Dear Friends of Shriners Hospital for Children-Spokane,

Happy New Year from the staff of our hospital!  I want to share with you a recent communiqué I sent to our team at the end of last year.  It pretty much sums up my pride in our team and your hospital given the challenges of 2009.  With your continued help and support, our hospital will continue to excel in 2010.

“WE’RE HERE FOR THE KIDS”

I read an article the other day that argued the year 2009 was a year to forget.  I couldn’t disagree more!  I firmly believe that hardship and challenge produce persistence, persistence produces character and character produces the capacity to weather any hardship.

The year produced its share of hardship and challenge for our hospital, our health care system and our nation.  You were tested, measured and came through with flying colors!  You did not shrink from the challenges put before you.  Rather, you rallied as a team and overcame adversity.  Now we are reaping the benefits of your efforts. 

Here a few examples as of November 2009 as compared to 2008:

• Average Relative Weight (care intensity index) – 1.24  10.7% increase
• Number of Discharges – 721                                                   11.1% increase
• Average Daily Census – 8.0                                                    12.3% increase
• Applications – 1615                                                                65.5% increase
• Number of Operations – 691                                                   13.5% increase
• Nursing Hours per Patient Day – 6.91                          24.7% decrease
• Regionally Adjusted Expense per Discharge - $9,979                17.4% decrease

You produced these results without a pay raise, a loss in benefits, with fewer staff and nearly $1.2 Million dollars less in the operating budget.  Unprecedented performance!

You watered the eyes of the Joint Commission evaluator.  Her quote to the leadership group during the “out-brief” was, “You have a special place here.”

You demonstrated courage, grace, humility, strength and perseverance during the open debate about your worth and value to the system, the first layoffs in our history and yet another budget cut.

We finished 2009 fewer in number but blessed in so many ways. 

• We are no longer the best kept secret in Spokane or the region.
• We are followed by nearly 19,000 “Friends of Spokane Shriners Hospital” on Facebook.
• We kicked off a spine implant fund drive that has generated over $80,000 dollars in two months!
• We are the sponsored charity for the new country station 99.9 “Coyote Country” for 2010.
• We started a Juarez, Mexico outreach program and transportation fund.  In a few short months we have funds for six children to travel here for surgery.
• We kick off a community stable trauma program that helped two children on average per week get surgery (that’s double last year’s numbers).
• We performed record number (58) spine surgeries as of this writing with more on a waiting list.
• 2009’s surgery totals were the highest since 2005!

I could go on and on but you get the point.  I cannot foresee the challenges we will face in 2010.  What I do know is we have the heart and the character to meet them and succeed.

 I want to thank you all so much for your hard work and dedication.  Thank you to our volunteers and Shriners who have been an integral part of the team.  Without your support we would not be able to help so many children defy the odds.

 I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year!

 With gratitude,

Sincerely,

Gene Raynaud, FACHE
Administrator