• Health & Wellness Street Fair - Sept. 11, 2010 – Ritzville Downtown Plaza

  Adams County Public Hospital District is once again sponsoring a Health Fair in downtown Ritzville.  Over 25 health and safety related organizations are scheduled to attend as well as retail vendors.  Many fun activities for the whole family are scheduled so plan to attend this fun, informative and free event.  For more detailed information click here.    

• Rural Healthcare Quality Network Honors East Adams Rural Hospital for Accomplishments in Quality Improvement more info...

• Department Highlights - This month we feature our Laboratory more info...

• Buy A Lunch/Give A Bunch program started by Adams County Public Hospital District #2 Employees more info...

Administrator's Message

Mark Barglof, CEO

During my brief time here at East Adams Rural Hospital (EARH), I have been impressed by the caring nature shown by our staff as we meet the needs of patients with illness, chronic disease, physical injury or who are receiving therapy.

In a critical-care hospital environment, quality care is sometimes perceived by the physical facilities and state-of-the-art equipment that one would see during their stay. However new, gleaming equipment and plush surroundings are not the indicators of quality care and treatment.

More often, it is those things which you cannot see that are the REAL indicators of optimal care…..these are the systems, the people, and the processes that operate behind the scenes of the hospital. These people and systems ensure patient safety, maintain adherence to treatment protocols, and monitor a patient’s vital signs and treatment progress.

One such “behind the scenes” system that we have recently implemented is a telepharmacy management program which utilizes equipment, tracking procedures, and dispensing protocols that meet the standards-of-care for the proper monitoring of patient medication and the handling of prescription drugs. This important improvement to our pharmacy practices and standards ensures not only that medication is being tracked; but that it is appropriately scheduled, patient-dosed and administered.  Further (and of no small consequence), these systems can be integrated to patient Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems.

This program is further enhanced by the availability of a dedicated hospital-trained pharmacist and pharmacy team that provides medication review and consultation to our physicians and clinical staff 24-hours-per-day. Although you will not typically “see” the pharmacy or pharmacist during your visit or stay at EARH, the appropriate pharmacological intervention and administration is pivotal to patient care treatment and health management.

We are excited about the financial and clinical “investment” that we have made in our pharmacy department. It is indicative of the many ongoing improvements that you will see in the months ahead as we continue to build a strong health care system here in Eastern Adams County.

As always, if you have any questions please give me a call or send me an email at mbarglof@earh.com

Mark Barglof, CEO
East Adams Rural Hospital