Jeff Cashman |
News and Opinion on Neighborhoods, Schools and Local Governments of Redmond, WA.
Monday, April 3, 2023
UPDATED, 12/14/2023: Jeff Cashman Wins Race for EvergreenHealth Commissioner #6
Thursday, February 23, 2023
UPDATED 3/3/2023: The Story Of EvergreenHealth's Attitude Toward Mental Health
EvergreenHealth - King County Public Hospital District #2
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
EvergreenHealth "Hospitalist" Honored With a King County Award
Kirkland, Wash. – EvergreenHealth hospitalist Rajneet S. Lamba, MD, was recently honored with the 2022 King County Medical Society Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes a King County physician who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in their community and tireless dedication to their patients.
As a hospitalist physician at EvergreenHealth, Dr. Lamba provides: a full spectrum of hospital-based internal medicine, emphasizing patient-focused care, communication and shared decision-making. He instructs medical students visiting the EvergreenHealth campus from the University of Washington and has served on several committees at the health system, including Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Lamba is the immediate past president of KCMS and has led several unique projects for the society in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s gratifying and humbling to receive this recognition from my peers and community,” said Dr. Lamba. “I’m so proud of the care we provide at EvergreenHealth, and I share this recognition with the countless physicians and providers who work tirelessly to provide high-quality care and service each and every day.”
-- abridged and edited EvergreenHealth press release
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Mental Health Is In the Forefront At EvergreenHealth
EvergreenHealth "Silver Tower" funded by the community |
Mental health is in the forefront these days
King County Councilmember Perry Visits EvergreenHealth , Wants "Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinics"
King County Eastside Councilmember Sarah Perry |
Hi Bob, Thank you so much for reaching out to Councilmember Perry’s office to share this information and feedback. Councilmember Perry has been actively engaged in the behavioral health conversations happening at the County in conjunction with the budget conversations beginning now. While I don’t have more details to share at this time, I know that having a 23 hour behavioral health facility in the district is a top priority for Councilmember Perry. Additionally, we are currently in the process of scheduling a visit to Providence in Everett to see their behavioral health facility with State and County legislators, DCHS and other stakeholders to help inform these ongoing conversations, especially as the Executive gets ready to transmit his budget proposal to the Council later this Fall. We are also in the process of setting up a meeting with each of the hospitals in our district and surrounding areas, including Overlake, EvergreenHealth, and others, to make sure we are including them in this ongoing conversation. I will be sure to pass this along to Councilmember Perry as she prepares to have these conversations with the health facilities. In the meantime, we really appreciate you passing this feedback along. Please let us know if you have anything else you would like to share with us as the Councilmember continues to work on this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Robby Paige
Legislative Aide
King County Council, District 3
206-445-9246
Video of Providence/Everett's "Behavioral Health Urgent Care" with
psychiatrist and social worker narrating.
Posted by Bob Yoder, updated, 2/23/2023
Monday, August 29, 2022
EvergreenHealth Opens Redmond Town Center Primary Care
EvergreenHealth Primary Care - RTC 7345 164th Ave NE, Suite 1-105 Redmond, WA. 98052 425-522-8312 |
How to find us: Our entrance is on the ground level right off of NE 74th Street between 163rd Place NE and 164th Avenue NE.
Get care from the experts at our clinic in the comfort of your home when you select a virtual visit when scheduling your appointment. Hours 8-5 Monday through Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday. If you need a same-day appointment, we ask that you call the office.
Get care from the experts at our clinic in the comfort of your home when you select a virtual visit when scheduling your appointment. Hours 8-5 Monday through Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday. If you need a same-day appointment, we ask that you call the office.
We're located in the southwest corner of the Redmond Town Center directly across NE 74th Street from the Seattle Marriott Redmond.Free parking is available behind the building off of 163rd Place NE.
Website, 8/29/2022, excerpted
Posted by Bob Yoder, 8/29/2022
Sunday, August 28, 2022
OPINION: Community Comments On EvergreenHealth's Behavioral Health Practices
Molly Schroeder
Jennifer Z D Baldwin
Friday, August 26, 2022
Opinion: King County Needs "Behavioral Health Urgent Care"
A letter to the EvergreenHealth CEO Tomlin and the Commissioners:
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.
Thursday, July 28, 2022
EvergreenHealth CEO Planning Bond Measure
CEO Jeff Tomlin, EvergreenHealth |
EvergreenHealth CEO Speaks on the State of the Pandemic, Contemplates Bond Measure.
“We did in 2000, and it’s about 20 years where the taxpayers pay an extra five cents on that thousand dollars in excess property value,” Tomlin said. “It’s about to expire, so the timing is good for us to start thinking about what the community can do to support us.”
-- Woodinville Weekly, 6/22/2022 Chamber of Commerce (Excerpt)
Comment: EvergreenHealth is long overdue in allocating bond dollars to a Behavioral Health Clinic; especially in light of the COVID-induced mental health crises.
Posted by Bob Yoder, 7/28/2022
###
During the EvergreenHealth Public Hearing of November 15th, 2019 the seven commissioners voted unanimously to approve a 2020 Regular Tax Levy of $19,311,562 (Resolution No. 907-19.)
An Excess Proper Tax Levy authorized for 2019 for repayment of UTGO bonds is $8,292,000 for calendar year 2020 was approved (Resolution No. 907-19.) These bonds are the residual of a bond measure passed by 60% years ago to pay for the Silver Tower and new Emergency Department.
You are welcome, says the Redmond taxpayer.
