evergreenhealth monitor - spring 2015

monitorSPRI NG 2015

WWW.EVERGREENHEALTH.COM

EvergreenHealth Medical

Center in Kirkland, including

Home Care and Hospice

24-Hour Emergency Care

in Kirkland, Redmond

and Monroe; Urgent

Care in Redmond and

Woodinville

30 Specialty Practices

in Kirkland

EvergreenHealth Nurse

Navigator & Healthline

425.899.3000 or 360.794.1111

Maximizing Function: Our Team has Your BackEvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care’s collaborative experts work closely to treat musculoskeletal pain and injuries.

04

07 A proactive approach to addressing back pain

Non-surgical solutions get patients moving again

09 From the operating roomto the fi nish line

Kirkland man turned Ironman one year after surgery

10 The key to eliminating chronic pain

World-renowned interventional pain management specialists provide lasting relief

14 Introducing EvergreenHealth Monroe

Valley General Hospital joins the EvergreenHealth family

Look Inside!

New! EvergreenHealth

Monroe serving Snohomish

County with Emergency,

Specialty and Primary Care

Primary Care in Canyon

Park, Duvall, Kenmore,

Kirkland, Monroe,

Redmond, Sammamish

and Woodinville

02 EVERGREENHEALTH MONITOR

care providers and rehabilitation specialists to relieve

patients of pain using the least invasive techniques

and technologies available today. They collaborate with

one goal in mind— to restore patients’ quality of life

with advanced non-operative treatment solutions and

minimally invasive surgical procedures.

On behalf of all of us at EvergreenHealth, it is our

honor and privilege to serve you and your families

today and over the last 43 years. Now, we are privileged

to expand this spirit of collaboration into southeastern

Snohomish County and the greater Monroe

community by bringing Valley General Hospital into

the EvergreenHealth family. On March 1, 2015, Valley

General Hospital became EvergreenHealth Monroe,

beginning a new chapter in the quality, level of services

and the spirit of collaboration made available to the

residents of this community.

Sincerely,

Robert H. Malte

Chief Executive Offi cer

Dear friends, Collaboration. It’s a word and a value we take very

seriously at EvergreenHealth. Collaboration is at the

center of everything we do—every patient experience

is a collaborative eff ort between our team, our patients

and families, our payer partners and our community,

all aimed at one thing: excellence.

Collaboration certainly is one of the reasons why

EvergreenHealth has been recognized among the top

5 percent of hospitals in the nation, six out of the last

seven years.

This spirit of collaboration is part of our “cultural

DNA.” It began 43 years ago when EvergreenHealth

was created by the community, and it continues today

across every aspect of what we do, and how we work

to fulfi ll our purpose to “enrich the health and

well-being of every life we touch.”

We’ve dedicated this Spring issue of Monitor to

highlighting collaboration and its role in treating

patients with issues aff ecting the musculoskeletal

system. EvergreenHealth is fortunate to work with

some of the most trusted and talented specialists

across all of our 50 specialty services. Among them,

our leaders in spine care are internationally recognized

authorities on interventional pain management.

EvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care providers work

closely with orthopedic spine surgeons, primary

ROBERT H. MALTE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

A Message from the

The best care EvergreenHealth’s collab appro

We invite your feedback & questionsContact us at [email protected]

*

SPRING 2015 03

An Introduction to Sport & Spine Care

EvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care providers, along

with surgeons specializing in spine surgery and

neurosurgery, all share the common goal of eliminating

patients’ pain to restore a more comfortable quality

of life. They do so by treating each patient’s needs

on an individual basis, diagnosing the unique factors

that contribute to their discomfort and

recommending a customized treatment

plan that will allow them to return to

the activities they most enjoy.

For many patients, providers

recommend treatments that don’t

require surgery, instead using

rehabilitation therapies and advanced

interventions that provide lasting

relief. And when surgery is necessary,

EvergreenHealth off ers minimally

invasive and computer-assisted

techniques that cause the least

disruption to patients’ lives.

In this issue, you’ll learn about the alternative

modalities of care EvergreenHealth providers use

to care for patients of every age who are aff ected by

musculoskeletal issues and spinal disorders and you’ll

learn from patients who appreciated and benefi ted from

the team’s life-changing care.

Features 04 | EvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care

06 | Treating Your Back Pain Without Surgery

08 | Surgical Solutions to Eliminate Pain

10 | World-Renowned Interventional Pain

Management

12 | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Care

Updates 14 | Introducing EvergreenHealth Monroe

EvergreenHealth Welcomes New Practices

15 | Price Transparency: Your Guide

to Understanding Health Care Costs

In Every Issue 02 | Message from the CEO

16 | Health Classes

18 | EvergreenHealth Foundation

20 | Primary, Urgent,

Emergency and Specialty Care

Table of ContentsCEO

takes a team:orative ach to spine care

15 |

02 |

16 |

18 |

20 |


SPORT & SPINE CARE

EvergreenHealthSport & Spine Care

Non-Operative TreatmentRehabilitative treatments and exercises are often a good starting place for treating patients with acute pain or injury and may include:

• Physical therapy

• Chiropractic treatments

• Alternative solutions, including acupuncture and appropriate pain-management medications

EvergreenHealth’s musculoskeletal providers care for conditions affecting the whole body—the muscles, bones, joints, nerves, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues—from the neck and shoulders, down the spine and to the knees and feet.

A collaborative team including physiatrists, pain management specialists, surgeons and physical medicine experts work closely to address pain and injuries with a range of treatment options including non-operative procedures, interventional techniques and surgery to help patients get back to enjoying life.

Interventional ProceduresProviders use diagnostic imaging to deliver interventional treatments including fl uoroscopy and ultrasound-guided injections within the spine, joints and soft tissues.

