Community
A Word From Our Leadership
Strokes. Heart Attacks. Auto Accidents. We hope they never happen to you. But statistics show such tragedies are common. Chances are you or someone you care about has visited Valley Medical Center's Emergency Services. In 2004 we expect our heroic ER staff to treat more than 73,000 patients. That figure doesn't just make us one of the largest emergency departments in the state of Washington. The number places us among the busiest ERs on the entire West Coast.
Growth within our community means ER visits can only continue to climb. In fact, we recently saw 275 patients in a single day, the highest total ever. Despite the increases, we're proud of our level of care. VMC's ER physicians are board-certified, 90 percent in a specialty. Heart attack patients are assessed with exceptional speed. Their usual "door-to-balloon" times register 20 percent below national guidelines. Average patient waits fall below national averages. And in the Jackson Survey, an independent research group found that ER patients' satisfaction with VMC services again surpassed the national database.
If you live in Public Hospital District Number 1, you already count on having quality emergency care mere minutes from your home. We take your confidence and trust very seriously. In the spirit of that partnership we want to share our concerns.
The expenses of providing emergency care 24/7 are great. Along with hospitals across the country, Valley Medical Center is being buffeted by economic pressures. These include escalating numbers of uninsured patients, an aging population whose needs are more costly, and dwindling payment from insurance companies and the government. Hospitals also shoulder responsibilities unknown in the past, such as responses to national emergencies and disasters.
Are VMC's needs dire? Not yet. But today's demands outstrip our resources. While we can't say how long this will continue, we can pledge to keep you informed.
Rich Roodman, President/CEO, Valley Medical Center
Valley Values. The words come easily. But placing actions behind the sentiment takes hard work.
As your commissioners we try to ensure there are concrete benefits beneath the hospital's good intentions. Refining and developing services is one way Valley honors this goal. Another is through community outreach. If you are a senior and you aren't already a GoldenCare member, take a moment to check out this valuable program. We're expanding its offerings and advantages. Find out how in a free video. Also, the Valley dividend can now be applied toward lifetime membership in GoldenCare.
Valley Voices magazine is another way the hospital extends its expertise. Our new look, together with this redesigned website, is intended to help you quickly locate valuable, reliable healthcare information. Find a doctor, watch a video, request an appointment. We'll be adding many more features and functions in the months ahead.
As always, we are eager to hear what you have to say about Public Hospital District Number 1. Write to us in care of Kris Tiernan, Board Secretary, PO Box 50010, Renton, WA 98058. We hope you'll stay tuned.
Valley Medical Center Board of Commissioners
Don Jacobson, President
Mike Miller, Vice President
Carolyn Parnell, Secretary
Sue Bowman
Anthony Hemstad
For more information on the Board of Commissioners, click here.