FROM WHERE I'M SITTING...By jeff mero, executive director

It looks like vacation. Hope you enjoy one!

SNAPSHOTS

Although Tim Eyman failed to get Initiative 864 (I-864) on November's ballot-falling short by about 42,000 of the needed 198,000 signatures-public officials still should be vigilant. Given Eyman's ongoing efforts to cut taxes, it's entirely possible that he's already begun planning his next moves, which could surface as early as 2005.

So while PHDs and other local governmental entities can breathe easy (for the moment), actions already undertaken in anticipation of I-864's appearance on the statewide ballot shouldn't be dropped now that the immediate threat has passed. Efforts to improve communications between local officials must continue. Citizens need to be constantly informed about the services that governments are providing. And governments always need to hear from the public about those services that are most important. Unless these dialogues are taking place-regardless of whether or not there is a public outcry for tax cuts-governments can't operate efficiently, effectively, and in response to what theirconstituencies desire most.

Interested in instituting an electronic medical records (EMR) system, but daunted by the prospects of high costs? You may want to talk with Garfield County Public Hospital District's Administrator, Andrew Craigie, or its Medical Director, Syed Zafar MD.

The hospital district has been using SOAPware, an EMR modular software package, for about four years and reports a "positive experience." The initial costs of getting the district's EMR system up and running were less than $10,000-one of the reasons that Garfield selected SOAPware.

Dr. Zafar relates that SOAPware uses a Microsoft Access database and has a readily accessible patient registry. Each of patient pages contains all visit encounters in all settings: outpatient, emergency department, inpatient and nursing home. A patient profile is created in the summary page and the self-explanatory demographic page has fields for adding insurance data.

According to Dr. Zafar, SOAPware, although not fancy, has fulfilled Garfield's needs very well. As the hospital has expanded its services, SOAPware too has grown. For example, radiology reports are now scanned into the database. And with the integration and interface of SOAPware with the lab system, lab results are available in clinic terminals as soon as the analyses are completed. Dr. Zafar notes this immediate access has improved efficiency and translated into better patient care.

Another SOAPware module purchased by Garfield is "Chart Searcher." It has enabled Garfield, which is a participant in the Western Washington Rural Health Collaborative program, to search its database and prepare a list of patients within minutes-a function that Dr. Zafar describes as "critical for any community or population-based health care."

If you're considering an EMR system, Dr. Zafar suggests that you visit SOAPware's web site: www.docs.com. He or Andrew also would be pleased to talk with you about this EMR program.

The Washington State Society for Healthcare Engineering (WSSHE) can provide your Facilities and Maintenance Department staff with significant networking and educational opportunities that can improve your PHD's operational efficiencies. Sandy Buchanan, the facilities manager at Lincoln Hospital in Davenport (Lincoln County PHD #3), has found WSSHE "to be a tremendous help and would recommend all health care facilities managers to get involved." She adds that WSSHE "will be the least expensive method for administrators to keep their maintenance staff informed of current issues."

Information about WSSHE can be obtained by calling Jim Mead at (206) 667-4244. Jim also will have contact information for the WSSHE regional chapter (Eastern, Puget Sound, and Southwest) in which your facility is located.

General information about WSSHE also is available at www.wsshe.org. (Sandy points out that the site is being upgraded and all information may not be current.)

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Island Hospital in Anacortes (Skagit County PHD #2) is pursuing a bond levy in the amount of $30.5 million to rebuild its physical plant. The total project cost is $40 million and the balance will be funded through hospital revenues, grants and charitable contributions. The bond will be voted on September 14th and if successful, construction could start during the fall of 2005.

After covering over 2,300 miles and visiting 28 AWPHD members in 13 days, AWPHD's director of legal services and health policy, Dick Goldsmith, returned to Seattle from his odyssey-road-weary but enthused. Hearing about members' triumphs and challenges through phone calls, e-mails and association meetings had been helpful. But touring facilities, experiencing care-giving and work environments, and seeing how PHDs are positioned within their communities, both physically and as a major employer, truly brought home to him the impact and importance of the work that PHDs and their staffs are doing.

What was especially apparent at nearly all the facilities he visited-even facilities subject to painful financial pressures and undergoing wholesale administrative changes-was administrators and staffs' pride in their work and institutions, their commitment to delivering quality health care using available resources, and their dedication to the well-being of their patients and communities.

The trip also enabled Dick to gather comments on how AWPHD could improve its services to members, respond to requests for information and materials, and suggest resources inside and out of AWPHD's membership who could offer assistance and the potential for collaborative activities.

To those he visited on this tour, as well as those who "hosted" him in the past, Dick is most appreciative for your time, hospitality and the educational opportunities that you provided. Although it's unlikely that Dick's future tours will be as lengthy and intensive as the one just completed, he plans to make a "site visit" to each member at least once every two years.

UPCOMING EVENTS

WSHA Rural Hospital Committee Retreat
August 5-7 • Alderbrook Resort, Union
Contact: Johanna Bradford (206)216-2510

AWPHD Board Retreat
August 11-13 • Sleeping Lady Resort, Leavenworth
Contact: Wendy Ray (206)216-2516

UW Health Services Administration Finance Boot Camp for Board Members
August 14 • University of Washington, Seattle
Contact: Lori Jacobs (206)543-8778

Rural Health Quality Network Conference
August 18 • Davenport Hotel, Spokane
Contact: Barbara Hitzl (206)216-2512

PHD & WA Workers' Compensation Board Retreat
August 30-31 • Sleeping Lady Resort, Leavenworth
Contact: Anita Badri (206)216-2553

Rural Advocacy Day
September 14-15 • Washington, DC
Contact: Wendy Ray (206)216-2516

AWPHD Finance Committee
September 16 • Conference Call
Contact:Wendy Ray (206)216-2516

Use In Focus to let AWPHD members know about resources your PHD has used to improve the delivery of health care services: Submit an article to Dick Goldsmith at richardg@awphd.org

The deadline for articles for the August issue of In Focus is Friday, August 20th.