SurgeryWhen patients need surgery, EvergreenHealth providers are leaders in the fi eld of minimally invasive and computer-assisted surgical technologies that help patients recover quickly and with less pain.

SPRING 2015 05

Eliminating Pain. Maximizing Function.Improving Health. Restoring Quality of Life.

EvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care specializes in the non-surgical treatment of acute musculoskeletal disorders,

spinal conditions and nerve dysfunctions to improve our patients’ quality of life through compassionate state-of-

the-art medical care.

Our team works collaboratively with specialists across EvergreenHealth to introduce you to the right care providers

including surgeons, rehabilitative therapists or home health care providers—to ensure your care and treatment

helps you to be your healthiest best!

Diagnosing Your Musculoskeletal PainOur specialists are focused on looking at the specifi c cause of our patients’ acute pain and

recommending the right care treatments to help you regain function and get back to doing

what you love. EvergreenHealth physiatrists—doctors specializing in physical medicine and

rehabilitation—begin by evaluating patients from head to toe while reviewing their daily functions,

activities, sleeping habits and other contributing factors to their pain.

Using a range of diagnostic tests, exams and tools, our goal is to understand your pain and its cause so we can

provide the optimal approach for your treatment plan.

Physical Exams

Using the biomechanics

of your body, providers

evaluate how you move,

where it hurts and what

triggers discomfort,

listening carefully to your

history and your goals

for health.

Imaging Services

Includes all that

providers need—X-rays,

MRI and CT scan—to

produce high-resolution

static images to look

inside joints, tissues or

the spine.

Musculoskeletal

Ultrasound

Gives both providers and

patients dynamic and

real-time insight into

musculoskeletal function,

with the potential to

diagnose problems while

shifting positions.

Electro-diagnostic

Studies

Includes EMG nerve

conduction, stimulates

nerves with small amounts

of electricity to identify

nerve damage as a possible

root cause of pain.

Watch a short video

about the benefi ts

of ultrasound-guided

injections at URL.

What is Physiatry?Physiatry uses non-surgical physical medicine and

rehabilitation to diagnose and treat pain and injuries to

improve patients’ quality of life.

Age is Just a NumberWe treat patients of all ages, from those in their 80s and

90s seeking better mobility, to teens and student athletes

eager to get back on the fi eld. Whether your goals are to

feel better getting out of bed or to climb a mountain, our

specialists help you get there every step of the way.

SPORT & SPINE CARE


SPORT & SPINE CARE

Fluoroscopy is an imaging technology that uses X-rays to capture a series of real-time images of the spine using a fl uoroscope—an X-ray source and fl uorescent screen that moves around the patient to help providers view the spine at any angle.

Treating Your Back Pain without SurgeryA Guide to Interventional InjectionsOnce a team of providers identifi es what’s causing your pain, EvergreenHealth specialists develop a treatment plan that uses the least invasive techniques to help you feel better quickly and completely.

Often, those techniques involve working collaboratively with physical and occupational therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists and other providers to address the foundation of your pain and to begin rehabilitating areas of concern.

In some cases, those treatments are coupled with ultrasound-guided injections. Ultrasound technology, long used in obstetrics and cardiology, is a relatively new modality for sports and musculoskeletal medicine, but has quickly become an innovative and eff ective method of delivering pin-point accuracy with therapeutic injections.

Today’s ultrasound technology provides a tremendously high-resolution image that shows muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and areas within the tendons in dramatic detail. Providers can easily examine the structure of a tendon, for example, and fi nd specifi c locations where it may be abnormal, whether it’s a tear or infl ammation.

Perhaps most important to patients, under ultrasound guidance, injections are less painful and more eff ective as they help providers avoid bones, nerves and soft tissues to minimize pain and ensure with a greater degree of accuracy that the medication reaches the critical location to provide relief.

Similarly, EvergreenHealth is a leader in X-ray guided injections for the spine, which uses fl uoroscopy to deliver medication to the cervical spine, the neck or the thoracic spine, the mid and lower back and even into the pelvic area. The technology guides the provider to the most accurate and eff ective area to treat with the injection.

Ultrasound-guided injections provide more accurate and effective treatment and cause less discomfort to most patients.


Learn More OnlineWatch a short video about the benefi ts of

ultrasound-guided injections at

www.youtube.com/evergreenhospital

SPRING 2015 07

When she retired from a long career in teaching, Deborah DeYoung had no intention of slowing down. In fact, the 67-year-old Kirkland resident did just the opposite, keeping up a vigorous exercise schedule and planning adventures that would take her and her husband around the world.

When DeYoung suddenly began experiencing severe discomfort in her low back, she was at a loss for what could be prompting the pain.

“It was really a mystery to me,” DeYoung explained. She hadn’t been injured in her cycling or exercise classes and the pain didn’t seem to be triggered by any particular activities.

DeYoung had success with physical therapy in the past, and it seemed to alleviate her back pain at fi rst. However, when it returned even stronger, she sought help from her primary care provider who referred DeYoung to Dr. Alison Stout at EvergreenHealth Sport & Spine Care.

Right away, Dr. Stout performed diagnostic tests and ordered an MRI, which revealed the likely cause of DeYoung’s pain: a small fracture near the sacral spine. The injury was likely from a minor fall a few months earlier, and a follow-up bone-density scan revealed a trace of osteoporosis, as well.

“It was clear that her physical activities were aggravating the fracture and preventing Deborah’s recovery,” Dr. Stout explained. “After she decreased her activities and allowed the fracture to heal, we needed to alter her exercise routine, incorporating more weight-bearing activities that would help strengthen her potentially at-risk bones.”

