spring 2016 evergreenhealth monroe monitor

Spring 2016 1

monitor

THE DIGITAL HEALTH HORIZONTransforming patient care and service with technology

20 16SPRING

Delivering Data to Coordinate Care

A MOBILE APP THAT ENCOURAGES PATIENT PROGRESS

P. 11

THE TECH ISSUE

Bryce Yamashita, EvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care patient

2 EvergreenHealth Monitor

Dear friends,It’s our pleasure to bring you our latest issue of Monitor as we welcome spring in the Northwest.

Since we formalized our partnership last March, we’ve been sharing Monitor with our neighbors in East Snohomish County. This month, we’re pleased to introduce an enhanced format of Monitor, with even more content highlighting the great things happening at EvergreenHealth Monroe. As we mark the one-year anniversary of the alliance between EvergreenHealth and EvergreenHealth Monroe, we’re pleased to share some of the ways we’re providing new and expanded care every day.

Together, we seek to be your most trusted source for health care solutions. Each day, we look for opportunities to align innovative expertise and technologies to help our patients thrive at their healthiest best.

It’s in that vein that we’re dedicating this issue to all things “Health Care Tech.” From biosynthetic materials, to cloud-based tools that enable virtual and instantaneous communication for home health, along with patient-reported outcomes via smartphone applications, technology is transforming your health and the way we deliver health care.

You’ll read about some of these innovations at EvergreenHealth Monroe, including the use of biosynthetic material for hernia repair and our award-winning hyperbaric wound healing technology. And, as part of the larger EvergreenHealth system, we have continued access to new applications and innovations that deliver world-class outcomes and exceptional service to patients, while keeping the human and personalized experience at the center of all we do.

As you read the stories in this issue of Monitor, we hope you’ll be inspired by some of the ways health care tech is transforming health care delivery across the entire EvergreenHealth system, and the breadth of services available to you right here in Monroe.

Sincerely,

We invite your feedback and questions.Contact us at [email protected]

Message from the CEOs

Contact us

Robert H. Malte, Eric P. Jensen, EvergreenHealth EvergreenHealth Monroe Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer

Spring 2016 3

On the DIGITALHEALTHHORIZON

In Every Issue02 Message from the CEO

16 Health Classes

18 EvergreenHealth Foundation

20 Primary, Urgent, Emergency and Specialty Care

Table of Contents

Tony Yen, M.D., EvergreenHealth Chief Medical Information Officer

Features04 TeleStroke Delivers Virtual Care

When Minutes Matter

05 A New Kind of House Call

06 Delivering Data

07 Understanding the Health Care Consumer of the Future

08 Tech Talk

10 InBody Assessments Help Signature Care Patients See What They’re Made Of

11 A Mobile App that Encourages Patient Progress

12 Revolutionizing Rehabilitation

14 Monroe Surgeon Performs Complex Biosynthetic Hernia Repair

15 News and Updates from EvergreenHealth

Health care in the digital age looks strikingly different than it did for doctors and patients in earlier eras.

Relatively recent innovations have revolutionized traditional approaches to complex cases—computer-assisted technology dramatically shortens surgery

and recovery times, electronic medical records provide

unprecedented, secure access to information, patients track their own vitals with sensor-enabled wristbands,

all while modern technology allows patients and providers to

connect at any time of day.

At EvergreenHealth, we are proud to be on the leading edge of technological innovation with the support of pioneering providers who use many of the latest advances to deliver personalized care. In this issue, you’ll learn about the new and emerging ways our team integrates technology to help our patients live well, improve their health and ultimately achieve better outcomes.

Even as our clinical tools evolve over time and technology expands the ability to provide care beyond our physical walls, at EvergreenHealth we believe the trust within the patient-provider relationship remains at the very core of truly meaningful and effective health care.


TELESTROKEDelivers Virtual Care When Minutes MatterThanks to advances in telemedicine, EvergreenHealth is launching a new way for patients experiencing stroke symptoms to see a specialist as quickly as possible, even if the doctor is miles away from the hospital.

According to Dr. David Likosky, medical director of the EvergreenHealth Neuroscience Institute, telestroke combines imaging-review tools, remote video conferencing features, and a web portal to assist with communication between providers. Combined, the tools deliver a virtual provider consultation when minutes matter most.

“When EvergreenHealth launches telestroke this spring, patients in the emergency department will have access to neurology and stroke specialists, any time of day or night,” Dr. Likosky explained. “This technology essentially removes the barriers of time and distance when it comes to providing immediate treatment for stroke patients.”

While a majority of stroke patients will continue to see a neurologist in person, telestroke will fill the gap during on-call times, including late nights and some weekends, when a neurologist isn’t physically on site. In those cases, an on-call physician can interactively examine a patient displaying stroke signs using the technology with the help of emergency room doctors and nurses. For patients with stroke, that immediate care assessment can be critical to reversing serious damage, and can make a significant difference in improving chances for recovery.

“Previously, an emergency room doctor would consult with a neurologist over the phone to decide on a plan of care,” Dr. Likosky said. “Now, the neurologist can have direct interaction with the patient, conduct a neurological exam in real time and review brain imaging to provide the most timely and effective care possible.”

EvergreenHealth’s stroke care relies on a collaborative team approach beginning with skilled EMT responders and continues seamlessly once the patient reaches the emergency department. The addition of telestroke technology will further enhance the team’s ability to provide the fastest, most comprehensive care to ensure the best possible recovery.

David Likosky, M.D., Medical director, EvergreenHealth Neuroscience Institute

EVERGREENHEALTH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED

BY HEALTHGRADES

WITH AMERICA’S 100 BEST

HOSPITALS FOR STROKE CARE

AWARD™ AND IS ALSO RANKED AMONG

THE TOP 5% IN THE NATION FOR STROKE CARE.

