Report to our community 2024
The celebration of Cascade Medical’s centennial is a good time to reflect on the significant advances made in health care during the past 100 years. To name just a few: the discovery and development of penicillin and then other antibiotics; the advent of diagnostic tools such as ultrasound and computed tomography (CT scan), which have had consequential impact on diagnoses and treatment; the development of chemotherapy and advances in cancer treatment; and vaccine development and the eradication of some diseases in the U.S., such as polio. The list goes on and on, bringing us to a very different world than the one in which our founders launched Cascade Medical 100 years ago. Things have changed and grown even in my 20-year tenure at Cascade. We offer a broader range of services now, including behavioral health and occupational and speech therapies. We’ve invested in advanced technology, including CT, digital mammography, ultrasound and an aquatic therapy pool. We’ve also expanded the way we connect with our patients, such as by offering telemedicine services and taking care on the road with our mobile clinic. As the health care industry changes, the Cascade team adapts, working to make sure vibrant, quality services remain available to our community and that those services grow and adjust to meet the changing needs of our communities. This is why we now offer a medical assistant apprenticeship program and are building a certified nursing assistant apprenticeship program. It’s why we launched hospitalist, ultrasound and cardiac rehab programs in the past year, and it’s also why we’re working to start a wound care program. We take our purpose of caring for the health and well-being of our community seriously, and we intend to be here for you through the next 100 years too. Even amid ever-present change, some things remain steadfast. That founding spirit, for one, which set us on a pathway of service and care, still burns bright in the heart of every Cascade team member. So does the personalized service, born by caring for neighbors, friends and loved ones. The honor of caring for you and your family is as deeply meaningful today as it was 100 years ago. Thank you for allowing us to be partners in your health. Diane Blake, CEO 2 2024 Report to Our Community
Who we are: Cascade Medical is a public, nonprofit Critical Access Hospital dedicated to the well-being of the Upper Valley community. Our hospital district covers 1,200 square miles in North Central Washington, including the towns of Plain, Leavenworth, Peshastin and Dryden. Cascade Medical is an exceptional rural health care facility. We are a team of compassionate and dedicated professionals who provide quality primary care, services and resources to our patients and their families. Board of Commissioners Thomas Baranouskas Mall Boyd Jessica Kendall Gustavo Montoya Bruce Williams Executive Team Diane Blake, Chief Executive Officer Pat Songer, Chief Operations Officer/ Chief of EMS Marianne Vincent, Chief Financial Officer Melissa Grimm, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer, Risk Manager & Privacy Officer Whitney Lak, Clinic Director Natasha Piestrup, RN, Director of Nursing Our mission inspires the work we do here. CascadeMedical.org 3
When gauging our effectiveness, numbers make up an essential part of the story. They illustrate the number of patients we help over the course of a year and how many seek the various kinds of services we offer. They also paint a bigpicture view of the impact we make on the communities we serve. At Cascade Medical, we always keep in mind that behind every single number is an individual with their own story, needs and reasons why they travel through our doors. While every story is unique, each patient’s expectation is universal—to receive the highest-quality care, from individuals they know and trust. Each of these numbers is built on one-on-one partnerships in care, and we are grateful for every one of them. 1,138 Behavioral health visits 2023 statistics 13,775 Clinic visits with a primary care provider 426 Mammography exams 2,799 Immunizations (648 COVID-19 and 1,088 flu) 224 Endoscopies (including colonoscopies and upper endoscopies) 4,125 Emergency department visits 5,997 Radiology exams, including 1,482 CT scans 89,098 Lab tests 7,900 Physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy visits; 4,228 inpatient procedures 1,213 Total ambulance calls—70.5% resulting in patient transport If you need help paying your hospital bill, whether or not you have insurance, call our financial counselor at 509-548-3436 or visit cascademedical.org/financial-assistance. You may qualify for a discount under Cascade Medical’s Community Financial Support Program. 4 2024 Report to Our Community By the numbers
$592,471 in financial assistance given to cover medical costs. CascadeMedical.org 5