At Dr. Stout’s recommendation, DeYoung tapered back her cycling and incorporated more weight-bearing into her exercise program, as she resumed physical activity. Overall, the sum of Dr. Stout’s treatment plan—rest, followed by an altered exercise routine—quickly alleviated DeYoung’s debilitating pain.

Dr. Stout’s treatment didn’t stop there. As part of her initial examination, the physical medicine specialist asked DeYoung about any other areas of concern, which encouraged her to mention a fl eeting pain in her hip that seemed to come and go. Though it was unrelated to DeYoung’s back pain, Dr. Stout performed an in-offi ce ultrasound that showed a small cyst nestled near her psoas muscle and the two pursued non-surgical solutions to address it.

“She doesn’t take a wait-and-see approach,” DeYoung said of Dr. Stout. “She is very proactive, takes time to listen and fi nds anything that could be underlying. I’ve been so impressed with her care.”

A Proactive Approach to Addressing Pain

“She doesn’t take a wait-and-see approach,” DeYoung said of Dr. Stout. “She is very proactive, takes time to listen and fi nds anything that could be underlying. I’ve been so impressed with her care.”

PICTURED ABOVE: DEBORAH DEYOUNG AND DR. STOUT

SPORT & SPINE CARE

Surgical Solutions to Eliminate PainWhen non-surgical interventions aren’t a solution to eliminating patients’ acute pain, EvergreenHealth’s

team of spine surgeons collaborate closely with physiatrists and other providers to recommend

minimally invasive and computer-assisted surgical procedures to provide lasting relief.

EvergreenHealth is 5-Star Rated by Healthgrades for General Surgery EvergreenHealth’s collaborative team of neuro

and orthopedic spine surgeons are leaders in

fusion and non-fusion surgical procedures, all

using minimally invasive techniques to help

patients recover faster and more comfortably.

Minimally invasive surgical procedures

use small incisions to access aff ected areas with

computer-equipped instruments. Intraoperative

navigation cameras illuminated by fi ber-optic lighting,

along with scans of patients’ anatomy, show providers

the exact positioning of surgical instruments. The

images are projected onto high-defi nition monitors in

the operating suite, enabling surgeons to see tiny spaces

with clarity and to operate with precision measured

in millimeters. Together, these tools provide the most

advanced assistance to deliver greater accuracy and

safety, and better results.

Did You Know?

*Healthgrades is the nation’s leading resource for trusted

information about physicians and the quality care and

safety of hospitals across the country. To learn more about

EvergreenHealth’s Healthgrades recognitions visit

www.evergreenhealth.com.


Minimally invasive spine surgeries require small

incisions—just the size of a dime—which

help patients recover faster. Smaller

incisions mean less tissue damage,

less bleeding and less risk of infection.

Patients spend less time in the hospital

and return to their lives quicker, pain-free.

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SPRING 2015 09

Kirkland resident and outdoor enthusiast Harley Lang embraced endurance sports and physical exercise to combat a corporate lifestyle. So when the 41-year-old began to experience pain in his neck, he wasn’t ready to slow down.

Once the pain was serious enough that it began

impacting his work-travel plans, and he wasn’t able

to enjoy swimming or riding his bike, Lang knew he

may need to consider surgery and he needed a partner

who would understand his desire to recover quickly

and fully return to his active way of life.

In the following Q & A, Lang shares his

journey—all in the span of a year—

from disc-replacement surgery to the

fi nish line of his fi rst full Ironman triathlon.

What treatments and interventions did

you try before surgery? After trying

physical therapy, cortisone injections, massage, and a

microdiscectomy, over a period of two years, I was still

having reoccurring fl are-ups of pain, numbness and even

muscle atrophy due a disc degeneration in my neck. It was

limiting my ability to work, live and play the way I wanted to.

What made you choose EvergreenHealth?

I had several friends who recommended

EvergreenHealth, and particularly Dr. Price, and I knew

I didn’t need to look beyond my own community when

we have great surgeons right here where I live. I had seen

Dr. Price at a half marathon in Kirkland and had run into

him at my gym, so I knew he understood and respected

my desire to get back to training as soon as possible.

What was it like to learn about your

options for treatment? I liked Dr. Price’s

transparent, straightforward way of discussing my

options. He has a quiet confi dence about him that made

me feel that he trusts in his own abilities and knowledge.

He met with me for over an hour multiple times and we

reviewed X-rays and MRIs together. I’ve never had that

kind of interaction with a doctor. He treated me with

intellectual respect, was clear and concise with answering

questions, and didn’t pressure me with recommendations

or opinions. In the end, he was supportive of my desire

to get an artifi cial disc instead of fusion surgery.

What did your recovery look like? The morning

after the surgery—on Aug. 15, 2013 —Dr. Price

came to check on me early in the morning and

encouraged me to get moving. Once I went home, he

personally called me to see how I was doing and to

remind me to get outside and walk. Then we got together

after a couple weeks to discuss my rehab and training

plan. By then, I was already doing short indoor rides on

my bike trainer and he confi rmed that my goal to resume

racing in long distance triathlons within 6 to 8 months

was realistic.

Can you tell us about your comeback?

My comeback began with short swims and

indoor bike rides, and then progressed to outdoor

running. By December, I was ready to take on serious

training again. It was a joy to be able to push myself

physically without major pain episodes or setbacks. On

May 31, 8 months post-surgery, I completed my third half

Ironman triathlon. I was able to race, train, and travel

for work all summer without neck pain, and on Sept. 7,

2014, one year and three weeks after disc-replacement

surgery, I realized my goal of fi nishing my fi rst full

Ironman triathlon in Wisconsin.

