Report to our community 2023
This past year was a difficult one for health care across our state and nation. In 2022, hospitals in Washington collectively lost $2.7 billion. While no hospitals closed in our state, some communities lost access to essential programs as those services were shuttered to prevent full hospital closure. Fortunately, despite having navigated industry challenges, Cascade Medical remains financially and operationally strong, and we are well-positioned for the future. We are excited about the two new family physicians who joined our care team; Dr. Lauren Kendall has been part of the CM family since February and Dr. Mark Wefel since June. We will also welcome two physician assistants mid-2023 whose arrivals allow us to complete plans to redesign provider coverage across the organization to better meet growing community demand for services and ensure that we are building access and capacity to meet future needs as well. Speaking of future needs, early in 2022 we initiated an innovative training program to both meet hiring demands and establish a caregiver career pathway. In collaboration with the Washington Association for Community Health, we built a Medical Assistant (MA) Apprenticeship Program; we celebrated our first apprentice achieving MA certification via this program in the first quarter of 2023. We are now working toward adding a Certified Nursing Assistant apprenticeship program, in collaboration with another community partner. Innovative programs such as these allow us to both support the growth and development of our team while positioning us to better weather workforce shortages. These are a few highlights of how we continue to adapt to be successful in a rapidly changing health care environment. Amid the myriad changes, however, some constants remain. Our gratitude for a steadfast, highly skilled, deeply compassionate team. Our dedication to caring for the passionate and thoughtful community that calls this place home. And finally, the support you offer allowing us to walk with you on your health care journey. In short—thank you for allowing us to be partners in your health. Diane Blake, CEO 2 2023 Report to Our Community
Who we are: Cascade Medical is a public, nonprofit Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinic 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 Operating Officer and EMS Chief Marianne Vincent, Chief Financial Officer Melissa Grimm, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer Natasha Piestrup, RN, Director of Nursing Whitney Lak, Clinic Director 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 how many patients we help over the course of a year and how many seek specific types of services we offer, and they paint a big-picture 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 someone with their own story, needs and reasons to come through our doors. While every story is unique, each patient’s expectation is universal—to receive the highestquality care from people they know and trust. Each of these numbers is built on oneon-one partnerships in care, and we are grateful for every one of them. 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 2023 Report to Our Community By the numbers
$106,976 in financial assistance given to cover medical costs in discounts granted. 925 Behavioral health visits 2022 statistics 11,754 Clinic visits with a primary care provider 337 Mammography exams 3,234 Immunizations 160 Endoscopies (including colonoscopies and upper endoscopies) 4,062 Emergency department visits 4,099 Radiology exams, including 1,204 CT scans 33,330 Lab tests 8,128 Physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy visits 1,362 Ambulance runs—63% resulting in patient transport COVID-19: 1,613 doses given All other immunizations: 1,621 CascadeMedical.org 5
Strengthening partnerships Access to great health care is important, both for the individuals seeking it and for the communities that depend on access to it. That truth is easy to acknowledge in theory. In practice, though, receiving health care can be difficult due to challenges in access, transportation, location or language. That’s why Cascade Medical is working hard to bridge those gaps in multiple ways. We’re proud to have operationalized our Mobile Clinic with regular, scheduled stops in the Plain/Lake Wenatchee area and Peshastin. This Mobile Clinic allows Cascade Medical to reach those who need care where they are. All folks need to do is call 509-548-5815 during business hours and make an appointment, and the Mobile Clinic will be ready for them on the day the clinic is in their community. Walk-ins are gladly accepted as well. When they show up, they’ll find Sam Linn, PA-C. Linn is fully bilingual in English and Spanish, and in her year-plus at Cascade Medical has already earned a reputation for amazing patient care. She says, “I think back to all our conversations with patients from the far reaches of our hospital district. Some are pulling strings for neighborly transport, others are scheduling extra time to use public transport, all for a single health care appointment. I’m so excited to bridge this gap for so many locals and bring our health care team out into the field for our community.” It’s all part of a larger effort Cascade Medical undertook to understand the health needs of our community, through a Community Health Needs Assessment. It’s a once-every-three-years process of engaging our community to collect information regarding unmet health care needs and gaps, which impact both the overall health of the communities we serve and specific groups within the larger community. That outreach wrapped up early in 2023, and we are in the process of using that data to create programs, protocols and policies that will help ease the challenges our most vulnerable face when seeking health care. 6 2023 Report to Our Community
