Northwest Hospital Alliance Elects New Board Chair

Sheryl Rickard, CEO Bonner General Hospital

Sheryl Rickard, CEO Bonner General Health

Sheryl Rickard was recently elected to the role of board chair for the Northwest Hospital Alliance. Sheryl is the Chief Executive Officer of Bonner General Health in Sandpoint, Idaho where she has worked since 1986. She has been the Chief Executive Officer for 15 years. Sheryl received her bachelor’s of science degree in Finance from Montana State University. She is a CPA. She received her master’s in Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University. Sheryl has been a part of the Northwest Hospital Alliance Board since its inception.

Regional Hospitals Join Northwest Hospital Alliance

On Friday, September 27, three new hospitals joined the Northwest Hospital Alliance. Syringa Hospital and Clinics in Grangeville, Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics in Orofino, and St. Mary’s Hospital and Clinics in Cottonwood, are the newest members of the Alliance.

Lenne Bonner CEO, St. Mary’s and Clearwater Valley Hospitals and Clinics

Abner King CEO, Syringa Hospital and Clinics

“For the past 28 years we have built relationships and a mutual trust between the five Northern hospitals. We have improved the health in our individual communities by working together,” said Sheryl Rickard, CEO of Bonner General Health in Sandpoint. “As the new board chairperson, I am excited to welcome three new hospital members to the Hospital Alliance. We recognize the importance of strong, respectful relationships with the hospitals in our area and expanding that to three additional hospitals is exciting. All of us recognize the wisdom of partnering with other hospitals to improve quality of care and reduce health care costs in Idaho. We believe that we are stronger together.”

The Northwest Hospital Alliance serves as a collaborative network to assist our members in offering high quality, cost effective health care in our communities.

The cornerstone of the network relationship is the preservation of community hospital sustainability and economic strength. Each member hospital maintains its organizational structure and the identity and image that has made it visible in the local community. Each member is represented on the board.

“We like each other, and know how important it is to the people living in our region for us to work together in the delivery of health care,” said Jon Ness, CEO of Kootenai Health.

With the additional three members, the Northwest Hospital Alliance now includes eight hospitals, with room to grow in the future. Our network of hospitals is devoted to improving the health status of our communities by providing a collaborative approach to regional health care delivery and preserving the economic strength of local providers.

Health care in rural communities is an absolutely essential component of quality of life for rural residents.

Conversations on Living and Dying Well: A Week Long Event October 14-19, 2019

Bonner General Health Community Hospice is collaborating with Kootenai Health and NW Palliative Care and hosting a week-long conversation October 14-19, 2019 about “Living and Dying Well” in Sandpoint, ID.

The week-long series of events will include:

Monday, October 14th 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. ~ Death Cafe – People gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Our objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view that helps people make the most of their (finite) lives’.

Tuesday, October 15th ~ Poetry Reading & Music – Open mic with music & conversation

Wednesday, October 16th ~ “Living & Dying Well” Special Podcast on KRFY Radio 88.5 FM with Suzy Prez and Chris Bessler at 8:00 a.m. with Dr. Nicole Pelly and Lissa DeFreitas

Thursday, October 17th ~ Season of Life Stroll – A facilitated nature hike on the Pend Oreille Bay Trail

Friday, October 18th ~’Death Over Dinner’ A community meal with conversation

Saturday, October 19th ~ Capstone Event at the Panida Theater – A series of movies scenes moderated by a panel of Palliative Care experts & community members including questions and conversation from the audience about ‘living & dying well’ in our town.

Visit their site for more information on the event: https://www.bonnergeneral.org/conversations-on-living-and-dying-well/

Being Mortal a Frontline Documentry Screening

Hospice of North Idaho is hosting Being Mortal a Frontline Documentry Screening in multiple locations this fall. The event is free and no RSVP is needed. For questions  call 208-772-7994. See below for dates and locations

September 18: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Benewah Community Hospital: Francie Board Room, St Maries, ID

September 19: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Shoshone Community Outreach Building: 9 Country Lane, Pinehurst, ID

November 12: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Hospice of North Idaho Community Building: 2290 W. Prairie Ave, Coeur d’Alene , ID

Bonner General Health Receives Qualis Health Award of Excellence in Healthcare Quality for the Third Consecutive Year

Bonner General Health received the Qualis Health Award of Excellence for their Antibiotic Stewardship program that works to prevent the overuse, misuse, and abuse of antibiotics.

Bonner General Health received a Qualis Health Award of Excellence in 2017 for “Code Stork” their emergency cesarean section protocol, and in 2016 for their Telestroke program.

Qualis Health celebrates organizations that transform healthcare delivery for their communities make a real difference for their patients and their families.

Mental Health First Aid Courses to be taught at Northwest Hospital Alliance Critical Access Hospitals: Shoshone Medical Center to Host in June

‘Mental Health First Aid’ Training to be held on Thursday, June 14, from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Location: Shoshone Medical Center Community Outreach Center: 9 Country Club Lane, Pinehurst, ID 83850

This training is approved for 7.25 continuing education contact hours for registered nurses.