From the Operating Room to the Finish Line

PICTURED LEFT: HARLEY LANG FINISHING

HIS IRONMAN TRIATHLON

PICTURED BELOW: DR. J. SCOTT PRICE

SPORT & SPINE

World-Renowned Interventional Pain ManagementThe Key to Eliminating Chronic Pain

Specialists from around the country send patients

to Drs. Ray Baker and Paul Dreyfuss for their ability to

help people who suff er from chronic pain due to nerve

and spine disorders.

For more than two decades, Drs. Baker and Dreyfuss

have served as leaders in their fi eld, earning reputations

regionally, nationally and internationally among the

world’s foremost interventional pain specialists.

Through their vast experience researching and treating

patients in pain, Drs. Baker and Dreyfuss have established

a sub-specialty practice at EvergreenHealth that involves

a procedure using highly precise, fl uoroscopically guided

needles to inject local anesthetics and other medications

directly to delicate nerves that cause pain.

The diagnosis, performed as an outpatient procedure,

is truly the key to eliminating patients’ chronic pain

and these specialized injections are the tool to deliver

life-changing treatments for patients of all ages and

abilities.

“We have a team at EvergreenHealth that has

specialized exclusively in caring for patients with

interventional procedures for over 10 years,” Dr. Baker

explained.

“Pain can come from many diff erent sources, and while

some sources can certainly amplify it, most often

there’s a physical issue that generates the cause of

the pain. We collaborate with primary care providers,

physiatrists and physical medicine rehabilitation

specialists to fi nd solutions to pain caused by

spine-related disorders,” he said.

PICTURED ABOVE: DR. RAY BAKER AND DR. PAUL DREYFUSS

Did You Know?Spine injection interventions are a one-day, outpatient procedure.

“We know patients want to see providers who they can trust, and we pride ourselves on working as a team to treat patients as if they were our own family members.”—Dr. Ray Baker


Top DocsDr. Ray Baker is the medical director of the

EvergreenHealth Spine and Musculoskeletal Program

and holds several leadership positions in prestigious

national and international spine societies.

Dr. Paul Dreyfuss is an interventional spine

medicine physician at EvergreenHealth. He’s earned

several clinical and research awards from national

rehabilitation and spine societies and is regularly

counted among the region’s “top doctors” lists

published by several consumer publications.

✰

SPORT & SPINE CARE

Kenny Alhadeff knows about life in the spotlight. The Tony-Award-winning philanthropist, social-justice activist and seventh-generation Seattleite has built a life-long career on advocating for others on stages both large and small.

His life has been illuminated with rewarding

opportunities to care for his community, but a decade of

severe, chronic back pain threatened to dim the luster

that surrounded the 66-year-old’s positive outlook.

“Living with pain changes you; it changes your spirit and

your attitude,” Alhadeff said, refl ecting on his diagnosis.

“If you’re lucky, you do not succumb to it destroying your

spirit, but it diminishes your capacity for grace and light

and joy. I was in that dark place, until I met Dr. Baker.”

Alhadeff had spent the better part of his 50s living in

pain. At times, it was so severe that the avid golfer had

diffi culty moving or even standing. With over 30 years of

sobriety, pain medication of any kind was not an option

for masking Alhadeff ’s extreme discomfort.

Though he had consulted with dozens of specialists and

pursued the gamut of possible treatments, the true turning

point happened when Alhadeff faced the prospect of losing

golf as his physical, emotional and even spiritual release.

Luckily, a referral to EvergreenHealth’s Dr. Ray Baker

came at just the right time.

Long conversations between the two, followed

by rigorous diagnostic testing, collaborative reviews

of MRIs and discussions of Alhadeff ’s other

complementary treatments led them to agree that

Alhadeff was a good candidate for interventional pain

management injections.

“I believe that great physicians understand that their

ability to help heal is based on knowing the patient,”

Alhadeff shared. “Dr. Baker and the entire team at

EvergreenHealth know that and their compassion is

refl ected in their patient-centered approach.”

After his fi rst injection, Alhadeff felt a subtle

improvement. Follow-up treatments gradually led to

more relief until eventually, he could confi dently say

he was living life pain free.

“I know my case is rare, but I truly believe that anyone

with severe pain can benefi t from EvergreenHealth’s

holistic approach to healing. They thoughtfully pursue

every possible treatment path and you can feel their

humanity, humor and grace as they do,” Alhadeff said

of Dr. Baker and his collaborative team.

“They bring you from a point of desperation to a point

of hope. They give you a realistic ray of hope,” he said.

PICTURED ABOVE: KENNY ALHADEFF

SPRING 2015 11

“I know my case is rare, but I truly believe that anyone with severe pain can benefi t from EvergreenHealth’s holistic approach to healing.”

Patient-Centered Care Brings Relief and Hope

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitative CareGetting You There Every Step of the Way

Rehabilitation and on-going support are a critical part of

EvergreenHealth’s comprehensive approach to sport and

spine care. Many treatment plans begin with some form

of rehabilitation, and a patient’s recovery can depend

on therapies from a team of outpatient therapists,

chiropractors, in-home health care providers and even

rehab-trained family members.

Following both non-operative and surgical procedures,

sport and spine care specialists connect patients to a

range of rehabilitation resources to strengthen aff ected

areas and to prevent a recurrence of the problem:

Rehabilitation resources include:

• Physical and Occupational Therapy Providers refer to a network of outpatient therapy

resources to help patients maintain and improve

mobility and function.

• Home Health Support EvergreenHealth off ers comprehensive

in-home health care services to provide acute

rehabilitation in the comfort of your own home.

Learn more about EvergreenHealth Home Health

at www.evergreenhealth.com/homecare.

• Ongoing Education Patients and their families learn the daily lifestyle

adjustments and home exercises that can contribute

to their recovery and long-term health and

well-being.


SPORT & SPINE

85% of people worldwide will experience back or neck pain in their lifetime.