Telehealth

AMERICA’S100 BEST

STROKECARE™2016

Spring 2016 5

eHOMEHEALTHVirtually Connects Providers to Patients

For 83-year-old Art Mussman, staying busy is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. The Kirkland resident and retired Air Force man continues to enjoy his independence and spends time volunteering with EvergreenHealth’s Community Advisor program, which meets regularly to discuss insights into the health care industry.

That’s part of what makes him the perfect candidate for EvergreenHealth’s digital service that helps home health patients track important information about their health, and report it back to their doctors, home health providers and family members.

The eHomeHealth cloud-based software platform provides tools to help Mussman track his blood pressure, weight, pulse and blood-oxygen levels using sensor-enabled equipment that he keeps at home. The sensors log his biometric data on a daily basis and report it to a single platform, which can be accessed by care teams and family members from any device.

“I’m working to keep my numbers as steady as possible,” Mussman explained. “On my busy days, sometimes I have higher blood pressure, so it helps to see those trends and try to correct them.”

Back at EvergreenHealth, Home Health providers can log in to view Mussman’s readings in real time and look for concerning trends in his vital signs. If

anything appears to be abnormal, clinical teams can intervene and help get him

back on track.

With telehealth platforms like eHomeHealth, EvergreenHealth is delivering more efficient care that

helps patients and providers stay better connected.

Art Mussman, Kirkland, WA

The eHomeHealth software platform helps people live as independently as possible by connecting care teams to patients in their homes. EvergreenHealth launched the service thanks to funding from donors

at the annual Evergreen Gala, and patients are now using the platform and its personalized

in-home technologies to track their own health information and share it

virtually with their care teams and family members.

A “virtual village” connects a care team to people at home.

A NEW KIND OF HOUSE CALL


Health care providers often talk about collaboration and coordination for better

patient care—important concepts to ensure critical information is shared that

leads to the best outcomes and the healthiest outlook for their patients.

Now, thanks to new care management platform Wellcentive, coordinated communication can happen in near real-time. With Wellcentive, providers across different practices and health systems can know important patient information as it happens, even if the providers use different electronic health record (EHR) systems.

The multidisciplinary implementation team is currently working to launch the platform within EvergreenHealth’s clinically integrated network, EvergreenHealth Partners (EHP), which is comprised of EvergreenHealth physicians and independent practices in the Puget Sound region.

Wellcentive works by aggregating data from many sources around the health care ecosystem. The tool combs clinical and pharmacy insurance claims and organizes patient activity into an interface that can communicate with dozens of different EHRs.

If a patient visits the emergency department or sees a specialist outside of their primary care provider’s network, Wellcentive tracks that activity and makes it available to the patient’s care team.

“This tool opens up a conversation piece that didn’t exist before,” explained Sara Rutherford, MPH, RHIA, quality coordinator for EvergreenHealth Partners. “It allows providers to know their patients even better with important information that is coming directly from a range of sources involved in a patient’s care.”

“Ultimately, it will help us take better care of our patients by giving us valuable insight into their health history without requiring the patient to repeat information to their care teams,” added

Shahzina Karim, EvergreenHealth director of care management and behavioral health services.

But beyond tracking individual patient activity, the tool provides powerful insight into health trends among a system’s entire patient population, helping providers and nurse care managers at participating clinics analyze potential gaps in care plans and address overall improvement.

EvergreenHealth began implementing the tool in 2014 and worked last year to customize it for launch in a handful of EHP practices. In 2016, the organization will continue to introduce it to participating practices and begin analyzing the first waves of patient data.

Paul Buehrens, M.D., Medical director of EvergreenHealth Partners, and primary care physician at Lakeshore Clinic

“As a clinically integrated network, one of our top priorities is to provide the highest-value care and an exceptional patient experience. This new tool is a game changer in helping us deliver on that commitment with solutions that are dynamic, creative and completely ‘outside the box.’ Wellcentive is a patient-centric tool that not only enables care managers to see all the care for an individual, but it will help us close emerging gaps in care across all our patients, and aid health care providers to measure our own performance and reveal opportunities to improve. Ultimately, Wellcentive gives us the tools to prevent unnecessary health conditions and lead an entire community to better health.”

Wellcentive Provides Meaningful Clinical Information to Promote Healthier Patients and Populations

DELIVERING DATA

Spring 2016 7

UNDERSTANDING THE HEALTH CARE CONSUMER OF THE FUTURE

Q&A with the Doc

Technology is revolutionizing the way patients participate in their personal health care. Advances are transforming the way we schedule appointments, review our health records and even interact with our doctors.

Over his nearly 40-year career, Dr. Greg Aeschliman, a physician at EvergreenHealth Primary Care – Woodinville, has studied the way innovation and health-information management are changing traditional health care delivery models. He sat down with Monitor to share his insight into what’s to come for patients and providers as the digital revolution marches on.

imaging tools and are a virtual gateway to connect with providers in real time.

Technological innovation is also providing ways to analyze large amounts of information from multiple sources. New tools like Wellcentive help to improve my patient care as it collects information from around the health care ecosystem while powerful predictive algorithms identify patterns in “big data” that we use to create a healthier community. It is an exciting time.

M: How should patients use health care technology now?

GA: There are many ways patients can leverage the technology at our fingertips today. Familiarize yourself with your provider’s patient portal. Use online tools to schedule appointments, message your doctor, and review your electronic medical records. When searching for health-related information, I recommend my patients use trusted websites such as PubMed. Include the

words “scholarly article” in your search to easily find useful information. Start your search using Microsoft Academic Search or Google Scholar to find the most credible content.

