PORT ANGELES — Less than three months after Olympic Medical Center went live with digital mammography — which hones detection so that breast cancers can be found earlier — the hospital district took another step to improve diagnosis.
The seven OMC commissioners on Wednesday approved the $96,787 purchase and $53,600 service contract for two bone density scanners that will assess a patient’s risk of osteoporosis.
They will replace two “cumbersome” analog systems OMC currently uses, said Deby King, director of diagnostic imaging.
“After each patient is completed, we have to carry those results via courier over to the hospital for our radiologist to review them,” King said.
“In some cases, the radiologist needs additional information, so those have to go back to the site that they had their imaging done.”
The current system has been a source of frustration for patients and providers because of delays in getting results, King said.
The new GE units — one in Port Angeles and one in Sequim — should eliminate paperwork and improve care, King said.
“We’ll be truly in the digital age there with our system,” she said.
OMC rolled out digital mammography at the Port Angeles hospital and two satellite clinics on Oct. 1.
The digital machines, which medical personnel said allow them to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage than film mammograms, were the first on the North Olympic Peninsula.
If detected early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 96 percent, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The survival rate for late-stage breast cancer is 50 percent.
“We’ve made significant investments in woman’s imaging,” said Rhonda Curry, assistant administrator.
In other news, the board approved a five-year extension for Avamere to pay back a loan.
Since Avamere’s Olympic Care and Rehabilitation Center in Sequim is remodeling a building, it can’t pay OMC the $400,000 due at the end of this month.
Under the new agreement, Avamere will make a $40,000 down payment and pay the remaining $360,000 over five years at 6 percent interest.
“They’re basically in the middle of a $1.2 million remodel project,” Olympic Medical Center CEO Eric Lewis said.
“We want to make sure that OCRC continues to improve.”
Lewis noted that the interest rate is favorable for OMC, which owns 7.5 percent of the building that is being remodeled.
Commissioner Jim Leskinovitch said the rehab center is “steeped in their desire for quality.”
“The community really needs it sorely,” Leskinovitch said.
Commissioner John Beitzel said the agreement is beneficial to OMC and the community at large.
The commissioners also approved a $145,000 process improvement contract.
Over the next five months, consultants from Lean Heathcare West will train 64 employees to help OMC streamline its operations.
“We know we have to become more efficient,” Lewis said.
Four of those trainees will become instructors themselves, who will eventually spread the knowledge to “hundreds of people” who work at the hospital or its clinics, Lewis said.
“We can’t just simply work harder,” Lewis said.
“We’re going to have to work smarter.”
In his end-of-the-year administrator’s report, Lewis said OMC fared well in 2009 despite turbulent times the heath care industry.
“I think we can feel proud about 2009,” Lewis said. “Our employees have done an outstanding job with, I think, the toughest environment in health care I’ve ever had, with the recession and certainly health care reform, and all kinds of problems in the health care system in America as a whole.”
OMC invested in electronic medical records and achieved its main financial goal of a 4 percent net income in 2009.
Earlier in the meeting, Dr. Mark Fischer was recognized by the board for serving a two-year term as chief of medical staff.
Fischer will step down from that role on Dec. 31.
“He’s highly ethical,” Lewis said.
“He’s really focused on this community, really cares about Olympic Medical Center and he really makes a difference.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