EvergreenHealth is the only Eastside hospital with an inpatient Acute Rehabilitation Unit. Our 14-bed state-of-the-art intensive rehabilitation center simulates a home environment and helps patients recover with safety and confi dence.

Preventing Back PainIf you spend time in upright positions, chances are you’ll experience some degree of back pain over the course of your life. A certain amount of wear and tear on our spines is inevitable and comes with age, but there are some simple steps most people can take to

optimize their back health.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight

Extra weight puts added pressure on aff ected areas, especially the spine and

lower back.

• Work Up a Sweat

Include strengthening exercises in your routine to keep your core muscles strong and fl exible.

• Sit Up Straight

Good posture when you’re sitting and standing helps maintain good spine health.

• Take a Walk

If you sit for long periods of time, make sure to take breaks every 45 minutes to alleviate pressure on your spine.

SPORT & SPINE CARE

The Best CareTakes a Team

SPRING 2015 13

EvergreenHealth specialists work collaboratively to create individualized treatment plans for patients experiencing a range of musculoskeletal disorders and back pain.

Diagnosis and Non-operative Treatment

Physiatry experts work with patients to fi nd the cause

of their musculoskeletal issues, often partnering with

other non-surgical specialists including:

• Primary care providers who help identify potential

issues and refer patients to the appropriate

musculoskeletal specialist.

• Occupational and physical therapists who work

with patients to address pain and treat its cause

with techniques to increase function, strength

and mobility.

• Chiropractors who primarily treat the spine and

mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal

system with manual and manipulation therapies.

• Massage therapists who provide therapeutic

massage to relieve tension.

• Acupuncturists who perform complementary

treatments to ease pain.

Pain Management for Back Pain

Interventional pain management specialists perform

diagnostic and therapeutic spinal injection procedures.

Surgery for Back Pain

Orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons lead the

region in minimally invasive and computer-assisted

surgical techniques to repair chronic and traumatic

damage to the spine.

DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

In the U.S., physicians who hold a Doctor of

Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO) pursue special

training in manipulation with an emphasis placed

on the musculoskeletal system. DOs are extremely

similar to MDs in that they pursue four years of medical

school, a residency program and state licensing.

EvergreenHealth’s team of providers includes MDs and

DOs and other specialists who all collaborate to provide

the most comprehensive care for our patients.

EVERGREENHEALTH SPORT & SPINE CARE PROVIDERS

Douglas Burns, MD

Yung J. Lee, DO

Brandon J. Messerli, DO

Alison Stout, DO

Ryan Zehnder, MD

ORTHOPEDIC SPINE SURGEONS AND NEUROSURGEONS

Mark Freeborn, MD

Varun Laohaprasit, MD

Ali J. Naini, MD

Jeff rey E. Pearce, MD

J. Scott Price, MD

Jeff rey Roh, MD

Addison Stone, MD

PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS

Ray Baker, MD

Charles Chabal, MD

Paul Dreyfuss, MD

Louis Jacobson, MD

SPORT & SPINE CARE

UPDATES


Introducing EvergreenHealth MonroeSince 2012, EvergreenHealth has been committed to expanding

access to high-quality health care and services in East

Snohomish County, beginning with its affi liation with Valley

General Hospital in Monroe. This March marked the full

integration of Valley General into the EvergreenHealth system,

bringing even greater choice and access to the highest quality,

most satisfying care to the Monroe community and beyond.

Now, the new EvergreenHealth Monroe, which launched on

March 2, 2015, off ers patients and the community a more viable

hospital backed by the providers they know and trust, along

with the health care resources of the EvergreenHealth system.

As part of the alliance, patients are already accessing:

• EvergreenHealth’s 24/7 Nurse Navigator & Healthline,

which provides on-call health information from

registered nurses and physician referrals.

• More primary care providers, services, appointments

and scheduling options in Monroe.

• Better access to specialty care through

EvergreenHealth’s extensive network of world-class

specialty care services and providers in nearby Kirkland.

• More access to 3-D mammogram appointments via

EvergreenHealth’s mobile mammography coach.

• Minimal wait times and quick entry to EvergreenHealth

Monroe emergency care services.

EvergreenHealth Updates

EvergreenHealth Welcomes New PracticesSeveral new practices have recently joined the

EvergreenHealth network, each serving to expand

the community’s access to specialists and high-quality

care across a wide range of practice areas.

Explore EvergreenHealth’s comprehensive care and

services by calling the EvergreenHealth 24/7 Nurse

Navigator & Healthline at 425.899.3000 or by visiting

www.evergreenhealth.com.

Welcome!EvergreenHealth Ear, Nose & Throat Care

EvergreenHealth Foot & Ankle Care

EvergreenHealth Infectious Disease Care

EvergreenHealth Orthopedic & Sports Care

EvergreenHealth Pain Care

Evergreen Women’s Health Center

Look who we’ve become.Valley General Hospital.

Now

Get to know EvergreenHealth Monroe by visiting

www.evergreenhealthmonroe.com or by calling

Monroe’s new dedicated number for

EvergreenHealth’s Nurse Navigator & Healthline

at 360.794.1111.

UPDATES

SPRING 2015 15

Recent Awards Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence—again! For the sixth time in seven years, EvergreenHealth

earned the distinction from Healthgrades,

placing among the top 5 percent of

hospitals of the more than 4,500 hospitals

evaluated nationwide and based solely on

its outstanding clinical performance.

Recognized Among “America’s 100 Best Hospitals” for Specialty Care

EvergreenHealth is recognized as one of America’s

100 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades for its clinical

excellence in general surgery, pulmonary care and

gastrointestinal care, placing EvergreenHealth in

the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for

these specialties.

Best Regional Hospital by U.S. NewsIn 2014, U.S. News & World Report recognized

EvergreenHealth for excellence in nine specialty

areas—the highest number earned by a hospital

in Washington.

