PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center hosted a gathering of interfaith clergy from the Vancouver community Thursday evening Sept. 16. The leaders gathered on the hospital's front lawn in a prayer circle to offer support in their own tradition for our patients and caregivers. Each clergy member who spoke directed their prayers to the staff and patients watching from the hospital's windows. PeaceHealth is grateful to the representatives of the multiple different faiths who participated, and to PeaceHealth Southwest's team of chaplains for organizing this wonderful event.
Prayers were offered by:
- Tanna Engdahl - Cowlitz Tribe
- Chaplain Derek Rasheed - Muslim faith
- Pastor Joyce Smith - African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Rev. Kathryn Bert - Unitarian Universalist
- Rev. Lobsang Dawa - Tibetian Buddhist
About PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center:
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center is a 450-bed facility located at 400 NE Mother Joseph Place in Vancouver, WA., providing comprehensive specialty care for patients in southwest Washington. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
PeaceHealth Medical Group Nurse Practitioner Katie Johnson has earned the Certificate of Added Qualification in Headache Medicine (AQH) from the National Headache Foundation. Johnson, who is dual board certified as a Clinic Nurse Specialist in Adult Health and as a Family Nurse Practitioner, has specialty training in neurology and headache treatment - including the administration of Botox® for chronic migraine and occipital nerve blocks.
Johnson believes that the role of the advance practice nurse requires flexibility and creativity achieved through respect, trust and knowledge. In addition to her clinical expertise, Johnson is also a leader and educator who collaborates successfully with multidisciplinary teams.
To be eligible for the AQH competency examination, a candidate must be a licensed healthcare practitioner who evaluates and manages headache patients independently. Each candidate must meet minimum standards for continuing education in headache medicine, and have a strong record of clinical experience providing care for patients suffering with headaches.
For more information about neurology services at PeaceHealth Medical Group, including treatment for headaches, visit peacehealth.org/phmg/longview/neurology. If you suffer from headaches, click the following link take a brief online questionnaire to determine whether you should seek care for your condition. Headache Quiz
About the National Headache Foundation
For more than 50 years the National Headache Foundation (NHF) has worked through advocacy and research to further awareness of headache and migraine as legitimate neurobiological diseases. Today, with the aid of advanced technology and clinical innovation, there are more treatment options than ever before. The NHF believes headaches are still largely misunderstood and that finding the right treatment options requires nuanced and adaptable insight.
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center is a community-owned, not-for-profit, 193-bed acute care hospital and Level III trauma center located at 1615 Delaware St. in Longview, Washington. Recognized nationally as a Top 100 Hospital, PeaceHealth St. John provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient diagnostic, medical, and surgical services. The region’s health care leader for more than 75 years, PeaceHealth St. John is one of ten medical centers in the PeaceHealth system. www.peacehealth.org
With COVID-19 remaining prevalent in our community, PeaceHealth's 4th annual AppleTree Marathon, half-marathon and 5K Sept. 18-19 has added an optional innovative virtual experience. Runners and walkers can still lace up their running or walking shoes and register for the AppleTree's in-person race, conducted in adherence with state guidelines, or sign up for the new virtual “Race-in-a-Box” option.
For those who are planning to participate virtually, the new “Race-in-a-Box” option has everything you need to complete your race safely wherever you choose. The “Race-in-a-Box” includes a great PeaceHealth Appletree shirt, bag, medal and commemorative glass, plus a supply of hydration and nutrition items to keep racers fueled up.
As the title sponsor of this premiere wellness event, PeaceHealth encourages everyone in our community to consider some level of participation. It’s important during these challenging times that we continue to take good care of ourselves physically and mentally with exercise and other healthy activities.
All PeaceHealth AppleTree events will follow WHY Racing safety guidelines, which may including masking requirements in certain areas of the expo or race course. After the race, participants are invited to enjoy a post event meal and celebration.
Schedule of events:
Saturday, September 18th
6:00pm – 5K Sunset Run
Sunday, September 19th
7:00am – Marathon start
8:00am – Half Marathon start
For more information or to sign up for the events, visit peacehealth.org/appletree
About the PeaceHealth AppleTree Marathon/Half/5k
The Start/Finish line will be on Officers Row in front of the Historical Grant House with post-race festivities within and around Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The course winds through a scenic route through Vancouver along a path highlighting historic sites and featuring spectacular river and mountain views. The PeaceHealth AppleTree marathon is a two-loop Boston qualifier. For more information visit whyracingevents.com/appletree-run
About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a medical group practice with more than 1,200 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center has seen another substantial daily increase in COVID-19 positive inpatients. On Thursday morning August 26, PeaceHealth St. John is caring for 56 inpatients, up from 44 yesterday. This morning’s total is more that double just one week ago.
“The jump in COVID-19 patients is creating a strain on our ability to provide care,” said Cherelle Montanye, Chief Administrative Officer at PeaceHealth St. John. We have already taken the unfortunate but necessary step of canceling scheduled procedures that would result in an overnight hospital stay - reserving the beds for patients requiring hospitalization. In addition PeaceHealth St. John made the additional decision today to cancel elective outpatient procedures for next week. Patients will be contacted by their specialist office to reschedule their procedure. PeaceHealth St. John will continue to support and care for our patients who require urgent or emergent procedures.
