PEACEHEALTH
On December 11, 2007, PeaceHealth, a Bellevue, WA based not-for-profit regional health care provider, was invited to participate in an initial information sharing meeting with the Committee. PeaceHealth currently operates a variety of healthcare providers including three large hospitals including St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, regional medical centers, three small Critical Access Hospitals, highly respected, community-based medical groups serving rural and urban communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, a comprehensive lab system, as well as multiple programs in home health, hospice and other centers of excellence in their communities. Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, PeaceHealth has provided exceptional medicine and compassionate care to Northwest communities including the San Juan Islands (through St. Joseph Hospital) for over 120 years. PeaceHealth annually receives national recognition for innovations in patient-centered care, patient safety and healthcare technology and is frequently named as one of the region’s best employers.
What are PeaceHealth’s fundamental values?
At the heart of PeaceHealth’s mission, values and vision is responsibility to patients and communities. PeaceHealth believes that its mission, values and vision compel the organization and its caregivers to always be finding new, more effective ways of providing the highest-quality healthcare services and care to patients. PeaceHealth’s “Core Values” are 1) Respect: PeaceHealth has respect for the dignity and the worth of each person as demonstrated by compassion, caring, and acceptance of individual differences. 2) Stewardship: PeaceHealth holds itself accountable to exercise ethical and responsible stewardship in the allocation and utilization of human, financial, and environmental resources. 3) Collaboration: PeaceHealth values the involvement, cooperation, and creativity of all who work together to promote the health of the community. 4) Social Justice: PeaceHealth builds and evaluates the structures of the organization and those of society to promote the just distribution of health care resources.
Why does PeaceHealth want to become more involved with the San Juan community, and what kind of commitment would PeaceHealth make?
PeaceHealth has been serving the San Juan community for over 120 years through St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, and the proposed new facility builds on that long history. Improving access to healthcare and serving communities is at the heart of the mission and values of PeaceHealth. The health system’s extensive experience in serving smaller, rural communities and its expertise in operating Critical Access Hospitals in a wide range of rural settings provided a strong incentive for the San Juan Community Hospital Committee members to invite PeaceHealth to explore the feasibility of a possible long-term partnership. PeaceHealth offers an integrated healthcare system -- with larger facilities, services and provider networks located within easy reach of the San Juan Island community, which would especially benefit the Island. If a partnership were to be undertaken between San Juan County Public Hospital District#1 and PeaceHealth, it would include a long term commitment to the community and to the quality of healthcare provided to all Islanders.
What experience has PeaceHealth had in serving small, rural, isolated communities like ours?
Serving smaller, rural communities has always been at the core of PeaceHealth’s 120-year history. While PeaceHealth also includes larger medical facilities in communities like Eugene, OR and Bellingham, WA, the organization has also kept its focus on serving smaller, rural communities. PeaceHealth currently operates Critical Access Hospitals in the Oregon communities of Florence and Cottage Grove, as well as Ketchikan, AK. In addition, the organization just recently signed a long term agreement with the City of Craig, Alaska, to partner with the community to operate a new clinic to serve the residents of Prince of Wales Island.
What community healthcare services does PeaceHealth provide?
PeaceHealth offers an extensive array of health services in its communities. In addition to traditional hospital, medical group, and clinic services, PeaceHealth operates medical laboratories, home health care, hospice services, and specialized centers such as the Cardiovascular Center and Center for Senior Health in Bellingham. PeaceHealth meets special community needs through creative programs such as the First City Council on Cancer in Ketchican, AK, onsite health clinics in a Eugene, OR school district, and the Health Occupations Career Pathway to facilitate nursing education in Florence, OR.
How does PeaceHealth view the doctor-patient relationship?
Fundamental to its service is PeaceHealth’s emphasis on its mission of healing. PeaceHealth believes that the physician-patient relationship is of paramount importance to its mission. Thus, PeaceHealth does not intrude into discussions and decisions made between patients and their physicians.
For more information on PeaceHealth, visit their website at www.peacehealth.org.