When patients help create the demand for health care technology, it challenges us to continue driving the digital revolution and to ultimately be your best partner in navigating your health.

M: What technologies are on the horizon?

GA: Mobile devices offer many ways to collect, store and share data. Experts predict they will become important diagnostic tools in health care as they collect personal health care data beyond just pulse, blood pressure, weight and exercise. They’re now becoming handheld heart-rate monitors, diagnostic

M: What are the most significant changes happening now?

GA: I see my patients increasingly using health care resources on the Web, along with EvergreenHealth’s electronic medical record portal. They view their own data and communicate with me via secure messaging, often avoiding an office visit. As patients access more information on their own, some of the traditional interactions we’ve had for years are beginning to shift.

As that trend continues, I think the health care consumer of the future will take even greater charge of decisions surrounding their care. Innovations will allow

patients to “design” their own health care, have better access to health care services, improve the quality of care and help control health care costs.

Greg Aeschliman, M.D., EvergreenHealth Primary Care—Woodinville


Monitor asked some of our most plugged-in professionals about the health care technology they use most in their practices and personal lives.

Here’s what they had to say.

“I use my phone all the time with patients to access important resources, show photos and visuals, and help counsel parents using information and apps specific to maternal-fetal medicine. The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) has an app that is equally helpful for patients and physicians, as it offers the latest medical research along with interactive calculators and videos to help keep expectant parents informed.”

“I use my phone all the time ... to help counsel parents.”

“We’re in the midst of a massive shift in the way health care is delivered, and technology is central to the changes that are giving patients unprecedented access to their own health information, as well as increased participation in medical decision-making. One of the most rapid developments is the way patients can use their own smartphones as medical devices. With simple attachments, parents can check their kids’ ears for infection, or determine the rhythm of the heart with a mobile phone case. Or with a small sensor, an asthma patient can now share real-time data with his or her physician on when they’re using their inhaler through a simple app on their phone. The result is increased access to care at lower costs, which is significant for patients and families here in the U.S., but the concept is offering extraordinarily more affordable care to people in developing countries on a global scale. It’s an exciting and inspiring time to be part of this movement.”

We asked

They shared

“... technology is central to the changes that are giving patients unprecedented access to their own health information ...”

“ ... tremor-cancelling technology for everyday tools ... can really improve quality of life.”

TECHTALK

Martin Walker, M.D., Eastside Maternal-Fetal Medicine at EvergreenHealth

Brad Younggren, M.D., EvergreenHealth Emergency Care

“For patients living with tremor, tremor-cancelling technology for everyday tools like dinner utensils or a computer mouse can help cancel out tremor when a patient is doing those tasks, which can really improve quality of life.”

Pinky Agarwal, M.D., EvergreenHealth Neurological Care

Spring 2016 9

EHR.Works Wins the First Annual Digital Health Pilot Program In 2015, EvergreenHealth partnered with local health care innovation hub Cambia Grove and digital enterprise consulting firm Elevar, to create a Digital Health Pilot program to challenge technology startups to devise new ways to help EvergreenHealth deliver enhanced patient care using technology.

Nearly 100 companies and entrepreneurs responded to the challenge, presenting solutions to address EvergreenHealth’s opportunities.

The winning startup is EHR.Works, which is partnering with EvergreenHealth on a pilot project related to patient registration.

“As with any new technology, the key is finding the ‘sweet spot’ where its use clearly benefits the patient. This is very much true with robotic surgery, which I have found to be extremely beneficial for certain types of colorectal operations.”

“At Signature Care, we use an app called Nudge that collects patient data and information from any wearable device and uploads it to us in real time. The app logs patients’ activity measures like fitness, sleep, water intake and other customizable categories and reports it to a coaches’ platform where we can see how a patient is doing and can offer encouragement in between appointments. A built-in messaging system makes it easy to send brief notes back and forth to help keep patients on track for living their healthiest best.”

“In my personal field of gynecological surgery, the da Vinci robotic platform has changed hospitalizations for hysterectomy from four- to five-day hospitalization early in my career, to an out-patient day surgery or overnight-stay experience for patients now. After-surgery recovery has dramatically decreased from four to six weeks to being able to resume normal activity within just five to 10 days in most cases, and most are fully recovered within two to three weeks. Infection rates, blood transfusion rates, and the need for narcotic pain relief are all much lower, as well. Looking back on when I first started, the differences still amaze me.”Trina Barrow, EvergreenHealth Signature Care

Pinky Agarwal, M.D., EvergreenHealth Neurological Care

“ ... we can see how a patient is doing and can offer encouragement ...”

Spring 2016 9

John Paul Isbell, M.D., EvergreenHealth Gynecological Care

Trina Barrow, BS, MA, Wellness Coach EvergreenHealth Signature Care

Harry Kahn, M.D., EvergreenHealth Surgical Care

“ ... the key is finding the ‘sweet spot’ where its use clearly benefits the patient.”

“ Looking back on when I first started, the differences still amaze me.”


InBody Assessments Help Signature Care Patients See What They’re Made Of

Anyone who has ever pledged a commitment to a health and fitness routine surely knows the frustrating feeling of putting in the effort without seeing the results on the scale.

“Weight alone can be a misleading figure when it comes to measuring your overall health and creating a lasting plan for a healthy lifestyle,” explained Trina Barrow, health and wellness coach at EvergreenHealth Signature Care in Woodinville. “In reality, there are several other components that can provide a more accurate read of your overall body composition.”

