Jefferson Healthcare CEO tells chamber of hospital future

PORT TOWNSEND­—The increased business orientation in health care should not prompt hospitals to forget their original charter, according to a presentation in front of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

“The government is going to start reimbursing organizations based on the quality of care they provide,” said Jefferson Healthcare CEO Mike Glenn.

Glenn said if a patient is treated at a hospital and returns with the same ailment within a 30-day period “then the government will assume that we didn’t treat your properly, so readmission comes without reimbursement.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The system places a stronger emphasis on outcomes and a discharge plan, Glenn said.

Glenn, a former Olympic Medical Center CEO in Port Angeles-Sequim, replaced Vic Dirksen, who had held the position for 33 years, and said he will probably be known as “the new guy” for some time to come.

Glenn lauded the staff that he inherited.

“We have an outstanding team of medical providers,” he said.

“I’m sure every hospital administrator standing in front of every chamber of commerce will say, ‘We got great doctors at our hospital,’ but we really do.”

Glenn said that unlike some other communities, there is no shortage of primary health care providers in Port Townsend.

Dirksen had put together employment packages that attracted young, well-trained doctors, and that benefited the community, he said.

“We are extraordinary fortunate to have that team,” Glenn said of the medical staff.

“I’ve been extremely impressed with how astute they are about their role in what we are trying to do, and they are a great group, although they are a bit young.”

Glenn said he has interacted with doctors throughout his career and was always perceived as “the young geeky guy in the corner, wearing a suit.”

Things have changed for the 49-year-old Glenn, he said, since moving to Port Townsend, where he is known as “the old geeky guy in the suit.”

Glenn said all CEOs say they have an “open-door policy,” but people in Port Townsend take that literally.

“At Jefferson Healthcare, having an open-door policy means that people come through that open door and tell you what they think, what they feel what you’re doing right and occasionally tell you what you are doing wrong, ” he said.

Jefferson Healthcare has a $63 million yearly budget with $36 million of that going toward salaries, including $225,000 going to Glenn.

On Monday, hospital board member Chuck Russell announced the board voted a $10,000 decrease at Glenn’s request.

Glenn said it is easy to say a hospital is first-rate, but he is looking to back up that statement by inviting accreditation bureau Det Norse Veritas.

“We think its important that if I stand up in front of groups like you and say, ‘Quality is job one,’ it’s important that we bring in an outside organization to prove we are backing up what we are saying,” he said,

________

Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann O’Neill, an employee of Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles at a temporary stand at First and Race streets in Port Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Rix said he wanted roses for his wife, Wendy Rix, for their 55th wedding anniversary. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s roses

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann… Continue reading

Port Angeles-owned Lancashire Heeler “Ki” poses with handler and co-owner Chelsy Pendleton of Utah with their ribbon. Ki placed as Best of Opposite Sex at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
PA dog places at famous show

Lancashire Heeler wins ribbon at Westminster

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Poplars to be removed in spring

Boat Yard expansion part of larger project

Jeffco Aquatic Coalition launches pool survey

Results intended to inform design process

Voters approving all Peninsula school measures

Sequim bond passing with required supermajority

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few miles south of Port Angeles. While the Peninsula has seen temperatures below freezing this week, a warming trend is expected by this weekend with highs reaching the upper 40s and overnight lows in the 30s. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Winter snowscape

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few… Continue reading

JoAnn declares bankruptcy; Port Angeles store to close

The Joann fabrics and crafts store in Port Angeles… Continue reading

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris to her grandson, Damien Millet, 9, after it was located with a metal detector and dug from the sand at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles on Wednesday. They were combing the beach in search of whatever hidden treasures they could find. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Beach combing

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris… Continue reading

Six Peninsula school measures passing

Sequim voters approve bond, levy