More care, same commitment At Cascade Medical, we have seen giant leaps in the quality and types of care we have been able to provide over the past century. This commitment to improving continues and resonates through our increased care offerings to our community. When you experience a heart attack or other significant heart event, aftercare to rehabilitate your most important muscle is as essential as the emergent care you receive at the time of your cardiac event. You want that care to be of the highest quality, individually crafted and close to home. That last part is important—the distance one needs to travel to receive care can greatly affect a patient’s ability to complete this essential rehabilitation; extend life; and, most important, improve the patient’s quality of life. Thanks to fundraising efforts from our Cascade Medical Foundation, we can now provide that care. Our Cardiac Rehabilitation Program opened for service in early 2024. These efforts include strengthening the patient’s heart and body, building healthier habits, increasing energy and strength, and reducing the chances the patient experiences another cardiac event. 6 2024 Report to Our Community
In addition to our current suite of offerings, our Radiology department laid the foundation throughout 2023 to be able to offer outpatient ultrasounds in 2024! This allows our community to receive essential care close to home, without needing to travel out of the Upper Valley. All of this, along with our continued improvements to our online patient portal; a brand-new website; and a revised, easier-to-understand patient billing system, help us be better partners in your health journey. Community partnerships: Now and into the future While all of us at Cascade Medical are proud of our history of care, we are equally excited for what today, and the future, hold for the part we play in our growing, vibrant community. What are our promises to you, moving into our second century of care? First: If you need care, we say “yes.” If you need to establish care with a primary care provider, you will be seen for your introductory appointment in a matter of weeks, not months, from the first time you call—and sooner, in many cases! If you need care that does not require a trip to the emergency department but still shouldn’t wait, we have same-day appointment slots ready for you in our Family Care Clinic. Our team-based approach to care ensures you will be seen in a timely fashion, without unnecessary delay. We listen. Your health care journey is unique, and so is our personcentered, team-based approach to care, guided by our seven shared values: commitment, community, empowerment, integrity, quality, respect and transparency. When we say we are “partners in your health,” we mean it. We will continue our efforts to expand how we reach out to those we serve. We regularly participate in Leavenworth Community Engagement Nights and host our annual Health & Safety Fair. We seek feedback from our Patient & Family Advisory Council. And our individual team members play many roles in our community life. We don’t just care for those we serve, we are proud to be one of the threads that make the fiber of our community strong. Partners then. Partners now. Partners for the next 100 years. CascadeMedical.org 7
With a history as old as Leavenworth itself, Cascade Medical has grown to reflect the ever-evolving needs of our community and has become a recognized leader in health care. 1923— Dr. Albert Lessing directs the building of the Cascade Sanitarium. This is the two-story structure behind our current facility on 9th Avenue. 1965—Cascade Sanitarium becomes a public district hospital and is renamed Cascade General Hospital. 1968—The Hilfreiche Hausfrauen (H.H. Ladies) volunteer group is established with the mission to raise funds to assist in the purchase of supplies and equipment—an effort that continues to this day with the recent purchase of a baby scale (shown at right). 1970—The larger building is complete, and Cascade General Hospital is renamed Cascade Medical Center. 1981—Cascade Rehabilitation Center opened as a unit within the medical center. New, therapeutic equipment is purchased, providing the first rehabilitation facility for victims of strokes, disabling disease and accidents in north central Washington. 1989—After 20 years of service, Jim Ward of Cascade Ambulance hands the baton to Cascade Medical to establish our own in-house ambulance services, creating even more seamless continuity of care for those we serve in our 1,200-square-mile hospital district. 1936— Dr. Marvin Speer arrives for a six-month stay to help Dr. Howard Hopkins through the pneumonia epidemic. He stays, retiring in 1981. A century of care 8 2024 Report to Our Community