Enter the InBody system. InBody uses the latest technology to measure a patient’s percentage of body fat, muscle distribution and body water balance—measures that make up a patient’s weight, and more accurately convey a level of overall health.

The system works by stepping on a scale-like platform and grasping two handles that safely send electrical current through the patient’s arms, legs and trunk. The technology produces a detailed report within 30 seconds, giving Barrow and her patients the perfect starting place for a conversation about their individualized health goals.

As members of EvergreenHealth’s concierge-style primary care practice, Signature Care patients have the opportunity to meet with Barrow on a regular basis to review their progress, discuss goals and talk about the nutrition, exercise and lifestyle adjustments Barrow recommends for achieving their greatest success.

According to Barrow, health care technologies, despite their remarkable capabilities, can only tell you so much. “That’s why the relationship piece is so important,” Barrow said.

“Patients can give me insight into how they’re feeling and what’s happening in their life which helps guide my recommendations.”

The assessments and Barrow’s coaching service are part of the membership fee Signature Care patients pay to be patients within the primary care practice led by Dr. Kristen Knox and Dr. Steven Montague.

“I’ve always felt that good health is more than just the absence of disease and that fitness is more than muscle. It’s really exciting that we are now able to use readily available technology to foster vitality in our patients, making them better able to handle the challenges of modern life,” Dr. Montague shared.

The system works by stepping on a scale-like

platform and grasping two handles that

safely send electrical current through the patient’s arms, legs

and trunk to produce a comprehensive body-composition analysis.

Frances Turner, patient, and Trina Barrow, health

and wellness coach at EvergreenHealth

Signature Care in Woodinville.

Steven Montague, D.O.,EvergreenHealth

Signature Care


Spring 2016 11

A MOBILE APP THAT ENCOURAGES PATIENT PROGRESSRecovering after surgery and beginning rehabilitation is often a daunting task. Even with your doctors and therapy teams as engaged partners at your side, care plans and daily rehab tasks are often intended for home. And, traditional patient instructions—one-time lessons accompanied by handouts or photocopied diagrams—are easy to misinterpret, misplace or simply forget. What’s more, the traditional model lacks effective ways for patients to report progress or provide feedback to their care teams at relevant times.

EvergreenHealth recognized this challenge and partnered with local startup Wellpepper to offer patients a better solution for engaging in their rehab with the solution’s digital and mobile-based platform.

“We saw an opportunity to introduce technology to help patients manage their own rehabilitation tasks using an interface that is already familiar to them—their own smartphone,” said Kirk Hanson, executive director of EvergreenHealth Surgical and Musculoskeletal Services.

Wellpepper is a clinically approved mobile application that allows providers to create a completely customized rehabilitation and recovery plan for patients that is accessible via mobile device. From the platform, doctors and therapists provide post-surgical instructions, daily rehab tasks using videos of the patient performing necessary exercises under supervision and can communicate through a messaging feature.

“With its video and audio instructions, the app keeps you focused on following the instructions so your technique doesn’t veer and it helps you perform your exercises the right way. When I’ve had questions, I can message my physical therapist and he can actually send a video back to me demonstrating adjustments or modifications,” said Bryce Yamashita, an EvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care patient and Wellpepper user. He began using the app following a referral from Dr. Yung Lee.

Through the simple, straightforward mobile app interface, patients can review the videos of themselves doing their exercises as a point of reference, receive daily notifications and then report their feedback and performance back to their provider.

“With printed instructions, it’s easy to put them out of sight and out of mind,” said rehab therapy patient Merrily Foreman. “But this app is like having your own personal trainer on your phone—you get positive encouragement and reminders to stay on top of your exercises and actually make the progress you need to recover. I really feel like I’m doing better thanks to this app.”

Download EvergreenHealth’s free mobile app for Apple or Android

Spring 2016 11

What’s App?

My Navigator is Your Direct Link to Your Healthiest Best EvergreenHealth’s patient portal, My Navigator, connects patients to their electronic medical record through an online platform, accessible from any device.

My Navigator gives patients complete access to lab reports, health history information, doctor visit summaries, medication listings and future appointments. Patients can use it to send non-urgent messages to their care teams and receive a response by the next business day.

Ask your EvergreenHealth provider’s office how to register.

Need a map, want to find a doctor, pay a bill or view medical records on the go? The EvergreenHealth mobile app allows patients and visitors to securely navigate the health system from most mobile devices.

Merrily Foreman, EvergreenHealth Rehab patient and Wellpepper app user

Left: Yung Lee, D.O., Medical director, EvergreenHealth

Sport & Spine Care

Right: Bryce Yamashita, EvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care

patient


REVOLUTIONIZING REHABILITATION EvergreenHealth Rehabilitation Services helps patients get back to living healthy, fulfilled lives with specialized equipment and personalized care from skilled providers in a vibrant, interactive space on the EvergreenHealth campus in Kirkland. The department and its team of rehabilitation therapists are early adopters of some of the most advanced tools and technologies designed to enhance the patient experience with high-tech equipment that delivers personalized rehab service.

Wherever patients are on their road to recovery from an injury, illness or surgical procedure, the Rehabilitation Services team uses the latest technology as a key component of therapy. The team showed Monitor four of the newest innovations they’re using—including some not typically seen in a hospital rehab setting—to help patients of all ages and abilities get back to living their healthiest best.

Bioness BITS System Uses Therapeutic Touch-Screen Technology The Bioness BITS System is a touch-screen-based rehabilitation platform that delivers a range of therapeutic tests and activities through 16 programs with progressing levels of difficulty. Users can improve eye-hand coordination, peripheral vision, cognitive endurance and memory, and increased visual search and scanning abilities. EvergreenHealth uses the system to primarily treat patients with disabilities caused by traumatic injuries and neurological disorders, but some specialists are also using it with competitive athletes to strengthen performance levels, as well.