Best Hospital by 425Readers of 425 magazine selected EvergreenHealth

as the best hospital and health system in the entire

425 region for the third consecutive year.

The Gold Standard in Stroke Care EvergreenHealth received the Get With The

Guidelines®—Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement

Award for implementing quality improvement

measures outlined by the American Heart

Association/American Stroke Association for stroke

care patients.

Celebrating Our LeadersSeattle Business magazine recognized

EvergreenHealth CEO Bob Malte among its Leaders

in Health Care for 2015, awarding Malte the Silver

Award for outstanding leadership and thoughtful

innovation in the Puget Sound region.

Puget Sound Business Journal named

EvergreenHealth CIO Tom Martin “Outstanding

CIO—of a company with more than $1 billion

in revenue.”

Price Transparency: Your Guide to Understanding Health Care CostsFew things are more complex and diffi cult to understand

than the cost of health care services.

Financial wellness is part of your overall well-being.

We’re making cost information more transparent so you

can focus on living well and getting the services you need,

instead of playing a fi nancial guessing game.

EvergreenHealth off ers a free, personalized service for

consumers seeking a tailored estimate for the out-of-pocket

cost of their care based on their individual health

insurance policy.

By calling or submitting an online request, patients can

get a near real-time estimate of their out-of-pocket cost for

medical and surgical care based on their insurance coverage

and negotiated contract, year-to-date deductible and any

unique medical requirements.

And because cost is just part of the equation when it

comes to choosing care providers, the Web page also

includes access to a variety of state and national resources

that publish quality data as well as direct access to

EvergreenHealth’s quality and service results, so patients can

understand how cost, quality and service come together for

an overall measurement of value.

Visit www.evergreenhealth.com/estimate to start your

estimate online, or call 425.899.3632 to connect with our

professionals by phone, Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Save the DateRose Garden Memorial Ceremony July 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

The Gene & Irene Wockner Hospice Center

12822 124th LN NE, Kirkland, WA 98034

A 30-minute ceremony will remember and honor

those who have died, followed by a reception to celebrate

their lives.

The memorial ceremony is a community-wide

event. Please RSVP by calling EvergreenHealth Hospice

at 425.899.1079.

HEALTH CLASSES


For your convenience, you may register and pay for classes 24/7 online at www.evergreenhealth.com/classes.

You may also call the EvergreenHealth Nurse Navigator & Healthline at 425.899.3000, Mon. –Fri., 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

Pre-registration is required for all classes. Checks, VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Refunds and rescheduling

will only be given for cancellations two business days prior to the class. Let us know if you need special

accommodations to participate.

Register for Classes Online or by Phone

FREE SEMINARS

Learn about our advanced treatment technologies, discuss options and lifestyle changes, and fi nd support.

• Breakthrough Treatment for Pain

• Weight-loss Surgery: Is it Right for You?

• Breast-Healthy Habits

PARENTING &RELATIONSHIPS

Discover how to set limits and recognize developmentally appropriate behavior while having more fun with your kids!

• Priceless Parenting for Ages 5 & Under

• Priceless Parenting for Ages 6 to 12

WELLNESS &HEALTHY LIVING

Participate in hands-on

wellness experiences that

provide education, fi tness

tools and demonstrations in

the kitchen where you will

learn how to master recipes,

gain nutritional knowledge

and more!

• Healthy Meals Made Easy

• Say “Yes!” to Your Healthiest Best

• Mat Pilates

• Mood Food: Why Women Eat Chocolate

• Get a Good Night’s Sleep

• Family Fun Cooking Class

• An Evening of Calm

• Walk Your Way to Wellness

• Healthy Meals from the Farmer’s Market

• Healthy Digestion

• Fitness Device Know-How

• Power of Humor

EMERGENCY & SAFETYEDUCATION

Participants receive training

and credentials in fi rst aid,

life support and more.

• Babysitting Basics

• Infant & Child CPR

• Community CPR

• Community First Aid

• Community CPR & First Aid

• Health Care Provider CPR

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support

• Pediatric Advance Life Support

SENIOR HEALTH CLASSES

In addition to the classes

off ered at EvergreenHealth

Medical Center, we off er

classes and health screenings

at other convenient

community locations. Visit

www.evergreenhealth.com/

horizons for class schedules

and locations.

• AARP Smart Driver Program

• Cholesterol & Diabetes Screening

• Mindercise for Memory Enhancement

• Are You Ready for an Emergency?

GRIEF & BEREAVEMENTSUPPORT

EvergreenHealth off ers support, education and healing for those experiencing loss through death. Call 425-899-1077 to pre-register for a workshop or to schedule an appointment with a bereavement coordinator.

• Bereavement Informational Support

• Adult Bereavement Series

NEUROLOGICAL &MOVEMENT DISORDERS

EvergreenHealth

Neurological Care off ers

classes and support groups

to aid patients living with

a variety of neurological

diseases and movement

disorders.

• Fall Prevention for Everyone

• Empowered Living

• Dance for Parkinson’s

• Communication Group

• Neurological Exercise Group

• Neuro-nutrition Class

• From-the-Ground-Up Strength & Flexibility

• Living Well After Stroke

• Evergreen Men’s Group

• Therapeutic Yoga for MS

CHILDBIRTH PREPARATION

For class dates and times or

to register for classes, go to

www.evergreenhealth.com/

childbirtheducation or call

the EvergreenHealth Nurse

Navigator & Healthline at

425.899.3000. Register early

during your pregnancy,

as classes fi ll quickly.