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
UPDATED: History Of EvergreenHealth Hospital CEOs
During a hospital tour in the mid-80's the Communications manager inadvertently showed me the commissioner's concealed public chambers. She was immediately fired. Suspicious, I began reporting on their meetings (photography and videotaping is forbidden.) A few Public Record Requests were filed.
One Public Record Request shockingly revealed an executive/pediatrician's salary of $600,000 and other misfeasance (1988.) It's unknown how long he was paid to participate in hospital governance. CEO Brown, a likeable fellow abruptly resigned, saying goodbye to all employees by email and flew off to Pennsylvania.
With that, the commissioners then hired Bob Malte from Colorado Springs as CEO. Bob is genuine and a real pro. Mr. Malte reshuffled personnel and re-branded Evergreen to "EvergreenHealth." The hospital began winning regional and national awards under Malte's helm.
It's well known, one in five Americans have a mental health condition in a given year; and only half are treated. Under the Malte Administration, EvergreenHealth developed a new mental health service but the booming EvergreenHealth community still doesn't provide significant behavioral health urgent care treatment. (Their Emergency Department physicians treat patients with anti-psychotics and other drugs.)UPDATED 4/25/2024: EvergreenHealth Commissioners Hold Open Public Meetings
EvergreenHealth Public Hospital District No. 2 |
- The third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm the commissioners start their Business Meeting. Public comment is taken at 6:30 pm in the Community Meeting Room Chambers. (suggest you call 425-899-1000 to confirm the meeting time; times may change.)
- Educational Sessions are held the first Friday of every month in Tan Room 250, Community Meeting Room Chambers. When the Agenda has an "Action" item, there's an opportunity for Public comment.
- Budget Hearing: Budget Hearings are held once a year, the first Friday of November at 7 a.m. in the Tan 250 Community Meeting Room Chamber Notice is give in the Seattle Times newspaper 2-weels before the Hearing.
- The Study Session was eliminated in 2021.
Chamber Location: Go down the narrow, winding hallway (hung with awesome history photos) of Tan 250 "Public Meeting" Room located in the Physicians & Surgeon Building.
Sunday, July 24, 2022
The Status Of Mental Health Care At EvergreenHealth Public Hospital
EvergreenHealth serves the community well.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
EvergreenHealth Allegedly Misused C.A.R.E.S. Money
On July 7th, I received an anonymous letter from an alleged EvergreenHealth Public Hospital employee. The letter was postmarked July 5th and signed: "Concerned Employee." The employee asked me to post the letter on my blog. -- Bob Yoder.
The Letter:
"On Tuesday evening, June 21, 2022, the EvergreenHealth Board approved management's proposal to use Federal Covid CARES money in the calculation of their incentive bonus scheme, which they otherwise did not earn. The CFO stated, "The CARES money is fungible and we can use it to calculate our bonuses." The CEO and Board Chair concurred. The proposal passed 4 in favor and 3 opposed. Management can now use that money to pay almost $2m in bonuses to the administrative team. The hospital is struggling to keep nurses and other key staff to serve its patients and those funds could have been used to serve the community and not line the pockets of the administrator."
The employee went on to say: "In a separate presentation, management prepared a 10-year facilities plan which does NOT include any consideration for behavioral health and will be going to the taxpayers for another bond."
I gave testimony to the Commissioners, CEO and CFO at their Tuesday, July 20th public meeting. The Board Chair Tim McLaughlin and Kayse Dahl, Director of Strategic Public Relations & Marketing gave differing explanations as to "why there was no misuse of funds."
END
U.S. Congresswoman Suzan Delbene was informed of these actions. Her staff recommended contacting King County Council Member Sarah Perry's staff to investigate.
After Council member Perry's staff completed the investigation she said she had a "bad feeling" about EvergreenHealth. She said she needs to hear from the whistleblower to proceed; this may have changed.
DelBene's staff member recommended two places to report EvergreenHealth C.A.R.E. fraud. (Or call Bob Yoder.)
Office of Inspector General:
- HHS OIG: https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/
report-fraud/ - OIG Treasury: https://oig.treasury.gov/
report-fraud-waste-and-abuseIf
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Vote Katie Grainger For "EvergreenHealth" Public Health Hospital Commissioner District No. 4
Katie Grainger lost to Chuck Pilcher
Commissioners are elected to 6-year terms! The incumbent has been at EvergreenHealth for 47 years. Is that long enough? We need a leader with a fresh perspective, who's a good listener and a community neighbor who will reach out to us! Vote for Katie.
Katie Grainger is endorsed by the LD 48 Democrats and the National Women's Political Caucus of Washington state.
Nice to meet you. I'm Katie Grainger. I'm the first in my family to do many things and that now includes running for office.
I never thought I'd have the courage to do something like this, but then I was diagnosed at 28 with an autoimmune disease. I lost my best friend at 30 to a rare cancer. I developed a rare renal condition at 31. Since then, I've served as a volunteer ambassador for the Sjogren's Foundation, and I've lobbied on behalf of the Sarcoma Foundation of America.
All of these experiences motivated me to work in healthcare. Having worked in clinical care operations for the third-largest non-profit health system in the United States, I see both the challenges facing healthcare and possibilities for reform.
I know firsthand the struggles of navigating a system that is not always affordable or accessible. I continue to be an advocate for health by promoting awareness for autoimmune diseases and fundraising for cancer research. I don't need to be the medical expert in the room to provide governance that positively impacts my community.
I intend to help make healthcare better for all Americans and that starts with impacting decisions made at the local level as Public Hospital (EvergreenHealth) Commissioner for District 2.