SPMC clinics earn recognition
The National Committee for Quality Assurance announced that Summit Pacific Medical Center’s three primary care clinics including McCleary Healthcare Clinic, Elma Family Medicine and Summit Pacific Healthcare Clinic have received the highest level of Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term, participative relationships.
“Summit Pacific focuses on high-quality, efficient, patient-centered care,” said Tammy Moore, chief clinical officer. “We are glad our successes in these areas are being recognized at a national level. It is a huge complement to our staff for the hard work they do day in and day out. We are thrilled to offer our community the benefits associated with seeking care at a recognized patient-centered medical home facility. With the development of the new Wellness Center, we will only continue to expand on these services and meet the needs of even more patients.”
Some changes that SPMC’s clinics implemented during the recognition process include offering early morning and evening appointments, extending appointment times and making all appointments more comprehensive by reviewing the patient’s complete medical record at every visit to identify opportunities to address other wellness needs. This may mean offering additional exams and services, with the patient’s consent, not related to the initial reason for their visit.
To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, Summit Pacific’s three primary care clinics demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements.
GHCH contracts with CipherHealth for expanded patient services
In October 2016, Grays Harbor Community Hospital entered into a trial relationship with CipherHealth, a healthcare technology company committed to improving patient outcomes and experiences through enhanced communication and care team coordination. Over this time period, nurses and other hospital staff were trained on new methods to support their patients in their transition to the home environment.
This training resulted in a program that integrates post visit phone calls to patients with a recording of the patient’s discharge instructions and follow-up care by their nurse.
The service allows the patient to hear details of their discharge as well as giving them an opportunity to indicate if they need a follow-up phone call from a GHCH staff member to assist in a specific aspect of their care, such as access to medications, treatments or follow-up care.
The key outcomes of this trial indicated that those who answered and participated in the voice call system were 69 percent less likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge.
“With the overwhelming success of this program, GHCH will now be using this protocol with all patients discharged from our inpatient units,” said Tom Jensen, CEO. “It is the hospital’s goal to communicate with all our patients in a manner in which supports them in a safe and healing transition home.”
Pacific Financial Corp earnings increase 16 percent
Pacific Financial Corporation, the holding company for Bank of the Pacific today reported net income increased 9 percent to $1.6 million, or $0.15 per share, for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $1.5 million, or $0.14 per share for the fourth quarter of 2016, and grew 16 percent from $1.4 million, or $0.13 per share, for the first quarter of 2016. Driving profitability in 2017 was steady loan growth, an expanded net interest margin and improving operating efficiencies. All results are unaudited.
“After delivering record earnings for 2016, we continued the momentum of achieving sound financial results for the first quarter. The sustained strength of our core earnings resulted from steady loan growth, expanding net interest margin and improved expense controls. In addition, revenue from our residential real estate mortgage operation continued to be a solid source of non-interest income, despite recent increases in mortgage interest rates,” remarked Denise Portmann, president and chief executive officer. “Financing of purchase activity continues to be strong. Demand for residential housing remains robust, but low supply in several of our markets is inhibiting sales to some degree. As construction activity accelerates to meet demand for additional housing, our residential mortgage lending group is well situated to generate additional revenue from the anticipated increase in purchase activity.”
Grays Harbor Museum passport in development
The Grays Harbor Museum Association is a newly formed organization made up of Grays Harbor museums (full list of participating museums below). The museums are working together to enhance internal operations and provide educational opportunities to museum staff, visitors and the community.
As a first major step, with a grant from the Grays Harbor Community Foundation, the museum association has developed a Passport to Grays Harbor History.
The booklet will be similar in design to the U.S. Passport. It features a page dedicated to each museum, with space to collect a unique stamp for each site visited. Passports will be available at 12 member museums for a $2 donation, on and after the official Passport Celebration June 3.
Grays Harbor Museum Association Members include the Aberdeen Museum of History, the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, the Polson Museum, Lake Quinault Museum, McCleary – Carnell House, Museum of the North Beach, Running Anvil Carriage House, the Chehalis Valley Historical Society Museum, the Coastal Interpretive Center, the Quinault Tribal Museum, the Grays Harbor Lighthouse, and the Westport Maritime Museum.
To get involved as a business owner, contact Nancy Cuyle, facilitator for the Grays Harbor Museum Association at (360) 464-4328 or via email at ghmuseumassoc@gmail.com.
Business involvement opportunities include being listed on the association website with special offers to passport holders. Staff also will be provided with handouts advertising participating businesses.
