EARH receives state safety award, net income drops in August

East Adams Rural Healthcare was one of just five critical access hospitals in the state to receive a Top Performer Award for Employee Safety by the Washington State Hospital Association, the hospital announced at its Sept. 25 board meeting.

Dan Crisp, the laboratory manager at EARH and the EARH Safety Committee chairman, was on hand at the meeting to discuss the award, which came with a $2,500 reward for EARH’s safety program to spend as the hospital sees fit.

Some of that money, Crisp said, will go toward the planned Skill and Safety Fair that the hospital will be hosting in November. A portion of the money will also go toward holding a barbecue or celebration of some kind for hospital staff and board members.

Eric Gutzwiler, WSHA’s safety coordinator, congratulated EARH for the award. Crisp said that the hospital received the award because “[Gutzwiler] has come to EARH and seen that we are making an effort to develop a culture of safety.”

“That’s been a hard nut to crack at this hospital, for me,” said Crisp. “And that’s a lifelong experience as an airman in charge of many safety programs. You’re ordered to buy in there, you have to buy in. Here you don’t have to, to some extent, so trying to crack that nut has been tough.”

Provider encounters reach 2019 high in August, net income still down

EARH providers had 435 encounters with patients in August, the most provider encounters through the first eight months of the year and the most since November of 2018.

The rise in encounters comes as the recent additions to the EARH medical staff continue to obtain needed credentialing in order to see a larger group of patients.

Dr. Anthony Anderson had 57 encounters in August, an increase of 61.4% from July. Physician assistant Julietta Shapiro had 122 encounters last month, the second-most encounters she’s had in a month since she started seeing patients in February. Physician assistant Marnie Boyer had 125 encounters, and nurse practitioner Julie Trofibio had 38 encounters in her second month at the hospital as she continues to obtain credentialing.

HOSPITAL BOARD continued on Page 2

While the encounters are the most in a month at EARH in 2019 so far, the hospital saw a net income loss of -$335,083 in August. More than half of the loss came because of a higher-than-budgeted deductions from revenue.

The hospital received $831,871 in total gross patient revenue—which was $110,278 less than what was budgeted for—but after deductions the net patient service revenue sat at $492,075. The deductions from revenue, -$339,796, were more than double the budgeted -$167,372.

Date set for inaugural community forum in November

EARH CEO Corey Fedie confirmed that the inaugural EARH Community Forum will be held on Nov. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at the Ritzville Grade School. A tentative date has also been set for a second community forum next month in Washtucna on Nov. 18, but the hospital is still awaiting final confirmation.

The intent of the forum, Fedie said, is to engage with community members so that EARH can collect feedback on the needs of the community, as well as what the hospital can be doing better. Fedie said that they don’t intend to have a deep conversation related to recent billing issues, but they will record the concerns that members of the community bring up at the forum.

“I really don’t want that to be a board meeting,” said Fedie. “That is my opportunity to talk to the public, tell them a few key points that I want them to know, but ultimately get feedback and ask ‘how are we doing, please tell us if we’re good, bad or other, we want to learn from this experience.’”

Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Pepperd and Trofibio are expected to attend the forum, and Fedie invited board members and Dr. Charles Sackmann to attend the forum as well. Cookies and refreshments will also be served.