant Students

 

EvergreenHealth Partners with Northwest University To Help Teach Physician Assistant Students

Students receive hands-on experience while also supporting community’s need for more health care professionals

 

KIRKLAND, WA—EvergreenHealth and Northwest University’s School of PA Medicine have partnered to help students complete their degree and give them an opportunity to jumpstart their careers as physician assistants. This partnership is another example of how the two Kirkland-based organizations have collaborated to support health care professionals and the community’s health and wellness.

 

“EvergreenHealth has faithfully partnered with our health professions programs at Northwest University for two decades, first welcoming nursing students into their facilities to train, and now, our PA students,” said Northwest University School of PA Medicine Dean Heather Deibler, PA-C. “Many of our NU nurses went on to careers at EvergreenHealth, and we look forward to the day when our PA graduates serve there as clinicians. We sincerely appreciate EvergreenHealth’s commitment to help equip the next generation of health care professionals who will serve this community and Washington state for years to come.”

Puget Sound Journal Honors EvergreenHealth CEO Ettore Palazzo

 

EvergreenHealth CEO Dr. Ettore Palazzo on right/ credit Anthony Bolante, PSBJ

Last night, Puget Sound Business Journal (PSB) hosted a private Power 100 reception to honor the Puget Sound's most influential people who are making news, getting things done behind the scenes, or using their wealth and power for the betterment of their communities. These honorees, including Dr. Palazzo, were brought together for a celebratory evening to applaud their accomplishments and connect with other impactful businesspeople in the region.

Thank you to our sponsors for helping us recognize incredible leaders:
• Founding Sponsor: Bank of America
• Presenting Sponsor: Arnold & Porter
• Platinum Sponsor: Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
• Signature Sponsor: Alaska Airlines
• Cocktail Sponsor: Washington State University
• Bronze Sponsors: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound & Laird Norton Wetherby

-- December, 2025

EvergreenHealth and Seattle Children's Enter Affiliation For Neonatal and Specialty Care

 

Chris Bredeson, EvergreenHealth chief operating and strategy officer, left, and Jamie Phillips, president and chief operating officer at Seattle Children's, are seen July 1 at the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the launch of Neonatal & Pediatric Specialty Care Services at EvergreenHealth Medical Center.

Kirkland-based EvergreenHealth and Seattle Children’s have entered into a strategic affiliation for neonatal and pediatric specialty care services that will allow Eastside families to get specialized inpatient care from Seattle Children’s doctors at Evergreen’s Kirkland hospital, the parties announced today.

The affiliation took effect July 1, 2025 starting with pediatric cardiologists, neurologists, and general surgeons from Seattle Children’s, according to Chris Bredeson, EvergreenHealth's chief operating and strategy officer. More pediatric specialty services will be added over time, he said in an interview.

“It means a lot for patients to be able to have care in their community — and so we have a big initiative around improving access for people on the Eastside; and in the pediatric area, that's something we've heard from people over and over again that they don't like driving across the bridge to Seattle for all the reasons you can imagine,” Bredeson said. “They want to stay in the community, and so we're going to do everything we can to have as many babies stay as possible ... if they come through the emergency department, go to our pediatric unit, or if they're born at Evergreen.”

425 Business, 7/7/25

EvergreenHealth Executives Meet with State Legislators

 

EvergreenHealthEvergreenHealth18,052 followers18,052 followers3d • Edited • 3 days ago • Edited • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn

CEO Ettore Palazzo, MD:  "In November, we welcomed several state legislators to our Kirkland campus as they prepare for the upcoming session in Olympia!🎈 (Larry Springer was one.)

These visits allowed us to share our role as a public hospital district, highlight our services, and discuss community investments.

Like many hospitals across Washington, EvergreenHealth faces significant financial challenges due to recent state and federal policy changes. We appreciate the opportunity to engage with our elected leaders on these issues and are grateful for their continued support and commitment to quality care."

Pictured: 48th LD Representative Osman Salahuddin, CEO Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP, Director of Women's & Children's Services Tessie (Hughes) Foley, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer Chris Bredeson, MBA, FACHE,  and Chief Financial Officer William Howe

[EvergreenHealth is now partnering with Children's Hospital of Seattle to facilitate and expand care on the Eastside.] by