We’re listening It’s also important to acknowledge our efforts improving the work we do is never done. Part of that work involves making sure we listen to the voices of the communities we serve. That’s why we’re excited to convene our Patient & Family Advisory Committee (PFAC) this summer. The purpose of the PFAC is to provide a voice representing all patients, and families of patients, who receive care at Cascade Medical. These community members will partner with staff to help improve quality of care for all who walk through Cascade Medical’s doors. After publicizing the group’s formation through the late winter and early spring, our steering committee considered submissions and formalized the committee in late spring. We are excited to enter into regular conversation with the communities we serve to focus on successes as well as opportunities for improvement. CascadeMedical.org 7
Committed to our community As 2022 saw pandemic restrictions lift, Cascade Medical found new and renewed opportunities to reach out to the community we serve. In June, we organized our first annual Health and Safety Fair. It was a jam-packed day, filled with a car seat safety check, a bike safety “rodeo,” helmet and life jacket giveaways, water safety information from our Ambulance department, and on-site demonstrations from Life Flight, Airlift Northwest, Chelan County Fire District #3, Chelan County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and more. Hundreds came out to enjoy the late spring sunshine, gain valuable information and enjoy our community! Cascade Medical placed 21 new automated external defibrillator (AED) units that are now all throughout our community. An AED is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use medical device that can analyze a heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart reestablish its rhythm. Director of EMS Brian Pulse says, “It’s an invaluable piece of lifesaving equipment when seconds can literally count. We are so grateful to our community’s generosity that made this a reality.” This was made possible due to a large donation from the Cascade Medical Foundation, along with contributions from Leavenworth Rotary and Confluence Health/Wenatchee Medical Group Community Fund. In addition to immunizing over a hundred community members at our annual drive-thru flu clinic, held in partnership with the Cascade School District, Cascade Medical also reached out to our community in a variety of other ways. We partnered with the Cascade School District for our Migrant Family Back-to-School night, offering immunization checks, sports physicals and more. We held health insurance “Open Enrollment Information Nights,” where our insurance navigators took some of the confusion out of the health insurance marketplace for community members, and we participated in a number of area job fairs letting our community know about career opportunities at Cascade Medical. Cascade Medical was also a proud participant in the PRIDE celebration held in Wenatchee, attended by thousands across the region. Staff was there to talk to attendees, answer questions and affirm our commitment to inclusive care for all. And last but not least (at least to the kids receiving goodies), our ambulance crew was able to take time downtown to treat all the ghosts and goblins celebrating Halloween in Leavenworth. They’re all examples of how we not only enjoy partnering in your personal health, but also the health of our community. 8 2023 Report to Our Community
Committed to caring Cascade Medical has always been fortunate to offer providers committed to caring for our community. The newest additions to our team continue this legacy. New physicians In February, Lauren Kendall, MD, was welcomed to the Cascade Medical family. Kendall said she knew from the beginning of her training that Family Medicine was more than a specialization—it was a calling: “Family medicine… it’s just so full of heart. It has everything, the closest to what I thought medicine should be. When I actually started my practice, I knew, this was what I was looking for.” Dr. Kendall also holds special interests in integrative medicine, women’s health and LGBTQIA+ health. She is a current Fellow in Integrative Health and Medicine at Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine and plans to become board-certified in this additional field in 2024. Dr. Kendall also previously founded and led a multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving transgender care. Dr. Kendall says, “I think this care is so important for the community and for the world, for everybody to have a place and a person they can trust to take care of their health when they need it. I’m so admiring of the LGBTQ+ community. They’re generally folks that realized something about themselves and had the bravery and integrity to say, ‘I’m going to be who I am.’ I am so in awe of that. I’m honored to help them in any way I can.” In June, Cascade Medical welcomed Mark Wefel, MD, to our family of physicians. Dr. Wefel comes to us from Wyoming, where he most recently practiced for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Wefel says he is excited to get back to the unique challenges and opportunities that come with being a family doctor: “For me, practicing family medicine is the definition of the medicine I want to do for the rest of my career. Being a family doctor, you take care of everybody…I didn’t realize (while practicing at the VA) I would miss treating children as much as I did. Kids…they keep it real, they keep it honest, and wow, do they keep you on your toes!” More than anything, Dr. Wefel is excited to weave himself and his family into the thread of our community. “We love being a part of a small community. I’m looking forward to making this my hometown and really getting to know my patients.” Apprenticeship program Cascade Medical is proud to announce our Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program has produced our first two graduates! It’s a one-year program completed through the Washington Association for Community Health. Candidates complete 2,000 hours of training and instruction, at no cost to the candidate. Graduates can practice at the top of their license, start their medical career with no debt, and create a pathway into a possible nursing career if they so choose. In July, we hope to bring on another high school graduate and start another internal candidate on their apprenticeship journey by the end of the year. It’s another example of how we’re working to create more pathways for care and careers. Both Drs. Kendall and Wefel are accepting new patients. Call 509-548-5815 to ask about how either one can be your primary care provider. CascadeMedical.org 9
Making a difference Cascade Medical is not only a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to caring for friends, neighbors and visitors, but also an environment where talented caregivers choose to stay once they are here. We asked some of our longtime staff and providers why they’ve chosen to give their time and talents to our community through Cascade Medical. “My position over the last 20 years at Cascade Medical has allowed me to fulfill my dream of working as a full-spectrum family physician, with responsibilities in the emergency room, the hospital and the endoscopy suite, as well as in the clinic. During that time, I’ve been able to foster ongoing relationships with my patients and work alongside an amazingly talented and dedicated group of colleagues. I’ve enjoyed the career I had always hoped for in a setting that has been ideal for raising kids, developing friendships and enjoying activities in a stunning natural environment. I feel fortunate to be a part of the team at Cascade Medical.” Dr. Tony Butruille “Over the past few years, I have told patients and friends that I felt like I won the lottery when I was offered a job here in 1999. That feeling remains to this day! I am fortunate to be a part of a dedicated team of individuals who work day and night to serve our mountain community, and it is my hope to remain a member of the Cascade team for the entirety of my career in medicine.” Dr. Geoff Richardson 10 2023 Report to Our Community
“There are many reasons why I have chosen to serve my career at Cascade Medical. I love that our mission statement and values both center around providing our community quality, affordable patient care. Working in a rural health care setting feels like you are making a difference for your community members. I am so grateful we have a supporting community that will help make sure Cascade is around for future generations. Cascade Medical staff also feels like an extended family. We work together to achieve goals while also providing each other with support. I am immensely proud to work at Cascade Medical and thankful for all my colleagues, the board of commissioners and community members.” Jerri Smith Director of Business Services “I started here as a 27-year-old physical therapist, just a couple of years removed from school on the East Coast. At Cascade Medical I found the freedom to learn, try new things, make mistakes, and grow our rehabilitation services program. I value the community we are here at CM, and our connection to the greater community we serve. I recognize and can talk to every employee in the building, from our incredible housekeeping staff to our dedicated medical providers, administrators and patient service representatives. Patients from the ‘old days’ still walk through our doors, and new patients and staff members from different walks of life enter our community with openness and something to teach us. I’m lucky to be a part of our unique and talented team here at CM and feel privileged to serve such a dynamic community which I call home.” Joe Aponik Director of Rehabilitation Services 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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