Kadlec: Adapting to rapidly changing health care landscape

Our region has been through tremendous change the past three years, and the health care industry is no exception. In Eastern Washington alone, two hospitals have closed their doors (Yakima and Walla Walla), and in the Tri-Cities, Kadlec remains the lone not-for-profit health system.

From regulatory uncertainty brought on by a presidential election year, to contagions like the recent COVID-19 virus, the challenges ahead remind us of the importance of maintaining a sustainable healthcare delivery system that will serve the Tri-Cities well into the future.

At Kadlec, I’m pleased to share we’ve worked extremely hard to stay prepared for whatever challenges may lie ahead, and are committed to our leadership role continuously helping to improve the health of the citizens of the Tri-Cities.

Outstanding patient care is our top priority. We are proud of the work of our caregivers, reflected by our recent 5-star rating for quality from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Kadlec is the only hospital in the Tri-Cities, and one of only three in Eastern Washington, to earn this designation, awarded to only the top 10% of hospitals nationwide.

Beyond the best-in-class clinical services we’ve become known for over the years, Kadlec is uniquely qualified to execute on our vision of “health for a better world,” as our focus grows to reflect concern for the overall health of the community in ways that go beyond traditional “sick care.” Kadlec is currently developing a number of strategies and partnerships to help address important problems such as homelessness, mental health and the opioid crisis. We look forward to joining with our community to address these important issues and together finding lasting solutions.

Kadlec is a proud partner of Providence, a not-for-profit health system serving the western United States. This partnership provides us a valuable combination of expertise and support, essential in these rapidly evolving times. With the help of Providence, we’ve invested in our future workforce, through initiatives like a $15 million endowment through Kadlec Foundation to partner with Washington State University to allow nurses to earn advanced degrees in the Tri-Cities. This investment, along with an added $3 million gift to Columbia Basin College, has helped Kadlec and our community face the pressures of a health care workforce shortage that has been impacting the rest of the country much more severely than here.

Our Providence partnership allows us to collaborate across the larger organization to share best practices and innovation as well. One example is our ALS Clinic that, in partnership with Swedish (another Providence affiliate), brings expert care to patients in the Tri-Cities area, allowing them to stay close to home for care.

The thriving Tri-Cities community is fueled by a healthy Kadlec. As the community’s second largest employer, Kadlec is a key economic driver that contributes to the area’s overall quality of life. Notably, Kiplinger’s Magazine recently listed Richland as one of the top 10 healthiest places to retire for your health.

In the face of many important challenges ahead, Kadlec is well-positioned to lead our community into a new decade of serving our patients and helping all of us live healthier lives. I want to thank Kadlec caregivers and the amazing community that we serve for 76 years of steadfast partnership and support, as we focus on writing the next chapter together.

This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Kadlec: Adapting to rapidly changing health care landscape."