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What is the relationship between PeaceHealth and Ketchikan
General Hospital (KGH)?
Actually, we are one and the same. In 1922, at the request of the
Bishop and community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace came to
Ketchikan to provide health care for the community. The Little
Flower Hospital on Bawden Street housed the hospital and clinic
facilities and the sisters lived nearby. In 1963, the City of
Ketchikan constructed the new Ketchikan General Hospital and asked
the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace to continue to provide hospital
care in the community. The City leased the new hospital to the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace for a nominal fee to ensure continued
hospital and related healthcare service in the community.
Over the years, the number of sisters available to provide direct
health care decreased, and in 1976 the healthcare ministries of the
Western Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace were
consolidated into PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth now operates six
hospitals, one nursing home, a chemical dependency program serving
multiple locations, medical laboratories, physician clinics and
other services. PeaceHealth facilities and services are located in
five regions located in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Below is a
table highlighting the major hospitals in each PeaceHealth region.
| Region |
Hospital Name |
City, State |
| Southeast Alaska Region |
Ketchikan General Hospital |
Ketchikan, Alaska |
| Whatcom Region |
St. Joseph Hospital |
Bellingham, Washington |
| Lower Columbia Region |
St. John Medical Center |
Longview, Washington |
| Oregon Region |
Eugene Medical Center
Cottage Grove Hospital |
Eugene, Oregon
Cottage Grove, Oregon |
| Siuslaw Region |
PeaceHarbor Hospital |
Florence, Oregon |
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What is the relationship between Ketchikan General Hospital (KGH)
and the City of Ketchikan?
The City of Ketchikan owns the hospital building and land on which
the hospital and associated parking sits. The contract between the
City and PeaceHealth looks to PeaceHealth to provide the operations,
capital equipment and minor tenant improvements required to deliver
hospital and long-term care in Ketchikan. The City is responsible
for major capital improvements on existing and new land and
facilities. Much of the large construction projects are funded
through the Sales Tax Hospital and Other Public Works Fund,
Ketchikan Municipal Code 3.04.130, that established a one percent
sales tax with the proceeds to be used for the following hospital
related expenditures:
- Site acquisition and improvement, including architectural and
engineering services.
- Construction, remodel and improvements, including equipment,
architectural and engineering services, and related facilities.
- Payment of principal and interest on general obligation
bonds issued and sold for the purposes above.
- Provide operating capital and defraying any possible deficit that
may occur in the event that the City is forced to operate the
hospital or required to build a new hospital facility.
The city has traditionally funded major hospital construction
projects, including expansion of the Emergency Department in 1988,
construction of the new acute care wing and parking structure in
2000, and renovation of the New Horizons Transitional Care Unit in
2004.
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What services are provided by Ketchikan General Hospital (KGH) /
PeaceHealth?
PeaceHealth SE Alaska Region includes a hospital, transitional care
and skilled nursing, home health, six medical office clinics, a
range of support services and a staff of over 380 employees.
View a listing of services provided and
supported by Ketchikan General Hospital / PeaceHealth. To
learn more...
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Why does Ketchikan General Hospital (KGH) need to start a
Foundation to raise funds? Seems like KGH is always adding a new
piece of equipment or remodeling some area in the hospital.
KGH / PeaceHealth had been and continues to be fiscally well-managed
and therefore has been able to deliver a high standard of service to
the community. As a nonprofit organization, all revenues in excess
of expenses are put back into the organization and used to fund
things like purchasing capital equipment, making tenant
improvements, covering uncompensated and charity care and supporting
other community health care services.
Today’s economic pressures are placing unprecedented strains on
hospitals across the nation and KGH is no different. These pressures
are draining precious dollars needed and previously available to buy
medical equipment, upgrade services, expand programs and maintain
excellence in patient care. The five primary factors impacting KGH’s
margin include
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Why should we continue to be part of PeaceHealth? Doesn’t this
just cost us a lot of money?
Actually, Ketchikan and the communities of Southeast Alaska benefit
greatly by being part of PeaceHealth, a larger system that offers
many cost savings and the opportunity to cost effectively purchase
supplies, get new technology and offer higher levels of service. A
small, relatively remote, rural hospital on its own could not afford
to purchase or deliver the current level of technology and services
provided at KGH today. Just a few of the services available in
Ketchikan today because we are part of the PeaceHealth system
include
- Pixis – Recently installed in 2004, this pharmacy system allows us
to securely streamline the stocking and distribution of medicines
for hospital patients.
