Ribbon-cutting ceremonies are frequently used to celebrate new businesses that open their doors, but when it came to honoring the alliance between EvergreenHeath and Valley General Hospital in Monroe, hospital administrators felt that a ribbon-tying celebration would be more appropriate.
The ribbon-tying event was held on March 2, at EvergreenHealth Monroe (14701 179th Ave. S.E.). Meant to commemorate the integration between Valley General and EvergreenHealth, the event included brief presentations by EvergreenHealth Chief Executive Officer Bob Malte, EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners Chairman Al DeYoung, EvergreenHealth Monroe Board of Commissioners Chair Tony Balk and EvergreenHealth Monroe Chief Executive Officer Eric Jensen.
"This is really an important step,GÇ¥ Jensen said. "It's going to ensure the health and well-being of our community long into the future.GÇ¥
The phased alliance agreement between Valley General and EvergreenHealth, which began in late 2012, is one of several events that helped to bolster Valley General's financial position. In early 2013, Valley General appointed Jensen as the CEO, who has been instrumental in stabilizing the hospital's operations and improving financial performance.
In April 2013, voters passed a hospital levy GÇô another pivotal moment that helped to ensure that the acute-care facility remained in Monroe.
Balk praised the voters for passing the levy.
"They stepped up, passed a levy, because they value this hospital,GÇ¥ Balk said. "Now we have the alliance. The board of commissioners got together with the leadership team and collaborated to ensure that we retain high-quality health care in our community, delivered by providers who we know and we trust.
"Valley General Hospital is one of the best small hospitals in the Puget Sound region,GÇ¥ he continued. "Now with the alliance as EvergreenHealth Monroe, it's going to even be better.GÇ¥
The alliance has allowed the two public hospital districts to come together via an interlocal agreement, enabling them to share their purpose, mission, vision and values.
Malte highlighted EvergreenHealth's core values, which include compassion, respect, excellence, collaboration and accountability GÇô values that the two organizations now share.
"We commit to working together to improve the health and well-being of every life we touch,GÇ¥ Malte said.
Per the agreement, a new governing body called the Alliance Governing Body (AGB) will oversee the alliance. The AGB is composed of two members of Snohomish County Public Hospital District No. 1's (Valley General) Board of Commissioners, two members of King County Public Hospital District No. 2's (EvergreenHealth) Board of Commissioners and Malte.
Jensen will continue to serve as the CEO for EvergreenHealth Monroe.
Snohomish County Hospital District No. 1's five-member Board of Commissioners will remain intact, retaining specific powers and responsibilities directly related to the hospital district. The name-change, from Valley General to EvergreenHealth Monroe, is part of the alliance agreement.
In addition to providing east Snohomish County patients with access to more collaborative healthcare, the agreement benefits EvergreenHealth patients by allowing them access to specialized programs that currently exist in Monroe. These include addiction services for pregnant women and a hyperbaric chamber for wound recovery.
The alliance has resulted in an increase in services available in Monroe. Since the affiliation began, they've added new primary care, prenatal obstetrics and orthopedic surgery. EvergreenHealth Monroe patients have access to EvergreenHealth's 24/7 Nurse Navigator and Healthline, which is a free service by which patients can speak directly with a nurse 24 hours a day. The nurse navigator service can help to evaluate symptoms and indicate whether or not the patient should seek urgent care or wait for an appointment with a primary care physician.
Patients will have access to expanded primary care and mammography services, and can easily be connected with specialty-care providers through the EvergreenHealth network.
"With this new affiliation, we're reiterating our commitment to the community to deliver what we promised to deliver,GÇ¥ Jensen said.
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