• Pondering Parenthood

• Tour of the Family Maternity Center

• Tour de la Sala de Maternidad en EvergreenHealth para Parejas de Habla Hispana

• Understanding Your Prenatal Testing Options

• Warm Welcomes

• Meet a Midwife

• Labor & Birth Basics

• Labor & Birth for Teens & Young Adults

• Labor & Birth Multiples

• Labor Coping Skills Review

• Prepare the Nest: Childbirth, Breastfeeding & Newborn Care Class

• HypnoBirthing®—The Mongan Method

• Siblings Class

• Conscious Fathering

• Fit4Baby

• Yoga for Pregnancy

• Pelvic Health Class

BABY CARE

New or expectant families

learn eff ective techniques

for parenting infants and

babies through their fi rst

years of life.

• Day About Baby

• Breastfeeding Basics & Beyond

• Pumping Class

• Bringing Baby Home Workshop

• Hop to Signaroo® Baby Sign Language

• Parent-Baby Groups

• Back to Work Parent-Baby Group

• Parenting Your Toddler Classes

• This is Not What I Expected

• Starting Solids

• Breastfeeding Your Older Baby

Safe Kids Eastside

instructors provide

families with

education and resources for

keeping their baby safe at

home, in the car and at play.

• Safe Kids: Car Seat Safety

• Safe Kids: Car Seat Check-up

• Safe Kids: Infant Safety & Injury Prevention: Just for Parents

• Safe Kids: Infant Safety & Injury Prevention: Just for Grandparents

HEALTH CLASSES

Classes and support groups at Halvorson Cancer Center

EvergreenHealth off ers

cancer care support and

education for patients

and families in partnership

with Cancer Lifeline. To

register, call 206.297.2500 or

1.800.255.5505 or visit online

at www.cancerlifeline.org.

AMERICAN CANCERSOCIETY (ACS)

To register for monthly

sessions, call ACS at

1.800.237.2345.

• Look Good, Feel Better Workshop

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

• Express Yourself Through Writing

• Ikebana

• Refl ections on Expressions—Drawing Faces and Creating Silhouettes

COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS

• Healthy BBQ Alternatives

• Importance of Protein in a Healthy Diet

• Keeping Post-Treatment Weight Off Without Fad Diets

• Nutrition for Colon Health

• Sensational Summer Smoothies

EXERCISE & MOVEMENT

• Gentle Yoga

• Lebed Health Steps

PRESENTATIONS

• BRCA1 & 2 and Beyond: Latest Trends in Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer

• Breast Cancer and Nutrition

• Dietary Supplements During & After Treatment

• Five Wishes

• Hot Flashes & Related Symptom Management for Breast Cancer Patients

• Intro to Food Safety

• Naturopathic Approaches to Living With Lymphoma

• Naturopathic Support for Colon Cancer

• Palliative Care: An Important Component of Cancer Care

• Reconstructive Surgery Options for Breast Cancer Patients

• What To Eat Now: During & After Cancer Treatment

STRESS MANAGEMENT

• Intro to Tai Chi

• Stress Management & Relaxation Techniques

SUPPORT GROUPS

• Bosom Buddies

• Breast Friends Breast Cancer Support Group

• NEW! Colon Cancer Support Group

• Living with Cancer Networking Group

• Living with Metastatic Cancer Support Group

• Oral Head & Neck Support Group

SPRING 2015 17

For more scheduling information: For a full listing of classes, descriptions, dates and times visit www.evergreenhealth.com/classes.

Cancer Care Classes


FOUNDATION

EvergreenHealth Foundation News

2014 Seasons of Hope LuncheonA lively crowd of 450 guests at the sixth annual

Seasons of Hope fundraising luncheon raised more

than $116,000 to support EvergreenHealth’s Hospice

and Palliative Care programs and services.

The event took place Nov. 13, 2014 at the Lynnwood

Convention Center and included a moving keynote from

speaker Teepa Snow, one of America’s leading educators

on dementia. Sisters Kristen Baker and Lisa Thiele

shared a story of strength and hope as they told of their

mother’s courageous battle with cancer and their family’s

experience with EvergreenHealth Hospice Care.

Save the DateSave the date for the seventh

annual Seasons of Hope luncheon

November 12, 2015

The 2014 Campaign for EvergreenHealth Raises $161,000! The EvergreenHealth Foundation extends its sincere

thanks to everyone who gave during the 2014 annual

campaign, helping to raise $161,000 in contributions.

Last October, employee ambassadors eagerly spread

the word of the 2014 campaign. Utilizing contests,

giveaways, and decorations, the ambassadors enlisted

staff , providers and volunteers to pledge their personal

fi nancial support to the Campaign for EvergreenHealth.

More than 200 employees were fi rst-time donors or

increased their giving from last year, and overall employee

contributions increased by nearly 30 percent, surpassing

our EvergreenHealth goal.

Why I Give:Justin Bell, Radiation Oncology

“EvergreenHealth is where I work.

It’s also where my family gets their care.

If everyone gives a little, it can make a

big diff erence. I invest in EvergreenHealth

because they have invested in me.”

Gifts from the Heart Luncheon Celebrates Legacy Giving Recently members of the EvergreenHealth Legacy

Society attended the Gifts From the Heart Luncheon

celebrating friends of EvergreenHealth who have

included a legacy gift to EvergreenHealth Foundation in

their will or estate plan.

At the luncheon, a special tribute was held to honor

and remember legacies left by Suzanne Lewin,

Elizabeth Dorthea Eckmann and Wilber Curtis Mann,

who all passed away in 2014.