Who Should Attend: Healthcare professionals, law enforcement, fire fighters, EMS personnel and people who have a person with mental health issues or crisis in their personal or professional life.

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-first-aid-trainingtickets-45543583083

Mental health challenges – such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use – are shockingly common in the United States. In fact, more than one in five American adults will have a mental health problem in any given year. The National Council for Behavioral Health certifies trainers throughout the nation to provide Mental Health First Aid courses to prepare their communities with the knowledge and skills to help individuals who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

Material fee for the training manual is $16.95. * One hour lunch break on your own. Space is limited – Register Early

Questions: Contact Sue Hill Crowley 208-769-3279 or shcrowley@nic.edu

Participants completing the full eight-hour training are certified in Mental Health First Aid.

Directions to event: Shoshone Medical Center Community Outreach Center: 9 Country Club Lane, Pinehurst, ID 83850. Pinehurst I-90 Exit 45, go South to 4 way stop in front of Watt’s Appliance. Make a left and make a right past bank to enter into Pinehurst Golf Course parking lot. Outreach Center is the large, green 2-story building past the flag pole at the back of the parking lot.

Northwest Hospital Alliance: April Nursing Grand Rounds

Topic: The Cost of Being Human: A Discussion About Human Trafficking
On Tuesday, April 10 staff from Kootenai Health will present Nursing Grand Rounds on human trafficking.

The presentation will include:

  • Discussion on the prevalence of human trafficking
  • Recognizing physical and psychosocial indicators that a person may be a human trafficking victim
  • Description of what a sexual assault examination entails and your role in supporting an individual through the examination

Location: Kootenai Health Resource Center – Cedar Room and via IVC at Benewah Community Hospital, Boundary Community Hospital, Bonner General Health, and Shoshone Medical Center

To RSVP email nursingrsvp@nic.edu. Include your name and the location you plan to attend. Questions call Erlene Pickett at 208-769-3278

Mental Health First Aid Courses to be taught at Northwest Hospital Alliance Critical Access Hospitals: Benewah Community Hospital to host in April

On Tuesday, April 3, Benewah Community Hospital will host a training on Mental Health First Aid’ which teaches individuals how to help those experiencing mental health challenges or crises.

Who Should Attend: Healthcare professionals, law enforcement, fire fighters, EMS personnel
and people who have a person with mental health issues or crisis in their personal or
professional life.

Mental health challenges – such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use – are
shockingly common in the United States. In fact, more than one in five American adults will
have a mental health problem in any given year. The National Council for Behavioral Health
certifies trainers throughout the nation to provide Mental Health First Aid courses to prepare
their communities with the knowledge and skills to help individuals who are developing a mental
health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-first-aid-training-hosted-by-benewahcommunity-hospital-tickets-43571717179

Material fee for the training manual is $16.95

Questions: Contact Sue Hill Crowley 208-769-3279 or shcrowley@nic.edu

Participants completing the full eight-hour training are certified in Mental Health First Aid.

Northwest Hospital Alliance: February Nursing Grand Rounds

Topic: Choking on a No Code Status: Discussions on Advance Directives and Moral Distress in Healthcare.

On Tuesday, February 13 staff from Shoshone Medical Center and Kootenai Health will present on Choking on a No Code Status: Discussions on Advance Directives and Moral Distress in Healthcare.

The presentation will include:

  • Understanding advanced directives (purposes, limitations, scopes of practices)
  • The Review processes involved in discussing advanced directives and treatment plans with patients and family
  • Discussion on implications of moral distress in the healthcare field

Location: Shoshone Medical Center and Kootenai Health – Classroom 2 and via IVC at Benewah Community Hospital, Boundary Community Hospital, and Bonner General Health.

RSVP: e-mail nursingrsvp@nic.edu. Include your name and the location you plan to attend.

Questions call Erlene Pickett at (208) 769-3278

Day Egusquiza Provided Utilization Management Training in North Idaho

Nationally known speaker and trainer facilitated a Utilization Management Training on Tuesday, May 16 at Bonner General Health. The training included a combination of formal classes and interactive sessions as well as case scenarios from Idaho hospitals. Topics included: The Key Elements Necessary to Be Successful With Payer Rules, Documentation Guidelines and Ongoing Provider & Nursing Education.

Day Egusquiza is President of AR Systems, Inc. She has over 30 years experience in health care reimbursement, hospital business office operations (20 years in an Idaho hospital), contracting and compliance implementation. Nationally recognized speaker on continuous quality improvement (CQI), benchmarking, redesigning, reimbursement systems and implementing an operational focus of compliance- both in hospitals and practices. She has been on the AAHAM National Advisory Council, HFMA National Advisory Council, is a past President of the Idaho HFMA Chapter & recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award.