PORT TOWNSEND — Equal access to healthcare services is of the utmost importance to those operating Jefferson Healthcare, hospital leaders said Monday.
“It’s all about access,” Chief Executive Officer Vic Dirksen told about 40 attending Monday’s Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Fort Worden Commons.
Dirksen said while the hospital — until last fall was called Jefferson General Hospital — was making a profit of between $600,000 and $700,000 during the first five months of 2005, some charges may be reduced to make hospital care more affordable.
He also said the hospital could team up with a health group to make medical insurance and care more affordable and accessible.
“We need to have more medical outreach with the working poor in the community,” Dirksen said.
Jefferson Healthcare physicians get paid the same no matter whom they give care to, the hospital CEO told the chamber audience.
The hospital, with nearly 30 full-time physicians and more than 400 full-time staff, reported $40 million in business and $60 million in billings in the past year.
More hospital activity
During the past 2½ years, the hospital’s activity has grown more than 30 percent with more than 30 percent growth seen in surgical services, Dirksen reported.
Registered nurse Florida Rue, who has been with the hospital for 17 years, recalled when it only had 30 cases a month.
In 1995, Rue said, three new operating rooms were opened up, which greatly extended the hospital’s surgical services.
“We are now working on opening a fourth operating room,” she said.