The EvergreenHealth Legacy Society welcomes

its newest members:

Jeff & Mary Bander, Bob & Shirley Ferguson, Auggie

& Sally Jo Kempf, Kurt S. Klabunde, Teddy Overleese,

Ben & Nancy Remak, Eric Taylor, MD & Sheena Aebig,

Patricia Tucker, Robert Voiss, Amy Walen

PICTURED LEFT:

KEYNOTE SPEAKER, AUTHOR AND

EDUCATOR TEEPA SNOW SHARES

INSIGHT AT THE 2014 LUNCHEON

PICTURED LEFT:

LEGACY MEMBERS L-R:

LUCY DEYOUNG,

DR. ERIC TAYLOR,

TEDDY OVERLEESE

AND MARGARETE

& SIEGFRIED SCHED

FOUNDATION

SPRING 2015 19

Since 1972, EvergreenHealth has combined its patient and family-centered care

philosophy with a deep commitment to advancing medical technologies that

provide exceptional care to our community. The EvergreenHealth Foundation

invites you to make a signifi cant diff erence for generations to come by

becoming a member of the EvergreenHealth Legacy Society. This form of giving

is simple, easy, and may provide a current tax-deduction for you.

For additional information on the Legacy Society, please call 425.899.1998.

2015 Evergreen Gala Raises $1.15 Million The 2015 Evergreen

Gala returned to King

County’s Marymoor

Park in Redmond and

transported guests to

the elegance of old

Hollywood, where they

enjoyed fi ne dining, local wines, entertainment, and

dancing in a climate-controlled tent.

Proceeds from the 2015 Evergreen Gala will benefi t

EvergreenHealth Home Care. EvergreenHealth has

long been committed to bringing care, healing and

health directly to our patients in the comfort of their

homes. To expand services, EvergreenHealth will off er

eHomeHealth, an easy and interactive technology

ensuring a connection for home health patients with

their families and their care team.

The EvergreenHealth Foundation was also honored

to present Bob and Cathy Betz with the annual Spirit

of Giving award, which recognizes the very best

in community philanthropy. The Betzes have long

supported EvergreenHealth and other community

initiatives not only through fi nancial contributions, but

also through their time and community leadership.

EvergreenHealth Foundation was honored to partner with

glassybaby, the Northwest’s iconic charitable glass-blown

votive retailer, as its Bellevue store’s benefi ciary of proceeds

from December 2014 sales.

We are overwhelmed with the generosity of a $30,655 gift

from glassybaby, which represents 10 percent of December’s

Bellevue store sales, and will support uncompensated care

for patients at the Halvorson Cancer Center.

PICTURED RIGHT:

EVERGREENHEALTH

REPRESENTATIVES ACCEPT

GLASSYBABY’S DONATION

FROM ALISON URKOWITZ,

GLASSYBABY GIVING

DIRECTOR

PICTURED ABOVE: CATHY AND BOB BETZ

For more information about the Evergreen Gala, visit

www.EvergreenGala.org or contact Christie Elliott at

425.899.1906 or [email protected].

Thank You glassybaby!

We make health care easy and convenient with nine primary care practices,

two urgent care centers and two 24/7 emergency departments, along with

comprehensive primary, specialty and emergency care provided at our sister

hospital, EvergreenHealth Monroe.

Our primary care practices off er evening and weekend hours, with Saturday and

Sunday walk-in care available at Canyon Park. We also provide more than 25

specialty practices.

For hours, directions and appointments, visit our website at

www.evergreenhealth.com. Or call our 24/7 Nurse Navigator & Healthline

at 425.899.3000.

PRIMARY CARE

Canyon Park

Duvall

Kenmore

Kirkland

Monroe

Redmond

Sammamish

Woodinville

Signature Care, Woodinville

URGENT CARE

Redmond

Woodinville

SPECIALTY PRACTICES

Anticoagulation Services

Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center

Colon and Rectal Care

Diabetes and Endocrinology Care

Diabetes Education & Nutrition Services

Ear, Nose & Throat Care

Evergreen Women’s Health Center

Foot & Ankle Care

General Neurology Care

Heart Care

Infectious Disease Care

Kidney Care

Lipid Services

Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Midwifery Care

Multiple Sclerosis Center

Orthopedic & Sports Care

Pain Care

Pulmonary Care

Radiation Oncology

Rehabilitation Care

Senior Health Specialists

Sleep Services

Sport & Spine Care

Vascular Care

Washington InterventionalSpine Associates

Women’s Care

Women’s Care, Monroe

Women’s Gynecological Care

Wound Care Services

EMERGENCY CARE

EvergreenHealth Medical Center

Redmond Medical Center

EvergreenHealth Monroe

HOSPITALIST SERVICES

EvergreenHealth Hospitalist Care

EvergreenHealth OB Hospitalist Care

EvergreenHealth Intensivist Care

12040 NE 128th Street

Kirkland, WA 98034

www.evergreenhealth.com

FACEBOOKfacebook.com/evergreenhospital.org

TWITTER@EvergreenHosp

YOUTUBEyoutube.com/evergreenhospital

EVERGREENHEALTH BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

AL DEYOUNG Bothell/Duvall/Woodinville

JEANETTE GREENFIELD At Large

REBECCA HIRTKirkland/Kenmore

R. AUGUST KEMPFRedmond/Sammamish

CHUCK PILCHER, MD At Large

EDITOR: EvergreenHealth Marketing & Public Relations Group &Firmani + Associates Inc.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Firmani + Associates Inc.

DESIGN: Arscentia

You may contact the Commissioners by email at [email protected].

EvergreenHealth Monitor is published as a community service by EvergreenHealth. Its contents are not intended to replace professional health care. See your health care professional for information relevant to your medical history.

EvergreenHealth is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

For career opportunities at EvergreenHealth, visit our website at www.evergreenhealth.com.

Follow EvergreenHealth on:

Multiple Locations for All Levels of Care

For more information including phone numbers, hours, addresses,

directions and appointments, please visit www.evergreenhealth.com.

New! Download our mobile app by searching EvergreenHealth.

evergreenhealth monitor - spring 2015

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