140

Quality of Life

PROVIDENCE EVERETT MEDICAL CENTER

the vitality, collective strength,

and resources of the larger

health system.

People Caring for People.

As facilities, technology and

even names have changed

through the years, one thing

has remained constant—the

Providence heritage that

resolutely guides the medical

center’s mission and values.

This heritage is the common

thread uniting the people of

Providence—the doctors, nurses,

employees, and volunteers who

bring extraordinary care and

compassion to the art of healing.

As it has been for a century,

the Providence story is about

people caring for people. And

these people are what make the

story so special and amazing.

They are the people of

Providence.A Centennial Year: 2005 marked Providence Everett’s100th year of providing quality,compassionate health care to theSnohomish County community.

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

HERITAGE OF HEALING

Providence Everett Medical

Center is a dynamic and

visionary presence in Snohomish

County. Having evolved

and grown in pace with the

community for over 100 years,

Providence Everett today is a

regional referral center providing

leading-edge medical care

to patients from throughout

northwest Washington.

A Rich History. In 1905 the

Sisters of Providence, led by

Mother Joseph of the Sacred

Heart, purchased Everett’s

quaint Monte Cristo hotel and

converted it into Providence

The Providence Mission:Providence Health System continues thehealing ministry of Jesus in the world of today, with special concern for thosewho are poor and vulnerable. Workingwith others in a spirit of loving service,we strive to meet the health needs ofpeople as they journey through life.

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

Hospital. Two decades later,

fueled by the demands of an

exploding population, a modern,

new Providence Hospital opened

just east of the original building.

The hospital continued to

grow to meet the needs of the

community, and in 1994, joined

forces with Everett General

Hospital to become what is

today known as Providence

Everett Medical Center.

Collective Strength. A not-for-

profit organization, Providence

Everett Medical Center is part of

the Providence Health System,

which operates hospitals and

healthcare facilities throughout

California, Oregon,

Washington, and Alaska. While

Providence Everett enjoys the

governance of a local Board

committed to Snohomish

County, it benefits equally from

Pt3-SN 3-Quality of Life 7/12/05 12:08 PM Page 140

141

Quality of Life

FACING FORWARD

Gail Larson is one of these

people of Providence. As the

organization’s CEO, she is

witness every day to the

orchestrated delivery of both

compassionate care and

powerful medicine.

“Our strong heritage has laid

the foundation of compassion,

respect and stewardship,”

explains Gail. “Yet the talent

and expertise drawn to

Providence Everett because of

this philosophy has allowed us

to expand our capabilities and

clinical proficiency.”

It is this unique mix of high

tech and high touch that has

helped Providence Everett

grow into the region’s premiere

medical facility.

Northwest Washington’s

Leader in Health Care. Today,

Providence Everett Medical

Center consists of three

campuses—Colby, Pacific, and

Mill Creek. The medical

center is the cornerstone of a

continuum of care in

Snohomish County, which

also includes Providence

Physician Group, Providence

Hospice and Homecare,

and the Providence Everett

Healthcare Clinic.

As a 362-bed regional tertiary

referral center, Providence

Everett Medical Center offers an

advanced mix of services,

including open-heart surgery,

CEO Gail Larson enjoys listening toemployee ideas and sharing her visionfor the future of Providence EverettMedical Center.

emergency trauma services, new-

born intensive care, and cancer

treatment. With more than

3,000 employees and nearly 600

physicians, Providence Everett

attracts some of the most highly

skilled medical professionals in

the region.

A Vision for the Future. To

help meet the growing demand

for health care in its five-county

service area, Providence Everett

is very active in planning for

future expansion. Its next 20

years include a $400 million

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

Providence Everett’s ElectrophysiologyLab has the technology to view a three-dimensional picture of the heart, allowing cardiologists to precisely locateheart arrhythmias.

facility expansion plan slated to

create more than 2,000 new jobs

for the community.

“We are unique with a very

promising future,” Gail says.