“Our community continues to have one of the highest unvaccinated rates in the state of Washington, and we are seeing the undeniable results,” said Montanye. “The OHSU and UW COVID-19 forecast models, which have been very accurate thus far, continue to show that we are not at the peak yet of this current surge."
PeaceHealth urges that all who are medically able to get the COVID-19 vaccine do so, as it is proven safe and effective. At PeaceHealth St. John the vast majority of COVID-19 inpatients are unvaccinated, and the hospital continues to report that it is treating no patients for adverse reactions to the vaccine.
For additional information on COVID-19, vaccines and testing, go to www.peacehealth.org/coronavirus.
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center is a community-owned, not-for-profit, 193-bed acute care hospital and Level III trauma center located at 1615 Delaware St. in Longview, Washington. Recognized nationally as a Top 100 Hospital, PeaceHealth St. John provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient diagnostic, medical, and surgical services. The region’s health care leader for more than 75 years, PeaceHealth St. John is one of ten medical centers in the PeaceHealth system. www.peacehealth.org
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center will host a Zoom videoconference call for news media at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25, to provide updated information on hospital capacity, including emergency department volumes, COVID census, staffing, and vaccines.
Join Dr. Lawrence Neville, Chief Medical Officer, PeaceHealth Columbia Network and Dr. Jason Hanley, Medical Director, PeaceHealth Southwest Emergency Department for a short briefing followed by time to field questions.
Media briefing: Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021
Time: 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Please email: SWCommunications@peacehealth.org for the Zoom link.
About PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center:
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center is a 450-bed facility located at 400 NE Mother Joseph Place in Vancouver, WA., providing comprehensive specialty care for patients in southwest Washington. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
About PeaceHealth
PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
For the second time in the past week, PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center is expanding the number of patient rooms dedicated to caring for COVID-19 patients.
Due to a weekend surge that saw the hospital’s COVID-19 inpatient total jump from mid-20s to over 40, PeaceHealth St. John is working today to transform eight of the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rooms into COVID-19 isolation units.
“The patients who are coming to us for care today are sicker than those who came in previous coronavirus waves,” said Jim Zolnowski, Director of Nursing at PeaceHealth St. John. “The delta variant is proving to be not only more easily transmissible, but also driving younger, sicker patients to us for care.”
In prior COVID-19 waves, PeaceHealth St. John was able to transfer its most severely ill patients to other hospitals for higher levels of care. That option is no longer available, as every hospital in the Pacific Northwest is working to overcome capacity constraints.
PeaceHealth is carefully studying forecast model projections to help understand and prepare for the potential threat of the current surge. “Unfortunately we are seeing steady daily increases in the number of patients requiring hospitalization for COVID-19," said Cherelle Montanye, Chief Administrative Officer at PeaceHealth St. John. “We must do all we can to be ready for what may come. We have already begun the process of clearing space to erect an Alternate Emergency Department Site (AEDS) in our parking lot. We expect to have that work completed later this week in time to help us hold or treat patients safely.”
PeaceHealth St. John continues to strongly advocate vaccination for all who are medically able. “We hope that the FDA action today to grant full approval of the Pfizer vaccine removes doubt from those who have been hesitant,” said Montanye. “Our hospital, our caregivers and our community are counting on everyone to do their part in helping us get through this difficult moment.”
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center is a community-owned, not-for-profit, 193-bed acute care hospital and Level III trauma center located at 1615 Delaware St. in Longview, Washington. Recognized nationally as a Top 100 Hospital, PeaceHealth St. John provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient diagnostic, medical, and surgical services. The region’s health care leader for more than 75 years, PeaceHealth St. John is one of ten medical centers in the PeaceHealth system. www.peacehealth.org
PeaceHealth Southwest is caring for an exceptionally high number of patients, including unprecedented volumes in our Emergency Department. To accommodate the current surge, a tent has been erected near the Emergency Department entrance to serve as an overflow waiting area for patients seeking care.
At this time of high demand, it is important that people seek medical care in the most appropriate setting. Our emergency team is always available to provide immediate care for those experiencing life-threatening or emergent medical issues. We strongly recommend that patients needing care for minor medical issues consider a visit to an urgent care center or contact their primary care provider.
“In recent days PeaceHealth Southwest has seen an increase in mildly ill or asymptomatic patients coming to the Emergency Department for COVID-19 testing, putting added strain on resources,” says Jason Hanley, Medical Director, PeaceHealth Southwest Emergency Services. “Those desiring a COVID test are encouraged to visit any of several testing locations in the community where tests are offered free of charge.”
For location information visit Clark County Public Health’s COVID-19 testing resource page:
https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/covid-19-testing
or Quest Diagnostics testing resource page:
https://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19/Patients/
PeaceHealth Southwest is also seeing a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 inpatients in our care, and strongly advocates that everyone who is medically able to get the COVID-19 vaccine do so without delay. Find information on vaccine availability at peacehealth.org/coronavirus. For the safety of all, our no visitor policy remains in place at the hospital and in all PeaceHealth clinics.
About PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center:
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center is a 450-bed facility located at 400 NE Mother Joseph Place in Vancouver, WA., providing comprehensive specialty care for patients in southwest Washington. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.