Snoqualmie Valley Hospital offering free whooping cough vaccines
June 19, 2012
Whooping cough (pertussis) cases in King County continue to increase. As of June 8, there were 2,092 confirmed cases in Washington, and 366 confirmed cases in King County, according to a Snoqualmie Valley Hospital press release.
The upward trend continues not only in Washington, but also in Oregon, so SVH is offering free vaccines June 20 at the SnoValley Senior Center in Carnation. Read more
Snoqualmie Valley must wait until Dec. 13 for outcome in recount of public hospital district race
November 30, 2011
Six votes separate the two challengers for a seat on Public Hospital District No. 4’s board of commissioners. The slim difference triggers a hand recount of the more than 9,000 votes cast in the race.
King County Elections staff will recount ballots on Dec. 12 and post results the following day.
Three other races have triggered automatic recounts: Enumclaw School District Director No. 4, City of Bellevue Council Position No. 1 and City of Des Moines Council Position No. 6.
Latest election returns favor leaders in close races in Snoqualmie Valley
November 10, 2011
Vote returns Thursday all but put an end to three close races in Snoqualmie Valley.
Snoqualmie Valley School Board candidate Geoff Doy increased his lead over incumbent Caroline Loudenback. Doy, who ran on a reform platform, leads by 80 votes with 40 percent of all potential votes tallied. King County election officials had expected a 52 percent turnout across the county.
Doy trailed on Election Day, but overtook Loudenback on Wednesday.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital wins cleanliness award
November 9, 2011
The Washington State Hospital Association has awarded Snoqualmie Valley Hospital one of its “Best Hands on Care” award.
The award praises hospitals that have earned a perfect record of hand hygiene for three consecutive months.
In a letter to the hospital, association president Scott Bond called the award a real achievement for the hospital.
The award, Bond wrote, “recognize(s) that this is a commitment to safe care which extends to each patient that walks in your door.”
Candidates bring different focuses to race for hospital commissioner seat
October 13, 2011
The race for a seat on Snoqualmie Valley Hospital’s board of commissioners features two candidates calling for improving existing services. Beyond that, the similarities are few. The two come from very different backgrounds and have very different priorities.
The race comes at a critical time in the hospital’s history. It has broken ground on a new $30 million facility on Snoqualmie Ridge.
Gene Pollard Occupation: Retired (former Foreign Service Officer and city official) Contact: genepoll@yahoo.com
Karyn Denton Occupation: Registered nurse Contact: karyn.l.denton@gmail.com
Only a few years ago, Public Hospital District No. 4, which runs the hospital, was in the red. The hospital’s designation as a critical access hospital and its subsequent transition to primarily a rehabilitation facility have turned its financial situation around. But to get in the black, the district did have to close two clinics to cut costs and free up money for new technology.
Despite the new facility, hospital administrators acknowledge that big questions about how the hospital is paid loom in the future.
Enter the two candidates running for Commissioner Position No. 3: Gene Pollard and Karyn Denton, who was appointed in July to a vacant position on the board.
Pollard’s campaign is focused on improving the hospital district’s decision-making process by making it more transparent and open to the public.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital district sells $15.3 million in bonds
October 5, 2011
Public Hospital District No. 4, which operates Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, is selling $15.3 million in bonds to refinance existing debt, raise money for initial work on the site of its new facility and buy new equipment for that site.
The district’s board of commissioners approved the bond sale at its Sept. 22 meeting.
“It takes a load off taxpayers,” said Jay Rodne, the district’s attorney.
It also puts the district near its limit for nonvoted debt of about $20 million, Rodne said.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital picks partner for new site
July 20, 2011
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital officials have picked a developer to help build a new hospital on Snoqualmie Ridge. Hospital officials and the developer, Terry Moreland, have signed an initial agreement and are negotiating the final agreement.
Construction is expected to begin in January, according to Rodger McCollum, CEO of King County Public Hospital District No. 4, which manages the hospital.
“This latest process has moved forward very quickly with a lot of details to attend to, so I haven’t really had the time yet to let it all sink in,” McCollum said.
Hospital foundation appoints its new executive director
June 22, 2011
The Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Foundation has a new executive director. The new appointment comes as the hospital district embarks on its plans to build a new hospital on Snoqualmie Ridge.
The new executive director, Kim Arellano, was elected by the foundation’s board of directors in May to take over after serving as a board member. The foundation — an independent, nonprofit organization — supports the hospital district through advocacy, education and fundraising.
Kim Arellano
Arellano said she plans to continue to focus on the foundation’s mission of supporting the hospital’s growing technological capabilities, offering networking opportunities for local health care providers and providing services, such as the hospital’s Affordable Access Voucher Program.
“We will listen to the needs of the community and help enable the district to provide for them,” she said in an email to the Star.
The greatest challenge to achieving the foundation’s goals is fundraising.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital seeks new developer
April 13, 2011
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital can’t afford a new facility close to Interstate 90, so it wants a developer to pick up the tab. The hospital would then lease the building with plans to buy it in 10 to 20 years.
“We don’t have the ability in the current tax and economic climate to take on more debt, so we’re partnering with a developer for more debt-capacity,” said Rodger McCollum, chief executive officer of Public Hospital District No. 4, which runs the hospital and its clinics.
The new hospital will allow the district to expand existing services. It does not plan on adding any services. The district’s clinic on the Ridge will not move.
The district is seeking a public-private partnership, something rarely done in hospital construction in the US.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital looks for partner in developing new location
April 1, 2011
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital can’t take on the debt needed to pay for a new facility close to Interstate 90, so it wants a developer to pick up the tab. The hospital would then lease the building with plans to buy it in 10 to 20 years.
“We don’t have the ability in the current tax and economic climate to take on more debt, so we’re partnering with a developer for more debt-capacity,” said Rodger McCollum, CEO of Public Hospital District No. 4, which runs the hospital and its clinics.
The district recently put out a request for bids on the project, which is not expected to cost more than $35 million.
With the construction market still lagging, the request drew plenty of interest.
