As we reflect on 2024, WhidbeyHealth is proud of the significant milestones we have achieved in our ongoing mission to provide high-quality healthcare to our community. Our dedication to excellence has led to numerous accomplishments that reinforce our commitment to patient safety, quality care, and improved access to essential medical services.
Celebrating Our Achievements
This year, WhidbeyHealth successfully renewed its DNV NIAHO Accreditation for both the Medical Center and Specialty Clinics, underscoring our adherence to rigorous healthcare standards. Additionally, we earned the prestigious DNV ISO 9001 Certification, further demonstrating our commitment to continuous quality improvement.
Patient safety remains a top priority, and we are proud to report that we have maintained an outstanding record of infection prevention:
· No urinary catheter infections since 2019
· No ventilator infections since 2015
· No central line infections since 2009
Expanding access to care has been a crucial focus. Since the beginning of 2022, we have welcomed 45 new providers, enhancing key services such as primary care, walk-in care, women’s care, and surgical care. With the addition of our first full-time hematologist/oncologist and oncology-certified nurse practitioner, we are better equipped to support cancer patients on Whidbey Island. We also developed a new behavioral health program to help address the growing needs of residents dealing with mental illness and substance addiction.
Our midwife program has restarted, ensuring comprehensive maternity care for expecting families. Additionally, we have extended Community Pharmacy hours to Saturdays and introduced free delivery to the south end of the island, making it easier for residents to access their medications.
Lastly, we successfully implemented a new electronic health record system that connects our outpatient clinics and the Medical Center to create a unified patient record. As a result, the upgraded MyWhidbeyHealth patient portal now provides 24-hour access to patients’ medical records in one place for care received at any WhidbeyHealth location. We want to sincerely thank our patients for their support during this transition and as we continue to work through the remaining issues and learning curves that are typical with any new software.
Addressing One of Our Biggest Challenges: Phones
While we take pride in these achievements, we recognize that there is still work to be done. We are committed to providing the best possible care, and that means ensuring patients can easily connect with us when needed. We understand the frustration of long hold times, unanswered calls, and unreturned messages, and we are taking action to improve your experience.
To better serve our community, we are excited to announce a new partnership with an external call center. This enhancement will allow us to manage high call volumes more effectively, so callers can
get the assistance they need—quickly and reliably. We are actively working on this transition and expect to launch the improved service in early March.
Our goal is to make it easier for you to access care, schedule appointments, and receive the support you deserve. This change reflects our commitment to enhancing your experience and ensuring that every interaction with our clinics is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Looking Ahead
At WhidbeyHealth, our commitment to excellence remains unwavering. We will continue working toward solutions that enhance patient care and overall experience. While challenges remain, we are confident that through innovation and dedication, we will continue to improve our services and meet the evolving needs of our community.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we strive to make WhidbeyHealth the best it can be for all who depend on us.
Nathan Staggs
CEO, WhidbeyHealth