What’s New?

Left to right:

EvergreenHealth Rehabilitation Services team

members, Melissa Gilbert, Vanessa Spruill, Cole

Graves and Desiree Blalock.

Spring 2016 13

Computerized Dynamic Posturography Measures Balance Relearning balance strategies can be critical to regaining the strength and stability needed to navigate daily tasks. During a computerized dynamic posturography testing session, patients stand on an unstable base while they’re safely harnessed to the machine. The system and a rehabilitation specialist then objectively measure a patient’s three sensory inputs that contribute to proper balance: the inner ear system; feet, ankles and joints; and vision. The provider uses the computer to command a sequence of motions that put a patient’s posture out of balance and then records how well they react. From there, detailed sharable reports are created to determine a prognosis and benchmark the success of a patient’s treatment.

VideoStar Frenzel Goggles Track Rapid Eye Movements Dizziness and vertigo are some of the most common complaints that prompt patients to seek medical advice, but it can be difficult to pinpoint what’s causing a patient’s symptoms. With Frenzel goggles, EvergreenHealth specialists can help isolate whether the issues stem from the inner ear (the vestibular system) or the brain. Here’s how it works: A patient wears a set of goggles that create complete darkness while an embedded video camera tracks the patient’s eye movements as a provider places the patient in different positions. A connected laptop tracks the patient’s rapid involuntary eye movements that help reveal the root cause of the symptoms to determine the best treatment. EvergreenHealth’s Frenzel goggles are particularly advanced because they are completely portable, allowing practitioners to provide testing at locations throughout the hospital.

Gait Rite Evaluates Your Stride Many different medical conditions can alter the way a patient walks—chronic pain, head injury, orthopedic problems and arthritis are just a few. The Gait Rite system provides a pressure-sensitive carpet that measures a large amount of data about a patient’s stride as they simply stroll across the carpet’s sensors. The system gives feedback on step length, speed of walking, any differences between the right and left legs and the amount of pressure each foot uses to meet the floor. Through these insights, EvergreenHealth providers can fine tune each patient’s program to maximize therapy results and shorten recovery time.

Talk with your provider about a referral to EvergreenHealth Rehabilitation Services, and learn more about their services at www.evergreenhealth.com/rehab or by calling 425.899.1960.


Living with a complex abdominal hernia is painful and problematic. Just ask Gerry Krsak.

The Centralia resident had fought his symptoms for eight years before finally

deciding to do something about it.

“I was apprehensive about having surgery, but I wish

I would have seen Dr. Eickerman even sooner,”

he described.

In December 2015, Krsak made the trip from Centralia to Monroe to meet with Dr. Michael Eickerman, a general surgeon

at EvergreenHealth Monroe, and learn

about his options for treatment.

With little persuasion, he was in surgery the next day.

Dr. Eickerman is known for taking on the tough cases. He specializes in treating large ventral hernias in patients who have few remaining options for lasting relief.

“Many of the patients I see have had numerous previous surgeries, maybe where one has failed before, and are living with a hernia that continues to

MONROE SURGEON Performs Complex Biosynthetic Hernia Repair

EvergreenHealth Monroe delivers comprehensive emergency care—often with the area’s shortest wait times—from board-certified emergency medicine physicians who provide care for patients at all three of the EvergreenHealth system emergency departments.

When minutes matter, so does the right 24/7 emergency care.

increase in size with each failed intervention,” Dr. Eickerman explained. “These patients need essentially an abdominal wall reconstruction.”

In a traditional hernia repair, surgeons have long used synthetic mesh, typically polypropylene or Gore-Tex®, to patch the width of the hernia. In some cases, this repair can deteriorate over time.

For patients like Krsak, Dr. Eickerman offers a more complex surgical repair, known as the Component Separation Technique (CST). This, coupled with the addition of a relatively new biosynthetic mesh called Phasix, has been proven to provide better long-term repair with significantly less likelihood of recurrence.

The material was developed in the last four years by engineers at MIT, and Dr. Eickerman was one of the first surgeons in Washington to begin using it in abdominal wall reconstruction, and he is one of the very few surgeons that currently performs CST on the Eastside and in Snohomish County.

“The Phasix material is actually absorbed by the body. It stimulates the tissue to form new collagen which creates the fascia necessary for a long-term solution,” Dr. Eickerman said.

Though more time is needed for more conclusive studies, Dr. Eickerman has seen just a 5 percent chance of recurrence with the Phasix technique, with very low complication rates. More traditional approaches tend to yield a 20 percent chance of recurrence.

Krsak couldn’t be happier with his treatment—and his surgeon. “I really feel like a new man,” he said. “And Dr. Eickerman is a remarkable surgeon. He’s really got a gift.”

Left: Michael Eickerman, M.D., General surgeon, EvergreenHealth Monroe

Right: Gerry Krsak, Centralia, WA

Spring 2016 15

Rated Among the Top 5% of Hospitals Nationwide for the 7th Year

For the seventh time in eight years, EvergreenHealth earned recognition as a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence™ by Healthgrades®, placing the health system in the top 5 percent of the more than 4,500 hospitals evaluated nationwide, based on its outstanding clinical performance.

EvergreenHealth is also recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals™ for 2016 in five specialties including stroke care, pulmonary care, gastrointestinal care, general surgery and critical care.

Recognized Among U.S. News & World Report’s Most Connected HospitalsEvergreenHealth earned distinction as a “Most Connected Hospital” in 2015-16 by U.S. News & World Report, which places the health system among just 159 hospitals nationwide for its advances in electronic connectedness that improve safety and patient experience.

