ARLINGTON — “I’ve lived under the shadow of Cascade Valley Hospital for a long time,” U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen said at the June 2 celebration of its integration with Skagit Valley Hospital. “I was born right here. So were my seven brothers and sisters.”
Larsen recalled how Cascade Valley cared for his dad, Dick Larsen, after his heart attack in 1995, just as Skagit Valley provided Dick with cancer treatments before his death in 2008.
“These two hospitals have been there at the beginning and end of life for our family,” Larsen said. “By partnering together, they’ll be able to serve the needs of not only our family, but all the families in this region.”
Gregg Davidson, president and CEO of Skagit Regional Health, credited the two public hospitals with starting the process toward that partnership in 2011, in anticipation of the “changing landscape” of health care. “The relationships and mutual respect we developed over time formed the foundation for our partnership,” Davidson said.
Davidson praised the commissioners of both hospitals for their “great courage” in coming to this agreement, and singled out recently retired Cascade Valley CEO Clark Jones for his instrumental role in making it happen.
“We are stronger together because we can build on each other’s strengths,” he said. “This beautiful facility here shows the strength of the community’s support for Cascade Valley.”
Davidson also said University of Washington Medicine was also a partner in Cascade and Skagit Valley’s shared journey, with two UW medical clinics in Smokey Point.
Among the advantages Davidson attributed to the hospitals’ integration are advanced medical services, a greater ability to recruit medical professionals, improved patient access and the new $70 million electronic records system that will serve Arlington and Mount Vernon.
“Even though this makes us the third-largest health care organization in the state, we’re still focused on local care,” Davidson said.
Dr. Paul Ramsey, CEO of UW Medicine, believes that improved health care will better people’s quality-of-life and foster the growth of their businesses and communities.
“Last year was my fortieth year in health care, but what I’ve been waiting for are the next five to fifteen years,” Ramsey said. “There are going to be some exciting opportunities to prevent and even cure diseases, along with better treatments for heart disease, diabetes and cancer.”
Arlington city administrator Paul Ellis pointed out examples of the city’s partnership with Cascade Valley, from the city assuming operations of ambulance services from the hospital, to the city and hospital forming a joint emergency medical system with the Arlington school district.
“We conducted emergency drills together to prepare for the event of a catastrophe,” Ellis said.
“This sadly proved useful after the Oso slide, when we were able to activate our system within minutes and work together seamlessly.”
Steve Peterson, a member of the Snohomish County Public Hosital District 3 Board of Commissioners, admitted it had been an “arduous journey” toward the partnership, with a few false starts along the way.
But as a man who’s been born and raised in Oso, and seen his children born at Skagit Valley, he admitted.
“Today is an emotional day for me.”
