The Sedro-Woolley community fought hard to reclaim the hospital they lost when United General Hospital and Skagit Valley Hospital merged to create Affiliated Health in 1991.  It wasn’t as if the Hospital District did not understand the value of a merger.  In fact the Sedro-Woolley hospital had merged in 1963 with the hospital in Burlington to create United General Hospital. 

However, most citizens began to feel as if the hospital their tax dollars had built was being bled to death in the process meant to benefit all citizens of Skagit Valley.  In reclaiming the hospital the community also found an excellent administrator to put the hospital back on the course desired by the inhabitants north of the Skagit River.

Greg Reed, was hired as the new Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer in June of 2003 to oversee the process of officially separating the two entities.  While Mr. Reed is at the helm he always gives credit to the great team assembled at United General Hospital, the board, the staff, and the crew.  The hospital website states “We could not have reached this milestone without the enthusiasm and dedication of everyone at United. Our goal is to remain among the top five hospitals in the state. Our community deserves the very best care.” - Greg Reed, Superintendent/CEO after being rated one of the top hospitals in Washington state.  Reed says, the hospital’s goal is to be the “very best community hospital in the state,” and defines the very best as:

1.      Highest quality of care
2.      Best in patient safety, and
3.      The best place to work.

In the past 6 years the hospital has acquired the best technology available in many areas and is better than most in critical areas like Oncology.  They have achieved Number One status in Critical Care within their hospital size and are ranked among the top 5 in the state.  Reed is also rightly proud of how the entire team is also committed to serving the communities in their district which runs from the Bay at Bayview to the top of the Cascades to the east, 2300 square miles in all.

When asked where the hospital would be heading next, he admitted that a master growth plan was in place but everyone in the industry is sitting on pins and needles waiting to see what Congress will do.  The hospital has received stimulus money to meet the federal mandate for universal health records and was a step or two ahead by implementing electronic medical records and charting, the next order of business is to make it interactive and to allow doctors to have access for real time order entry.  Greg has tried to follow the Healthcare Reform Act but found it too difficult and fears unanticipated consequences and the inadvertent omission of coverage or persons.  He does applaud the administration for taking the first steps but worries about unfunded mandates.  Currently the uncompensated care at United General is at an all time high having risen from 5% to 8 ½ percent during the recession.  He sees the main culprit being the lost jobs which also meant lost health insurance.

When asked about his new role as a director on the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce board, Mr. reed felt the biggest need was to continue to look to the future.  The Valley’s potential for growth is still greatest here in the eastern part of the county.  The job is to regain momentum lost during the recession and to start planning for growth once the economy begins moving again.  He sees the need for fortification of current business to serve the increase of population that will inevitably head this way.   He stated that if a customer comes to you once and can’t find what he needs, a pattern is established and bringing that same client back will always be a challenge.  Just like the hospital which is evolving to meet 21^st century medical styles so must the City of Sedro-Woolley adapt.  Trying to fit new needs into old styles or facilities in neither efficient or practical.

The Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce is proud to have such a stellar facility in our community and welcomes Greg Reed to the board.  We thank United General Hospital for the support to our community and are proud to have them as our first Platinum Kinsey Member.