1992—The Cascade Medical Center Foundation (CMF) is established. Since that time, thanks to the hard work and dedication of their volunteers and board, CMF has purchased over $1.8 million worth of medical equipment for Cascade Medical. 2005—Voters pass the expansion and modernization initiative with 70% approval. 2009—Construction of the expanded and modernized facility begins. 2011—Construction of Cascade Medical’s new facility is complete! The medical center serves as a community resource for primary care, ambulance services, emergency and acute care, rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, and a variety of diagnostic services. 2020–2023—Cascade Medical plays a vital role locally and within our regional medical safety net to care for our community and act as a hub of vital health information for the communities we serve during the COVID-19 epidemic. 2023— Cascade Medical operationalizes our new Mobile Clinic, dedicated to serving those in our community dealing with logistical or transportation obstacles to receiving care. Established Telestroke Program and achieved Level III Stroke Designation, effective June 2023. 2024—Our Cardiac Rehab program gets underway, providing an essential service to patients in our valley recovering from heartrelated events and allowing them to receive critical care close to home. 2001—Critical Access Hospital designation is secured and commences Jan. 1, 2002. This designation is fundamental to our financial stability and our ability to care for our community in a cost-effective manner. 2014—Began steady growth in cash reserves, building to a healthy 190 days cash on hand in 2023. 2015—Began low-dose CT lung cancer screening; first facility east of the Cascades in Washington to achieve certification for this service. 2017—Initiated an integrated behavioral health model in the clinic with the addition of a full-time psychologist. 2021—Launched Medical Assistant apprenticeship program, offering an on-ramp for those interested in starting a career in medical care. CascadeMedical.org 9
Making a difference Teammate appreciation A few times each year, Cascade Medical holds “co-worker appreciation” opportunities where teammates can offer words of gratitude to each other. You can see some of those comments on boards throughout our facility. This year, we would like to highlight just a few comments out of the over 200 we received, explaining what makes our team special, coming from those who work with them every day. “What a wonderful mentor! Always willing to help her colleagues in collaborative patient care, brings the team together for after-work personal connection and brings great insight to our ever-evolving team.” “I want to express my deep appreciation for your role in making our hospital a better place for both our patients and our staff. Your dedication to continuous improvement has not only streamlined our operations but has also positively impacted the quality of care we provide to our patients.” WORDS OF APPRECIATION FOR: Rachel Avery, Director of Continuous Quality Improvement WORDS OF APPRECIATION FOR: Dr. Lauren Kendall 10 2024 Report to Our Community
“I really appreciate Andrya’s dedication to Cascade Medical. She is always looking for ways to improve the care we are able to provide to our patients and is the first one to jump in to assist in community-based events!” “Reese is all in on taking care of patients and the community. Thank you for thinking through processes together; for working with the team to continue to shape the hospitalist program; for your positive, open attitude; and for taking great care of our community!” “I absolutely love working with Diana! Diana is such a devoted worker, and you can see just how loved she is by the smiles on her patients’ faces! Diana is fun, she’s diligent and she always has a bright smile on her face. I truly appreciate you, Diana! Thanks for making Rehab all that much more special, not just to me, but to your patients as well!” WORDS OF APPRECIATION FOR: Reese Bradburn, PA-C WORDS OF APPRECIATION FOR: Diana Runions, Speech Language Pathologist WORDS OF APPRECIATION FOR: Andrya Dodson, Medical Assistant CascadeMedical.org 11
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Coffey Communications Cascade Medical 817 Commercial St. Leavenworth, WA 98826-1316 Cascade Medical 817 Commercial St. Leavenworth, WA 98826 cascademedical.org Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday Available 24/7 for emergencies Contact information Emergency Room Phone: 509-548-5815 Hours: Open 24 hours, every day Family Practice Clinic Phone: 509-548-3420 Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy Phone: 509-548-3421 Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; Saturday by appointment Diagnostic Imaging/Lab Phone: 509-548-2512 Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
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