EvergreenHealth Partners with CommonWell Health Alliance to Help Patients Share Medical RecordsThe health system joined organizations that are committed to enabling patients to give their providers access to their medical records by partnering with CommonWell to securely exchange patient data with participating provider sites across the United States. CommonWell services are built directly into members’ electronic health record workflows, which enable clinicians to access patients’ medical records from outside health care organizations.

Named Among 2015 Most Wired Hospitals and Health SystemsHospitals & Health Networks magazine recognized EvergreenHealth as “Most Improved” in the 2015 Health Care’s Most Wired survey of IT excellence from the American Hospital Association’s Health Forum and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME).

National Recognition for Electronic Medical RecordEvergreenHealth received Stage 6 designation of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Adoption Model, recognizing the two-hospital health care system’s efforts to implement technology solutions that improve patient safety and quality of care. EvergreenHealth joins 22 percent of hospitals in the U.S. that carry a Stage 6 distinction from HIMSS Analytics.

NEWS FROM EvergreenHealth

The Latest

Spring 2016 15

Teams across the organization make technology an integral part of enhancing patient care and delivering the best experience and outcomes. Here’s a look at recent accomplishments.


For your convenience, you may register and pay for classes 24/7 online at www.evergreenhealth.com/classes. You may also call the EvergreenHealth Nurse Navigator & Healthline at 425.899.3000, Mon.–Fri., 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Pre-registration is required for all classes. Checks, VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Refunds and rescheduling will only be given for cancellations two business days prior to the class. Let us know if you need special accommodations to participate.

Register for classes online or by phoneHEALTH CLASSES

FREE SEMINARS

• Breakthrough Treatment for Pain

• Knee or Hip Pain

• Weight-loss Surgery: Is it Right for You?

• Understanding Hospice Care

WELLNESS &HEALTHY LIVING

Healthy Meals Made Easy!

Are you looking for something new to include in your weeknight meal rotation? If so, let us help you! Join us in our demonstration kitchen where you will learn how to master wonderful recipes, gather a few tips and tricks, and gain nutritional knowledge. Samples included!

Call to register for a spot in one of these upcoming classes:

• The Good Fats: Incorporating the Omegas into Your Diet

• Appetizers for the Health Nut

• Fresh and Light Fiesta

• Eating Real: Scratch Cooking with Whole Foods

• Farmers Market

• Coconut Craze

• Power Smoothies: Harness the Power of Greens

• Sin-Free Desserts and Treats

• Healthy “Alternatives”

• Healthy Meals from the Farmers Market

• Home Treatments for Common Spring Allergies & Colds

• Acupressure for Self-Care

• Tai Chi for Back Pain

• Healthy Eating on a Budget

• Setting a Goal to Reduce Stress

• Resisting Germs from Irresistible Kids

• Strength Training for Everyone

• Mediterranean Diet

• Get a Good Night’s Sleep

• Methods for Relaxation

• Family Fun Cooking Class

• Where’s the Fiber?

• Trouble Choosing Supplements?

• Macular Degeneration

• Self-Care and Exercise

• Walk Your Way to Wellness

Navigating the Health Care System

What if your loved one needs to be hospitalized? Who do you need to call and what documentation will you need? What resources are available to you? Join us to learn valuable tips on partnering with your doctor and hospital in supporting the care of your loved one in the event of an illness or injury.

EMERGENCY &SAFETY EDUCATION

• Babysitting Basics

• Infant & Child CPR

• Community CPR

• Community First Aid

• Community CPR & First Aid

• Health Care Provider CPR

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support

SENIOR HEALTH CLASSES

In addition to the classes offered at EvergreenHealth Medical Center, we offer classes and health screenings at other convenient community locations. Visit www.evergreenhealth.com/classes for class schedules and locations.

• AARP Smart Driver Program

• What’s Great on Your Summer Plate

• Cholesterol and Diabetes Screening

• Summer Travel: Keep Moving

NEUROLOGICAL & MOVEMENT DISORDERS

• Dance for Parkinson’s

• Neurological Exercise Group

• Neuro-Nutrition Class

• From-The-Ground-Up Strength & Flexibility

• Living Well After Stroke

• Evergreen Men’s Group

• Therapeutic Yoga for MS

CHILDBIRTH PREPARATION

For class dates and times or to register for classes, go to www.evergreenhealth.com/childbirth or call the EvergreenHealth Nurse Navigator & Healthline at 425.899.3000. Register early during your pregnancy, as classes fill quickly.

• Family Maternity Center Tour

• Tour de la Sala de Maternidad en EvergreenHealth para Parejas de Habla Hispaña

• Understanding Your Prenatal Testing Options

• Warm Welcomes

• Meet a Midwife

• Delivery Day – Birth and Beyond

• Delivery Day for Teens and Young Adults

• Delivery Day for Multiples

• Labor Coping Skills Review

• HypnoBirthing®— The Mongan Method

• Siblings Class

• Conscious Fathering

• Fit4Baby

• Yoga for Pregnancy

• Pelvic Health Class

• Prepare the Nest: Childbirth, Breastfeeding & Newborn Care Class

Pondering Parenthood

Explore topics to help you decide when it’s the right time to begin expanding your family. You will learn about pre-conception and early pregnancy nutrition, as well as the benefits of good health and exercise. Our health care professionals will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about costs associated with raising a child, what to expect during your hospital stay, how to choose a provider, and discuss resources available to you once you are expecting.

www.evergreenhealth.com/classes

Spring 2016 17

For more scheduling information: For a full listing of classes, descriptions, dates and times visit www.evergreenhealth.com/classes.

