For its 17th Annual Health Care Champions, the Thurston-Mason County Medical Society and the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce honored the everyday heroic acts of local medical stalwarts and organizations for "providing steadfast dedication and extraordinary service to the community” at a ceremony on June 27.
Dr. Darren Cuevas is this year's Leadership in Rural Medicine honoree, while Dr. Monica Young is the recipient of the Community Impact Award.
The Distinguished Service Award was bestowed to Providence Abuse Intervention Center.
The Thurston-Mason Medical Society and the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce named South Puget Sound Community College the Future of Health Care and the REST Program with the Health Care Safety Net Award.
Cuevas, chief of staff and physician at Mason Health, joined Mason Health in September 2018. He said rural clinics face challenges: patients cannot come for healthcare services. The doctor addresses this by bringing healthcare to them and ensuring their well-being.
Cuevas also played He has also played a crucial role in integrating the Skokomish Health Center with Mason General Hospital, allowing patients to access advanced services.
He completed his Doctorate of Osteopathic training at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, and his Family Medicine Residency at St. Joseph's Hospital, University of Minnesota in St. Paul.
In addition to his medical expertise, Cuevas is a certified diving medicine specialist and provides clearances and medical advice to divers in the region.
Young has made a significant community impact through her work as a general, bariatric, and breast surgeon. She is responsible for establishing the Women's Health Center and the Capital Medical Center Bariatric Surgery Program, which recently became accredited as Thurston County's first Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.
Young recognized the need for specialized services in the community and created these programs to provide accessible care. She also formed the Women's Community Advisory Council to gather input on women's healthcare needs and used their feedback to shape the Women's Health Center.
Young completed her medical training in the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest before joining Capital Medical Center in Olympia, WA, in 2018.
The Providence Abuse Intervention Center gives wraparound care to any child who has been sexually abused, physically abused, or maltreated. The center offers forensic interviews, medical examinations, and ongoing therapy for children who have experienced trauma.
According to Dr. Joyce Gilbert, medical director of Providence Abuse Intervention Center, the child could come to the facility for a forensic interview with a trained interviewer. They can have a medical examination, and they can receive therapy.
"What we can do for a child who has been abused in any way is we can change the trajectory of their life by giving them appropriate, timely care," Dr. Gilbert said.
Gilbert and Heather McLeod, a forensic nurse examiner supervisor at Providence St. Peter, are proactive in educating educators and community members to recognize early signs of abuse and neglect and get the necessary resources.
The Providence Abuse Intervention Center is part of a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center located in the main Providence Swedish campus in Lacey City.
The South Puget Sound Community College Allied Health Division offers four programs in dental assisting, medical assisting, nursing assistant, and registered nursing. The division has recently undergone a comprehensive renovation thanks to a generous donation from Dr. Angela Bowen.
Marriya Wright, dean of Allied Health and Nursing at SPSCC, said they identified the necessity for updated equipment and facilities. "We aim to highlight what our students can do and bring in new equipment to ensure they are ready to roll when they hit the community."
The renovation includes updated simulation equipment, allowing students to learn and practice in a realistic environment with responsive mannequins.
A nursing professor, Jolene Stiles, described the students who graduate in the programs as clinically-ready, critical thinkers, and advocates for the patients and persons in the community. "They have attention to diversity and caring for all patients at all times, whoever comes in their door. They are a part of this community."
The Interfaith Works’ Restorative Experience for a Safer Transition (REST) program, in collaboration with MultiCare Capital Medical Center, aims to provide support and shelter for homeless patients discharged from the hospital. This program provides a 24/7 shelter with 58 beds at Unity Commons on Martin Way. The shelter is situated on the bottom floor. There are 65 apartments of permanent supportive housing on the upper floors, provided in partnership with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI). Six of the 58 beds within these apartments are dedicated to individuals who are medically ready to leave the hospital.
According to Meg Martin, Interfaith Works executive director, the shelter offers three meals daily, showers, laundry facilities, access to case management, and medical coordination.
By providing these services, the program aims to reduce hospital readmissions and improve the medical outcomes of homeless patients.
Martin said the partnership between the homeless service response system and the healthcare system is crucial in addressing visible homelessness and alleviating human suffering in the community.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here