Is it mid-April already? With spring and events like Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and graduation ahead, it’s easy to lose track of time in our fast-paced, 24/7 hospital environment. So, what better time to pause, practice self-care, and appreciate our commitment to providing quality healthcare for the West End community year-round?

Inspired by spring and my love of gardening, I thought about perennials returning and their hidden beauty. Our work at FCH is similar—often unseen. But you can be confident that each team member works hard to strengthen our organization, even when facing challenges that threaten “the rural health safety net,” which FCH is part of.

A brief explanation of the “safety net.” Forks Community Hospital is one of about 1,377 Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) in the U.S., and one of only 38 in Washington. CAHs are small, federally designated hospitals in rural areas that receive special Medicare reimbursement, helping keep them financially viable. This support exists because rural communities are far from larger medical centers and, without it, local hospitals would close. Since 2005, nearly 200 rural hospitals have closed, and over 400 are at risk. While FCH (including our Rural Health Clinics) is not on that list, significant changes to Medicaid and Medicare, rising costs, cybersecurity threats, nationwide healthcare workforce shortages, and other emerging challenges mean we must stay vigilant and dedicate as many resources as possible to keep FCH strong.

I wanted to also briefly mention the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). You may already know it was included in the 2025 budget bill, H.R. 1. RHTP provides $50 billion in funding to states. So far, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded Washington state about $181 million for year one. It is important to note that CMS has said no more than 15 percent of funds may be used for hospitals or patient care.

The leadership team and I are closely watching RHTP and advocating to ensure FCH and our community are well represented and that we secure every available dollar to support our mission for a Healthier West End.

We know you have other healthcare options. Choosing FCH directly supports vital community health services. As we have been since day one, we’re in this together and for each other.

Wishing you a healthy and fulfilling spring.

-Heidi Anderson, MBA BSN RN

Chief Executive Officer