“We have a culture of caring

and personal relationships, but

we’re also way ahead of the

curve when it comes to new

techniques and equipment.

And both are so important—

neither one without the other

is enough. Compassion and

technology together are very

powerful medicine.”

Pt3-SN 3-Quality of Life 7/12/05 12:08 PM Page 141

142

Quality of Life

The Heart and Vascular

Institute at Providence Everett

Medical Center has repeatedly

been recognized as a leader in

cardiovascular services. The

newborn intensive care and

trauma units both have achieved

Level III designation, indica-

tions of a highly sophisticated

level of care.

“Providence is very interested

in providing the full range of

medical coverage for Snohomish

County residents, as they’ve

shown by developing leading-

edge services to meet the

community’s changing needs,”

Dr. Blue says.

Neurosurgeon Jim Blue, M.D., choosesto practice at Providence Everett after22 years of working as a brain surgeonin Seattle.

POWERFUL MEDICINE

James Blue, M.D., is one of

many medical leaders

who has brought his expertise

to Providence Everett. A

neurosurgeon specializing in

cranial surgery, Dr. Blue

practiced for 22 years in Seattle

before joining the Providence

neurosurgery program.

“I chose to work at

Providence because I know the

organization is committed to the

cranial surgery aspect of the

neurosurgery program, as well

as to delivering high-quality

medicine in every specialty.

They have invested, and will

Dr. Blue’s special interest in intracranialand intraspinal disease augments the excellence of the existing, highlyregarded neurosurgery program atProvidence Everett.

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

continue to invest, in the

equipment and staff required

to achieve the highest standard

of care,” he says.

Leading the Way. Providence

Everett Medical Center has in

its facilities some of the most

advanced medical technology

available in the world today.

What’s more, the organiza-

tion has attracted highly

skilled, dedicated professionals

to Everett. In their hands,

leading-edge equipment has

helped Providence achieve

consistently excellent outcomes

for patients and a position of

respect among physicians and

healthcare experts.

Pt3-SN 3-Quality of Life 7/12/05 12:09 PM Page 142

143

Quality of Life

A MISSION IN MOTION

She is highly trained, exception-

ally skilled, and projects a

warmth that makes a person feel

safe and embraced. It must

feel that way to the babies, too.

Kim Bichlmeier, R.N., works

nights in the Level III Newborn

Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

at Providence. When she moved

to the Pacific Northwest she

knew she would continue her

career in this specialty, but it

was not until she walked

through the Providence NICU

that she knew which hospital

she would choose.

“Right away, I felt that this

place was different. Everyone

was welcoming; people were

working together. I just knew it

was right,” she says.

More Than a Job. Each day,

in every department, Providence

employees strive to fulfill the

organization’s mission. The

values of compassion, justice,

respect, excellence and steward-

ship are a driving force, provid-

ing a common purpose and a

unique devotion to the work.

“We live the values here at

Providence; it’s the reason we’re

here,” explains Kim. “We are

Neonatal Nurse Kim Bichlmeier enjoysworking in an environment where powerful medicine and compassionatecare mutually exist.

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

As a Level III Trauma Center, theEmergency Department at ProvidenceEverett sees nearly 100,000 patients ayear, making it the second-busiestEmergency Department in the state.

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

able to really, truly impact

peoples’ lives every single day.”

Pulling Together. Kim says

the dedication to teamwork in

her unit, and throughout

Providence, is amazing. “Caring

for critically ill newborns is

emotionally trying and stressful.

But on a busy night, our staff

pulls together so naturally.

In over five years working in

NICUs, this is the best. It’s this

teamwork that truly sets

Providence apart.”

Pt3-SN 3-Quality of Life 7/12/05 12:09 PM Page 143

144

Quality of Life

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

SHARING A SENSE OF

COMMUNITY

Mary Jane and Ross Miller are

prime examples of the

Providence mission carried out

through extraordinary service.

They have volunteered in

different capacities at the

hospital for over 20 years,

bringing a sense of purpose and

compassion to every job they

do. Mary Jane volunteers in the

surgery waiting room and at

Camp Prov, a weeklong summer

camp for disabled children.

