PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center’s interim CEO says the hospital has a clear turnaround plan focused on regulatory stability, financial recovery, and improved access to care.
Mark Gregson, who has led OMC since August, says the first priority was addressing concerns raised by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In an interview with Newsradio KONP’s “Todd Ortloff Show”, he says federal officials have now indicated the hospital’s corrective actions are sufficient, with remaining issues treated as routine survey findings.
“Within about six weeks, CMS Medicare basically said we’re good. We think what you’ve done has satisfied what we’re fine with. What plans you’re doing and the direction you’re headed, the state will still work with you to make sure they’re comfortable. And so we’ve been doing that. So, we did some changes to the processes — how we track care and services — and the team is doing great. The message was, don’t do it for them, do it for us and do it for the community. And that is, let’s make sure we have the benefit of doing this and raise the level of care,” Gregson said.
Gregson says the next phase of the turnaround centers on finances. Like many hospitals, OMC has faced rising costs without the ability to raise prices, since Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance contracts set reimbursement rates. The hospital has responded by tightening daily staffing decisions and controlling expenses, while maintaining patient care.
“We’re actually working and scheduling the number of hours. Every single day, we’re looking not only at today, but we’re actually looking at tomorrow. And we can say, ‘Okay, we know, based on what activity today, here’s where our starting point is tomorrow. Let’s plan accordingly for the people we need to do that.’ But the point is, we always have what we need. So that’s not negotiable — to make sure that’s the case,” Gregson added.
Gregson says OMC is aiming for a cash-flow positive budget over the next year, with a long-term goal of rebuilding cash reserves from about 30 days on hand to more than 60.
He says the plan also depends on keeping more patients local by improving access to appointments and services, and by strengthening partnerships—particularly a developing affiliation with the University of Washington—to support long-term stability.
Gregson says the turnaround will take time, but he believes Olympic Medical Center is positioned to move forward and regain the “strong performance it has shown in the past”.