Summary

Oldest hospital district in state honored for its healthcare, financial and personnel accomplishments

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council today recognized Valley Medical Center for not only its excellence in healthcare, but also for the organization’s nationally-recognized financial management and award-winning work environment.

“I am very proud to present Valley Medical Center with this recognition,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, the sponsor of the recognition. “The medical center has been providing exemplary medical services to South King County residents for almost 65 years, while continuously improving its financial management practices and creating a workplace where all employees feel appreciated.”

Valley Medical Center, Washington’s Public Hospital District No. 1, is the oldest and largest hospital district in Washington State. It operates a full-service hospital, Emergency Room and Level III Trauma Center, and more than two dozen primary care, walk-in urgent care and specialty clinics throughout Southeast King County.

The hospital district has been recognized for outstanding, evidenced-based care for those suffering from heart conditions and strokes, and ranked number one in Washington State and among the top two percent in the U.S. for overall orthopedic services, joint replacement and spine surgery by HealthGrades.

“Our mission and focus has always been to improve the health of our community, and in recent years, VMC has expanded to meet the demands of a growing southeast King County community,” said Valley Medical Center CEO Rich Roodman. “We have added new primary care and urgent care clinics out into neighborhoods for easy access for our residents, elevated the expertise of our clinicians and staff to support our medical programs, and have expanded our comprehensive programs and services to ensure patient safety and exceptional care for all members of our community regardless of their ability to pay.”

Over the past ten years, Valley Medical Center has succeeded in practicing sound financial management. In October 2011, for the tenth consecutive year, Valley Medical Center earned a “no findings” audit report from the office of Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag and was identified as “a model for other entities” in Washington State.

The medical center has also received national awards for budgeting, including the outstanding achievement in budgeting from the Governmental Financial Officers ‘Association (GFOA). Valley Medical Center is the only west coast public hospital district that has achieved this award.

“I believe we are the only public hospital district in the state to have received no audit findings by the State Auditor for 10 consecutive years,” said Roodman. “We are quite proud of this accomplishment because we have a fiscal responsibility to the District that we take very seriously. This recognition is a result of strong operational oversight, good internal controls and accurate financial reporting.”

In addition to recognizing Valley Medical center’s excellence in healthcare and sound financial management, the King County Council also commended the organization for the environment it has created for its employees. Over the past four years, the organization has been ranked as one top 100 “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” in the nation by the healthcare publication, Modern Healthcare.

“I want to thank the Council for recognizing the dedication and hard work of the many, many talented people who make Valley Medical Center the ‘remarkable’ healthcare system that it is,” said Roodman.

RECOGNITION

WHEREAS, Valley Medical Center, King County’s Public Hospital District No. 1, is the oldest and largest hospital district in Washington State; and

WHEREAS, Valley Medical Center has been recognized for its outstanding care for patients with heart conditions and strokes with the American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure” Gold Quality Achievement Award, and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines–Stroke” Silver Quality Achievement Award; and

WHEREAS, HealthGrades has ranked Valley Medical Center first in Washington State and in the top two percent in the United States for overall orthopedic services, joint replacement, and spine surgery; and

WHEREAS, due to its proactive approach with operational oversight, strong internal controls, and accurate financial reporting, Valley Medical Center has achieved 10 consecutive years with no audit findings from the Washington State Auditor’s Office: and

WHEREAS, Valley Medical Center has been awarded the Governmental Financial Officers’ Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2011 budget documents; and

WHEREAS, Valley Medical Center is the only hospital in the state to be ranked among 100 “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” in the nation by Modern Healthcare magazine for four consecutive years, as well as one of the top 10 "Best Places to Work in Healthcare" in 2009 and 2010; and

WHEREAS, Valley Medical Center has been named the “Best Company” to be employed with for seven consecutive years by Washington CEO magazine;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, hereby recognize