Cancer Care ClassesClasses and support groups at Halvorson Cancer Center

EvergreenHealth offers cancer care support and education for patients and families in partnership with Cancer Lifeline. To register, call 206.297.2500 or 1.800.255.5505 or visit online at www.cancerlifeline.org.

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

• Ikebana Flower Arranging

• Visual Journaling

• Meditative Doodling

• Jewelry Making; Beaded Bracelets

COOKING DEMONSTRATION

• Raw Foods for Vitality

• Super Foods for Spring

• Boost Immunity with Flavors of Africa

• Eating Healthy On the Go

• Cooking for Cancer Wellness

EXERCISE AND MOVEMENT

• Gentle Yoga

• Lebed Health Steps

• Tai Chi for Everyone

PRESENTATIONS

• Living Beyond Survivorship Into Thriving

• Navigating the Emotional Seas of Cancer

• A Deeper Look at Living with Less Fatigue & Anxiety

• Caregiving: Support for When Someone You Love Has Cancer

• Advanced Directives

• Neuropathy; How to Address it During & After Treatment

• Survivorship Series; Healthcare After Treatment

STRESS MANAGEMENT

• Beginning and Continuing Meditation

• Small Steps to Managing Stress

SUPPORT GROUPS

• Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group (Day)

• Breast Friends Breast Cancer Support Group (Evening)

• Colon Cancer Support Group

• Living With Cancer Support Group

• Living With Metastatic Cancer Support Group

• Oral Head and Neck Cancer Support Group

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY (ACS)

To register for monthly sessions, call ACS at 1.800.237.2345

• Look Good, Feel Better Workshop—Support for Women Dealing with Hair Loss

• Day About Baby

• Breastfeeding Basics & Beyond

• Pumping Class

• Bringing Baby Home Workshop

• Parent-Baby Groups

• Back to Work Parent-Baby Group

• Parenting Your Toddler Classes

• Car Seat Safety

• Car Seat Checkup

• Infant Safety & Injury Prevention: Just for Parents

• Infant Safety & Injury Prevention: Just for Grandparents

New or expectant families learn effective techniques for parenting infants and babies through their first years of life.

Baby Care

Visit www.evergreenhealth.com/boutique.

• This is Not What I Expected

• Starting Solids

• Breastfeeding Your Older Baby

Visit the Baby & Family Boutique

Find clothing, nursing bras and supplies for pregnancy and breastfeeding and for your newborn.

STRENGTH. DIGNITY. HOPE.


Acute Rehabilitation Unit Renovation Complete Thanks to Generous Donors!

EvergreenHealth

FOUNDATION NEWS

EvergreenHealth’s Acute Rehabilitation Unit underwent a complete renovation to provide needed upgrades and enhance the patient experience. The unit features 14 upgraded

patient rooms, a new kitchen and dining area and a state-of-the-art Home Transition Apartment.

Thank you to the 2014 Evergreen Gala donors as well as the Eugene and Ruth Freedman Family Foundation, Michael and Mary Kay Hallman, Halvorson Construction Group and the Halvorson Family.

The 2015 Campaign for EvergreenHealth Raises $164,000!The EvergreenHealth Foundation extends a big thank you to all staff, physicians and volunteers who supported the 2015 annual campaign, helping generate $164,000 in contributions.

This past October, ambassadors from various hospital departments enthusiastically spread the word of the campaign among EvergreenHealth employees, helping to make this our most successful employee campaign yet!

The African Savanna awaits you at this spectacular black-tie evening. Guests will enjoy a sunset dinner, silent and live auctions, surprise entertainment, and dancing in our beautiful, climate-controlled signature tent.

This year’s Gala beneficiary is EvergreenHealth’s Family Maternity Center. Proceeds will fund new fetal monitors, allowing our laboring mothers to experience the highest level of mobility, comfort and safety during this incredibly important time.

For reservations, sponsorship opportunities or to learn other ways to support this important event, visit evergreengala.org or contact Christie Elliott at 425.899.1906 or [email protected].

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016 • 6:00 P.M. KING COUNTY’S MARYMOOR PARK IN REDMOND

The late Carol Hawes was passionate about supporting her community and even in retirement, found a new energy in giving back. After spending a lifetime working in their Bothell-based family business, Hawes became a dedicated volunteer to several causes, always looking for opportunities to try to help in some way. That giving spirit continues today as the EvergreenHealth Legacy Society receives a significant gift from Hawes’ estate to support the Halvorson Cancer Center and the Gene and Irene Wockner Hospice Center.

On behalf of the entire organization, the EvergreenHealth Foundation expresses its deep gratitude for the generosity of Carol Hawes.

Leaving a Legacy

Spring 2016 3

To learn more about upcoming events and how to support EvergreenHealth, visit www.evergreenhealthfoundation.com.

2016 SEASONS OF HOPE FUNDRAISING LUNCHEONBenefiting Hospice and Palliative CareNovember 10, 2016 • 11:30 a.m. Lynnwood Convention Center

2016 EVERGREEN GALABenefiting EvergreenHealth Family Maternity CenterApril 30, 2016 • 6 p.m. King County’s Marymoor Park, Redmond

GIRLS NIGHT OUT AT MOLBAK’SBenefiting EvergreenHealth Breast Center

June 10, 2016 • 7 p.m. Molbak’s, Woodinville

COLUCCIO CONSTRUCTION GOLF TOURNAMENTBenefiting the Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care CenterAugust 2016

EVERGREENHEALTH MONROE – BLUE JEANS & BOOTS GALABenefiting EvergreenHealth Monroe FoundationSeptember 10, 2016 • 5:30 p.m. Pine Creek Nursery

2016 EVENTS

APR

JUN

EAU

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OVSE

PT

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EvergreenHealth Monroe Recovery Center Helps Patients Overcome Addiction The Recovery Center at EvergreenHealth Monroe provides inpatient drug and alcohol treatment for patients in King and Snohomish Counties. The center specializes in working with young adults who are experiencing problems with opioid addiction.

