Samaritan Healthcare | The Samaritan | Summer 2019

Board of Commissioners Update SUMMER 2019 | 5 Samaritan Board of Commissioners Op ED Access & Growth Over the last three years, we, the board of commissioners of Grant County Public Hospital District #1 (Samaritan Healthcare), have sought community feedback and input regarding healthcare services for our community. We conducted surveys and various input sessions with community members, staff and medical staff. We received feedback from over 1,000 people. One message we heard loud and clear is that people want more primary and specialty care services available right here in our community. Together, as your commissioners, we analyzed the feedback and studied the projected growth of our region in order to create a comprehensive, multi-year, strategic plan. One of the plans is Access and Growth which is all about bringing more healthcare services to our community. Together with leadership, physicians and staff we are working to make this plan a reality. Over the last three years Samaritan has recruited 16 new physicians and providers. In 2019, we have an additional eight physicians and providers ready to begin their practice in Moses Lake. This tremendous growth further showcases that Samaritan has been, and continues to be, committed to providing high-quality, local healthcare for our region. The recruitment has included expanded access to specialty care services through the addition of on-staff orthopaedics, sports medicine, podiatry, pediatrics, OB/GYN, as well as family medicine. The additional physicians coming in 2019 include the specialties of internal medicine, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric and adolescent psychiatry. And, we continue to recruit. We are also expanding the access to services through technology. One example of that expansion is MRI. This year we will be installing a new state-of-the-art GE Signa Artist Tesla 1.5 MRI at the hospital. This new MRI will give our doctors the same high quality images available in Spokane and Seattle. This will also improve the patient experience and allow for additional MRI services to be offered locally. Our shared vision continues to be caring for our communities, expanding your access to healthcare, and continuing to grow our specialty care delivered to you, the patient, by compassionate and highly experienced physicians, surgeons, nurses, providers, leadership and staff. As your elected board, we will continue to place the needs of our communities, and your input at the forefront. We will do our utmost to ensure that all of you have the ability to receive the healthcare you need right here, without needing to travel long distances away from home. We are committed to continuing to build the local services of our Hospital District and we thank you for supporting our efforts. Sincerely, Joseph Akers, Board President Alan White, Board Secretary Katherine Christian, RN, Board Commissioner Tom Frick, Board Commissioner Dale Paris, Board Commissioner Joseph Akers Tom Frick Dale Paris Alan White Katherine Christian