Pullman, WA—Each year Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation’s Board commits fundraising efforts in support of the hospital’s highest needs. In 2022, the Foundation has a working goal to raise $3 million. Philanthropy will help fund the Family Medicine Residency Program, expansion of surgical space, and the implementation of a new electronic medical record.
“Pullman Regional Hospital is extraordinary. The people who devote their lives to healing have made Pullman a regional destination for healthcare and philanthropy,” said Rueben Mayes, Chief Development & External Relations Officer for Pullman Regional Hospital. “Generosity allows us to think bigger, expand access, invest in proven medical technology, build for the future and recruit, train and retain great people.”
“This year, our fundraising priorities are representative of a growth mindset for our region,” said Karlene Beaumont, President of the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation Board. “We are investing in developing a pipeline to retain your future family medicine doctor, expanding access to the best surgical care, and moving toward one patient, one record,” said Beaumont.
The Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program at Pullman Regional Hospital earned accreditation in 2021. That fall, ground was broken and construction began on 5,000 square feet of remodeled space on the hospital campus. Serving as a clinical and educational center for residency activities, construction was funded entirely through philanthropy in 2021. For 2022 and beyond, philanthropy will support the program which includes simulation technology, offsite training opportunities, clinic operations and faculty support. The first class of three residents are slated to arrive in Pullman in 2023 for the three-year training program.
A remodel of 3,000 square feet in the hospital’s surgery department will add a fifth operating room and devote more space for surgical robotics. “Investing in state-of-the-art surgical technology and, most importantly,
people, has elevated our reputation and volumes. It’s time to grow,” said Dr. Edwin Tingstad, Orthopedic Surgeon and Chief Medical Officer for Pullman Regional Hospital.
The hospital aims to keep wait times for surgery around one week, provide time and space for more complex and time-intensive surgeries and provide a pathway to hire more surgical specialists.
In 2021 the Foundation raised funds to replace the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system, with the most current model. The da Vinci is used by general surgeons, urologists and gynecologists for abdominal surgeries such as hernia repair, hysterectomies, and prostatectomies. The Foundation also helped fund CORI robotic-assisted knee replacement technology in 2021. 396 robotic surgeries were performed at Pullman Regional Hospital in 2021.
In January of 2022, the hospital’s Board of Commissioners announced an implementation plan to replace the hospital’s 25-year-old electronic medical record system with Epic. Epic is the most utilized electronic medical record—59% of hospitals nationwide and 77% of Washington hospitals use Epic.
“In emergency medicine, an accurate medical record for a patient is like the difference between Google maps and directions drawn on a napkin,” said Dr. Pete Mikkelsen, Medical Director of Emergency Services and Chief Medical Officer for Pullman Regional Hospital. “EMR incompatibility and paper records are incredible barriers for doctors and patients. Implementing Epic at our hospital, clinics and all the practices in our community will move care to the next level.”
“Epic was a proven EMR in my experience working at Seattle Children’s. This technology gives me real-time access to my patient’s data–which is especially crucial when your patients are children,” said Dr. Jonathan Lee, Pediatrician with Palouse Pediatrics. “This is the best solution for a modern system for a hospital and community like ours.”
The Foundation will solicit and receive funds to support these projects through personal asks, grants, events, digital and printed solicitations, Giving Tuesday, online giving, planned and estate giving, qualified charitable distributions and volunteer-led fundraisers.
“We’re a completely comprehensive Foundation, meaning we work with anyone and everyone who believes in Pullman Regional Hospital and wants to make a meaningful difference in their community. Whether you’re raising funds through a lemonade stand, want to honor a loved one, or want to leave a lasting legacy and perpetually support the people who help heal our community, your generosity will be appreciated and celebrated at this hospital,” said Mayes.
Learn more about 2022 Fundraising Priorities online: www.pullmanregional.org/foundation
Contact: Alison Weigley, Director of External Relations
Pullman Regional Hospital & Foundation
Office: (509) 332-2041 / Cell: (509) 330-0242
alison.weigley@pullmanregional.org