The center’s medical director, Dr. John Patz, explains that “substance abuse disorder is truly a brain disease and we feel that EvergreenHealth Monroe is taking a leadership role in this region for using the spectrum of medicines available to treat patients at our facility. We are effectively bringing the most modern treatments to the table in seeking the best known outcomes for our patients.”

The center provides world-class treatment with an array of services from inpatient detoxification and residential treatment, to outpatient services and support groups and a special component for pregnant women. An experienced and compassionate 24-hour nursing and counseling staff cares for over 750 patients each year.

“Rarely is there a family out there who is not touched by drug and alcohol abuse. Quite simply we treat our friends, family and neighbors … and we treat their kids,” Dr. Patz shared.

Recently, the EvergreenHealth Monroe Foundation embarked on a mini-campaign to raise $150,000 to support the center. Proceeds from the 2015 Blue Jeans & Boots Gala started the campaign, gleaning support from local community members for physical plant upgrades and patient safety and security measures.

For more information on The Recovery Center, visit www.recoverycentermonroe.com.

To help support The Recovery Center, please contact the EvergreenHealth Monroe Foundation at 360.805.6304 or [email protected].


Wound-Healing Center Earns National Recognition The Wound Healing Center at EvergreenHealth Monroe, which offers state-of-the-art wound-healing, recently earned recognition from Healogics, the nation’s leading wound-care management organization, for its excellence in four key areas including healing rate, median days to heal, patient satisfaction and patient outlier rates.

With care delivered by doctors and clinical staff who are skilled in the latest therapeutic methods of wound management, the outpatient clinic excels at treating patients with a range of wounds with the most advanced and personalized care, including treatment in the center’s hyperbaric oxygen chambers.

To learn more about the Wound Healing Center in Monroe, visit www.evergreenhealthmonroe.com or call the center directly at 360.863.4655.

Now Accepting New Patients! EvergreenHealth Primary Care practices in Monroe and Sultan offer same-day appointments and care from board-certified family practice physicians. To see a list of providers visit www.evergreenhealth.com/primary-care and to schedule an appointment, call EvergreenHealth Monroe’s dedicated 24/7 Nurse Navigator & Healthline at 360.794.1111.

Welcome Dr. Pilar Baquero to EvergreenHealth Women’s Care in Monroe! Specializing in obstetric and gynecologic care, Dr. Baquero is accepting new patients and offers bilingual services to Spanish-speaking patients. Visit www.evergreenhealth.com/wc-monroe or call 360.794.1444 to schedule an appointment.

The Services You Need, Right Here at EvergreenHealth MonroeEvergreenHealth Monroe provides the community with comprehensive health care and emergency services, including:• Anti-Coagulation Clinic• Adult Inpatient Behavioral

Health• Chemical Dependency/

Recovery Center• Emergency Services• Gastrointestinal Services• Imaging• Laboratory• Mammography• Nutrition Counseling

Services• OB/GYN Care• Ophthalmology • Outpatient Oncology• Outpatient Pulmonary

Rehab Clinic• Pain Management• Pediatrics• Podiatry

• Primary Care (EvergreenHealth Primary Care – Monroe and Sultan)

• Respiratory Therapy Services• Surgical Services – General

and Orthopedic • Therapy and Rehabilitation

Services (PT, OT, Speech)• Wound Healing and

Hyperbarics Center

We also provide streamlined access to the EvergreenHealth network of nearly 900 providers and services and programs, including:• Minimally Invasive Surgery• Heart & Vascular Care• Home Care• Hospice Care• Women’s and Children’s

Care

• Orthopedic Care• Neurological Care • Cancer Care

12040 NE 128th StreetKirkland, WA 98034www.evergreenhealthmonroe.com

SNOHOMISH COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT #1 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS GREG ACCETTURO TONY BALKALICE CABESTEVE MATUSCHAKCHUCK STRUB, M.D.

EVERGREENHEALTH BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSAL DEYOUNG Bothell/Duvall/WoodinvilleJEANETTE GREENFIELD At LargeREBECCA HIRT Kirkland/KenmoreR. AUGUST KEMPF Redmond/SammamishCHUCK PILCHER, M.D. At Large

You may contact the Commissioners by email at [email protected].

EDITOR: EvergreenHealth Marketing & Public Relations Group & Firmani + Associates Inc.PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle Poole & Keith BrofskyDESIGN: Arscentia

EvergreenHealth Monitor is published as a community service by EvergreenHealth. Its contents are not intended to replace professional health care. See your health care professional for information relevant to your medical history.

EvergreenHealth is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

For career opportunities at EvergreenHealth, visit our website at www.evergreenhealth.com.

EVERGREENHEALTH MONROE - COMPREHENSIVE CARE

For more information including phone numbers, hours, addresses, directions and appointments, please visit www.evergreenhealthmonroe.com.

FACEBOOK EvergreenHealthEvergreenHealth Monroe

TWITTER @EvergreenHosp

YOUTUBE youtube.com/evergreenhospital

PINTEREST pinterest.com/evergreenhosp

INSTAGRAM @EvergreenHealth

Discover What’s New!

To learn more about all EvergreenHealth Monroe has to offer, please visit www.evergreenhealthmonroe.com.

spring 2016 evergreenhealth monroe monitor

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