Hospital board passes budget

OMC projecting a $2.9 million deficit

PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Medical Center board of commissioners unanimously approved a $303.4 million 2025 operating budget that anticipates $300 million in revenue, leaving a deficit of $2.9 million.

The loss represents a $30,000 downward adjustment from the draft budget that was presented at the board’s Nov. 6 meeting.

The 2024 budget forecast a loss of $754,720; OMC is on track to lose $6.4 million this year.

Commissioners on Wednesday also approved a property tax levy of $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate represents the levy lid lift voters passed in August’s primary election that more than doubled the existing rate of $0.31 per $1,000.

OMC was awaiting word from Clallam County on the total amount it would collect, Chief Financial Officer Lorraine Cannon said.

OMC is continuing its efforts to move legislators in Washington, D.C., toward changes for its financial viability, hospital CEO Darryl Wolfe said. During his most recent trip, OMC continued to advocate for an appropriation request of $1.5 million for IT infrastructure improvement and increasing Medicare reimbursements from the current rate of 80 percent of the cost of care.

“I do think we’ve raised awareness, not just for OMC but also for the other hospitals,” Wolfe said. “You have a lot of large rural hospitals out there that aren’t cost-based critical access hospitals, not just in Washington state, but in other parts of the country as well.

“You cannot ignore them.”

In Washington, D.C., Wolfe met with U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, and Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Edmonds, and Patty Murray, D-Seattle, as well as U.S. Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Kim Schrier, D-Wash., Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and Michael Guest, R-Miss.

Wolfe said among the reasons he met with Newhouse and Guest was that Kilmer still needed a Republican to stand with him on his Medicare bill. The representatives have hospitals in their districts that are in positions similar to OMC’s.

“Everyone wants to support rural healthcare, it’s just a matter of how you do it,”Wolfe said. “We’re on a path that’s not sustainable for us.”

Heather Delplain, OMC’s administrative director of human resources, explained to commissioners new state laws going into effect that are intended to reduce healthcare worker burnout by prohibiting mandatory overtime except in specific circumstances and implementing strict meal and break requirements.

Hospitals that don’t comply can face penalties.

OMC has started a new program, Community Connections, that is part of its onboarding process. Local organizations talk to groups of new hires who are not from the area about their activities and volunteer opportunities.

“We really want them to feel connected to the community, not just OMC,” Delplain said.

Also, for the first time in recent memory, every registered nurse position at OMC is filled, she said.

Meanwhile, Bruce Skinner, executive director of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, introduced 14 men and women who are receiving support from the George and Barbara Brown Scholarship Fund to further their careers in healthcare.

The board recognized Skinner for his recent award from Washington Festivals and Events Association as its first lifetime achievement winner.

________

Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Paranormal investigator Amanda Paulson sits next to a photo of Hallie Illingworth at Lake Crescent, where Illingworth’s soap-like body was discovered in 1940. Paulson stars in a newly released documentary, “The Lady of the Lake,” that explores the history of Illingworth’s death and the possible paranormal presence that has remained since. (Ryan Grulich)
Documentary explores paranormal aspects disappearance

Director says it’s a ’ Ghost story for Christmas’

Funding for lodge in stopgap measure

Park official ‘touched by outpouring of support’

Wednesday’s e-edition to be printed Thursday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition on… Continue reading

Joe Nole.
Jefferson County Sheriff Joe Nole resigns

Commissioners to be appoint replacement within 60 days

Residents of various manufactured home parks applaud the Sequim City Council’s decision on Dec. 9 to approve a new overlay that preserves manufactured home parks so that they cannot be redeveloped for other uses. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim preserves overlay for homes

Plots can be sold, but use must be same

A ballot box in the Sequim Village Shopping Center at 651 W. Washington St. now holds two fire suppressant systems to prevent fires inside after incidents in October in Vancouver, Wash., and Portland, Ore. A second device was added by Clallam County staff to boxes countywide to safeguard ballots for all future elections. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Political party officials fine with Clallam’s loss of bellwether

With election certified, reps reflect on goals, security

For 20-plus years, Bob and Kelly Macaulay have decorated their boat and dock off East Sequim Bay Road for Christmas, seen here more than a mile away. However, the couple sold their boat earlier this year. (Doug Schwarz)
Couple retires Christmas boat display on Sequim Bay

Red decorations lit up area for 20-plus years

Hurricane Ridge day lodge funding held up in Congress

The fate of $80 million in funding to rebuild… Continue reading

Judy Davidson, left, and Kathy Thomas, both of Port Townsend, look over the skin care products offered by Shandi Motsi of Port Townsend, one of the 20 vendors at the second annual Procrastinators Craft Fair at the Palindrome/Eaglemount Cidery on Friday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Procrastinators Market

Judy Davidson, left, and Kathy Thomas, both of Port Townsend, look over… Continue reading

Services could be impacted by closure

Essential workers won’t get paid in shutdown

A now-deceased male cougar was confirmed by Panthera and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff to have been infected with Avian influenza on the Olympic Peninsula. (Powell Jones/Panthera)
Two cougars infected with bird flu die

Risk of human infection still low, CDC says

D
Readers contribute $58K to Home Fund to date

Donations can be made for community grants this spring