July 2013
Luncheon Speakers Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce luncheon meetings are held at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St., at noon each Monday, federal holidays excluded. Everyone is welcome!
July1 – Cmdr. Michael Yesunas Commanding Officer of Naval Magazine Indian Island will share information about what has been happening at Indian Island. Sponsor Marrowstone Vineyard
July 8 - Jack Westerman Jefferson County’s elected Assessor will talk about the annual revaluation and today’s real estate outlook. Sponsor Wave Broadband
July 15 - Mike Glenn, Dr. Joe Mattern The CEO and Chief Medical Officer from Jefferson Healthcare talk about the delivery of quality healthcare services. Sponsor Ajax Café
July 22 - Douwe Rienstra, MD Douwe will talk about how you can assist your employees with their health needs even if you don’t provide health insurance. Sponsor The Leader
July 29 – No meeting. Elks Club unavailable.
Jefferson Healthcare plans growth Plan will change the way services are delivered Jefferson Healthcare’s CEO Mike Glenn has been presenting information to the public since May on the possible expansion of healthcare services and facilities to service groups around the county. In his talks, Glenn lays out the existing conditions of the medical facilities and identifies current and future needs that are prompting the hospital to seek expansion of the current facilities. “We want to educate the community about our Emergency and Specialty Services project and get their input”, said Mike Glenn. “The community seems excited about the project and appreciates the opportunity to provide input.” The hospital district’s 2013 strategic plan lists the campus renewal plan as one of the top five goals for Jefferson Healthcare. “This is a major project for Jefferson Healthcare, and we want to make sure we get this right”, said Glenn. The needs of the community and patients are changing, Glenn says, and so is the way healthcare will be delivered in the future. The statistics show that Jefferson County is aging with nearly 28 percent of its popula-
The campus renewal plan proposes expanded spaces for the emergency department, orthopedic clinic, diagnostic imaging, oncology services, medical short stay, lab blood draw, cardiology healthcare, sleep medicine and central registration. tion at or over the age of 65. That percentage is projected to reach about 40 percent by 2025. With the average age of the community rising, it means more people will need orthopedic care, oncology services, cardiac care, emergency services, fitness and wellness and health prevention. The campus renewal plan proposes expanded spaces for the emergency department, orthopedic clinic, diagnostic imaging, oncology services, medical short stay, lab blood draw, cardiology healthcare, sleep medicine and central registration. The goal is to make these health services
more accessible and convenient for patients. This service expansion and facility improvement project will modernize aging, inefficient structures and consolidate services in a new state-of-the art building. The project is estimated to be about 50,000 square feet for a new, three story building and cost approximately $18 million. County taxpayers will not be asked to pay for this expansion with taxes. If the approval is given, construction would begin in July of 2014 and end in December of 2015. The community input re-
port along with an anticipated USDA Rural Development loan approval is slated to be presented at the September meeting of Jefferson Healthcare’s Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners will hear the reports and after discussing the findings, will make a decision on whether to move forward with the project or acknowledge the time isn’t right for expansion. There are two remaining public forums in Quilcene on Aug. 5 at the Community Center and in Chimacum on Aug. 28 at the Tri-Area Community Center.