Lake Chelan Health teams up with Rural Physicians Group

CHELAN — Lake Chelan Health Hospital is implementing a new 24/7 hospitalist care program through a partnership with Rural Physicians Group, set to begin on January 14, 2025.

The program will introduce full-time, round-the-clock physician coverage for hospital inpatients. This change is expected to result in several operational improvements, including expedited transitions from the Emergency Room to inpatient beds and an expanded capacity to treat more complex medical cases within the local facility.

Aaron Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Lake Chelan Health, provided context for the decision: "We are thrilled to be working with Rural Physicians Group, whose dedication to rural healthcare aligns with our vision of improving community health and making our region a better place to live by improving resources to our residents."

The hospital administration has outlined specific anticipated benefits of the new hospitalist program:

• Continuous physician support for inpatients, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Reduced wait times for patient transfers from the Emergency Room to inpatient care.
• Enhanced comfort and care experience for patients.
• Increased capability to treat more acutely ill patients locally.
• Specialized inpatient care from physicians focused solely on hospital medicine.
• Expanded opportunities for surgeons to manage complex cases requiring inpatient care.

Hospital officials have stated that the introduction of the hospitalist program will not affect the existing University of Washington Residency Program. Additionally, labor and delivery care services currently provided by CVCH providers will continue uninterrupted.

Rural Physicians Group, the partnering organization, operates a network of physicians specializing in rural healthcare. Their stated mission involves supporting hospitals in underserved rural communities to meet local healthcare needs.

The hospital administration has provided a point of contact for further inquiries. Those seeking additional information about the hospitalist program may reach out to Aaron Edwards, Lake Chelan Health CEO, at 509-682-3300 or via email at aedwards@lcch.net.