UKC Medic One

Press Releases

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Melissa Becker to be appointed to KCPHD2 Board

On February 18 at the regular meeting of the Kittitas County Public Hospital District 2 Board of Commissioners, Melissa Becker was chosen to fill the vacancy on the Board of Commissioners.  This five-member governing body oversees the operations of the public hospital district that covers Upper Kittitas County.  Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 2 provides ambulance services to Upper Kittitas County residents through Upper Kittitas County Medic One.  KCPHD #2 also partners with Kittitas Valley Healthcare to provide urgent care services to the residents of District #2 through KVH Urgent Care – Cle Elum.

KCPHD #2 solicited letters of interest following the resignation of Claire Hein Nicholls effective January 1, 2019.  The Board had recently conducted a thorough self-assessment to identify its strengths and weaknesses. The results of the assessment suggested the Board look for candidates who would be representative of District #2’s community, plus experience or community connections in the areas of local businesses, community involvement and philanthropy. Two candidates who had exceptional strength in these areas participated in interviews.

“Melissa Becker brings an expertise in financial management and years of experience in charities and volunteerism that will greatly benefit Hospital District #2,” said Floyd Rogalski, President of the Board of Commissioners for Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 2.  “In addition to 20 years in the corporate financial world and thirteen years teaching finance and accounting at Central Washington University, Ms. Becker has a long history of philanthropic work with Upper Kittitas County Dollars for Scholars and the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District.  She has served as Race Director for The Runner Stumbles, benefiting the Cle Elum Kiwanis.”  The decision to select Melissa Becker was unanimous.

Melissa will be sworn in at the March 18 Board meeting and will serve on the KCPHD #2 Board of Commissioners until the November 2019 general election, at which time the position will be publicly elected.  She will be eligible to run for the position if she chooses.  The elected candidate will then complete the remaining four-year term ending in 2023.

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Hospital District 2 Seeks Applicants to Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners for Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 2 (KCPHD#2) is seeking applicants for a vacancy in position 5, an ‘at large’ position. 

Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 2 provides ambulance services to Upper Kittitas County residents through Upper Kittitas County Medic One.  KCPHD #2 also supports a small amount of the care provided at KVH Urgent Care – Cle Elum and the Open Door Medical Clinic (a free clinic that is open two Saturdays per month).

Interested persons should submit a letter of interest by February 8, 2019 including relevant background information and assets the person can bring to the Board of Commissioners.  Interviews will be conducted the week of February 11, 2019 and the successful applicant will be appointed by the February 18, 2019 KCPHD #2 Board meeting. Applicants must be registered voters residing in Hospital District No. 2.

The individual who is appointed will hold the position through the November 2019 general election.  That individual would have the option to run for the position in the November 2019 general election for a full four-year term ending in 2023.

Letters of interest should be sent electronically to mweed@kvhealthcare.org or by hard copy to the KCPHD #2 Board of Commissioners, Attn: Mandy Weed, Executive Coordinator, Kittitas Valley Healthcare, 603 S. Chestnut St., Ellensburg, WA 98926.  For additional information, please contact Mandy Weed at (509) 962-7302 or visit http://www.ukcmedicone.org/board-of-commissioners/.

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Collaborations Proceeding for Upper County Medical Resources

Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 2, Kittitas Valley Healthcare, and Swedish Health Services have agreed to location changes that will allow for greater collaboration between upper county medical resources and an expansion of services to the community.

Kittitas Valley Healthcare will relocate KVH Urgent Care – Cle Elum into the building on 1st Street that currently houses Swedish Cle Elum Primary Care.  Swedish Health Services will move into the current KVH Urgent Care – Cle Elum space at 201 Alpha Way, which is owned by Hospital District 2 and leased by Kittitas Valley Healthcare. 

The building on 1st Street will provide a location that is better suited for an urgent care facility than the existing location.  KVH Urgent Care – Cle Elum will maintain its current hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily, and increase staffing levels.

Swedish will discontinue primary care services at its current location on November 22.

“It’s been our privilege to provide primary care to Kittitas County for the past six years,” said Jim Cunningham, Administrative Director of Primary Care for Swedish. “We’re now looking forward to bringing new specialty services to the community in 2018.”

The sequence of moves will allow urgent care to provide uninterrupted service to the community.  Kittitas Valley Healthcare will move the urgent care service to the 1st Street location in January 2018.  Swedish plans to begin offering specialty care and telehealth services in the Alpha Way location as of February 2018.

“We are pleased that the entire medical community is working together to ensure that patients have access to the best care,” said Floyd Rogalski, President of the Board of Commissioners for Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 2.  “We appreciate the diligence and dedication of all parties who have worked to arrange this collaboration.”