- Digital imaging records for Radiology, CT, MRI – State of the art
technology for radiology records. Allows images to be stored and
transported on CDs and shared with specialists outside of Ketchikan
via electronic means within moments of completing the procedures.
- Computerized health record – Allows physicians and all health care
providers to have immediate and up to date patient record
information. PeaceHealth has been a leader in implementing this
nationwide health care directive.
- P-tel / telemedicine – Provides educational and medical
consultation opportunities for physicians, health care providers and
staff. Allows immediate visual sharing of medical information with
specialists within PeaceHealth and across the country, and is
essential to KGH’s ability to provide a certified cancer program.
- Shared overhead services to reduce cost (for example, group
purchasing, payroll functions, billing, etc.)
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What is Ketchikan General Hospital (KGH) Foundation and why do we
need one?
After many years of review and consideration, the KGH Governing
Board directed that a separate Foundation be established to more
formally solicit and recognize gifts, grants and contributions to
support the hospital and PeaceHealth services in Southeast Alaska
Region. Established in 2004, KGH Foundation exists to acquire and
recognize charitable gifts and bequests that assist Ketchikan
General Hospital in fulfilling its mission, adhering to its core
values and providing exceptional medicine and compassionate care to
Southeast Alaska.
According to its mission statement, KGH Foundation will:
- Provide individuals and institutions with an opportunity to
extend the gift of health to citizens in Southeast Alaska.
Philanthropic opportunities should enhance the ability of the
hospital to provide healing and compassionate healthcare,
respecting everyone’s personal human dignity.
- Support the application of innovative patient care services to
improve the health care services of this area.
- Achieve for Ketchikan General Hospital a higher level of mutual
understanding and involvement with the communities and people it
serves.
KGH Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) organization, tax-exempt,
non-profit entity.
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So if I donate, where will my money go?
Every dollar donated goes to the donor’s designated use. The
expenses associated with operating the Foundation are paid for
through a separate cost center of the Hospital, thereby ensuring
that every dollar will go in full toward its designated donation. In
addition, any money raised by the Foundation must be expended for
PeaceHealth of Southeast Alaska services, programs, equipment or
facility improvements – and therefore remains in Ketchikan and
Southeast Alaska.
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Who decides how the Foundation should spend the money?
Donors have a right to direct how their gift is used. In many cases,
donors defer this decision to those who may have a better sense of
where the need is currently the greatest. The Foundation has a
voluntary 14-person Board of Directors who meet monthly to review
the business of the Foundation. Following consultation with the CEO
and Executive Team of PeaceHealth SE Alaska, the Foundation Board
determines how to apply undesignated funds and which projects are
most appropriate for fund raising.
The Foundation’s current fundraising efforts are being directed
toward the creation of a Women’s Diagnostic Imaging Suite at the
hospital. The Women’s Diagnostic Imaging Suite will improve how KGH
delivers care to hundreds of patients each year as well as bring
state of the art technology to this critical diagnostic service. The
project involves clustering equipment and services in one area as
well as the purchase of new and replacement equipment. Click on this
icon for more information on the Women’s Diagnostic Imaging Suite
project and campaign status.
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If I donate to the Foundation, who will have access to my name
and information about my donation?
As a donor you have many
rights, including the choice of whether you want your donation to
remain anonymous or have your name visually recognized along with
other donors. Learn more in our Donor Bill of Rights.
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Why should I donate to you?
Philanthropy is a very personal decision. Whether or not you choose
to donate to Ketchikan General Hospital (KGH) Foundation or to other
organizations is a choice that you will make given your own needs
and circumstances.
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Testimonials
Here are a few statements from some of our donors when asked why
they chose to donate to Ketchikan General Hospital Foundation.
“Until recently I didn’t realize that I could donate toward
healthcare in our community. With government funds getting less and
less, I want to make sure that my family and I have good quality
care here at home. I just always assumed it would be there – now I
know a bit more and realize that I need to be more involved to make
sure that it is.”
“I can’t believe the quality and caliber of health care technology
we have in Ketchikan. For years I had to travel south to a
well-known cancer center for annual CT Scans. With the new 16-slice
CT Scanner, I had my scans done here in Ketchikan – and they were
available for my oncologist down south that same day. This means a
lot to me – and to my family.”
“I want to do more to thank the nurses for all that they did to help
my family. This way, every time they see our name on the list,
they’ll know how much we appreciated their care and kindness.”
“With my donation I can become part of something bigger than myself.
My donation alone won’t buy a new ultrasound machine. But together
with others’ we can make it happen.”
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