Ross has held several positions

on Providence Everett’s executive

boards, including serving as

chairman of the Providence

General Foundation.

Mary Jane says they choose

to devote their time and

resources to Providence Everett

because of its importance

in Snohomish County, and

because the medical center

supports, and is supported by,

its community.

Active community leaders and ferventsupporters of Providence Everett, MaryJane and Ross Miller brighten hospitalwaiting areas with beautiful bouquetsfrom their garden in Marysville.

Giving Back. As Snohomish

County’s only not-for-profit,

non-tax-supported medical

center, Providence Everett

embraces a spirit of stewardship

that reaches beyond the life-

preserving services it provides

every day.

The organization makes

significant contributions to the

community through charity

and unreimbursed care, health

screenings, community educa-

tion, and outreach. The recently

opened Providence Everett

Healthcare Clinic provides basic

medical care for people who

have had difficulty gaining

access to healthcare providers.

The Providence General

Foundation understands first-

hand how important people

like Mary Jane and Ross can

make a lasting impression on a

community. In addition to

An outdoor therapy playground designedfor children with disabilities was addedto the Providence Children’s Centerentirely through the community’s donation of time, talent, and treasure.

gifts of time, hundreds of

donors every year contribute

funding to the Foundation to

extend the organization’s ability

to provide care and services.

Mary Jane and Ross see

their work as being in complete

harmony with the Providence

way of taking care of the

community. “The Providence

values are exactly what we

volunteers ‘do’ every day,

literally,” Mary Jane says. “We

all have an obligation to give

something back. Our affiliation

with Providence gives us a

way to reach the people who

need us the most. Together, we

can make quite an impact.”

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

Pt3-SN 3-Quality of Life 7/12/05 12:09 PM Page 144

145

Quality of Life

Colleen Elkins was one of CardiacSurgeon James Brevig’s, M.D., firstpatients in the Providence EverettCardiac Surgery Single Stay Unit.

The first of its kind in the state, theUnit allows open-heart surgery patientsto be treated in the same private roomfor their entire stay at the hospital.

TOUCHING LIVES

The people of Providence have a

singular purpose: to provide the

best care possible, in the most

compassionate way, to every one

of their patients. Colleen Elkins

is one person whose life was

touched in such a way.

Colleen had been living

with a condition that kept her

heart’s valves from opening

and closing properly. For a year

she needed supplemental

oxygen 24 hours a day to help

her breathe.

Eventually, her local

doctor told her she needed to

have surgery and arranged for

her to see the team at the

Heart and Vascular Institute at

Providence Everett. “They got

me through it,” Colleen says.

“If it wasn’t for their knowledge,

I wouldn’t be here today.”

Colleen says she argued a

little when her caregivers urged

her to walk right after surgery,

but she gives them credit

for motivating her to begin the

healing process. “They made

me want to get up,” she says.

“One thing is for sure, they

know what they’re doing.”

“I’m so thankful that my

own doctor referred me to

Providence Everett. They are

the most wonderful guardian

angels I have met in my life.

If it wasn’t for their care…their

coming to reassure me I’d be

all right…well, they just don’t

come any finer.”

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

Cou

rtes

yof

Pro

vid

ence

Eve

rett

Med

ical

Cen

ter

Cardiac Surgeons Patrick Ryan, M.D.,and Tim Byrnes, M.D., perform one of over 500 open-heart procedures that take place every year at ProvidenceEverett.

The Next Century, and

Beyond. Over one hundred years

ago, Mother Joseph set a

standard for caring that proves

to be as relevant in modern

Snohomish County as it was in

the days of the unsettled frontier.

Through the generations, the

people of Providence have cared

for the people of Snohomish

County. And with continued

need and support in the

community, Providence Everett

Medical Center will be

serving this region for centuries

to come.

Pt3-SN 3-Quality of Life 7/12/05 12:10 PM Page 145