Promises kept: Reflecting on 45 years of serving our community | Guest editorial

By Bob Malte

EvergreenHealth

Forty-five years ago, the founders of EvergreenHealth made a promise to this community: “To work together to enrich the health and well-being of every life we touch.”

Over the decades as the city and region have grown and a dramatic transformation has occurred in the delivery of health care services, this guiding promise has only grown stronger. I believe our founders would be very proud of what EvergreenHealth has become and of what we still aspire to be in the decades ahead.

Little could they have imagined, or perhaps they did, that the small 72-bed community hospital would become one of the most comprehensive health care systems in our region with two hospitals, 12 primary care locations around the region, the largest home care and home hospice service in the Puget Sound area and partnerships with SCCA and Eastside Health Alliance — in addition to leading as one of the most highly recognized systems in the country for quality and safety. But beyond the facilities and accolades, our most valuable resource is our 4,000-plus doctors, nurses, therapists, technologists and other staff, who, alongside our board, come together every day to serve our community of more than 850,000 residents.

I am frequently asked about the source behind our success and recognition, including our latest by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best hospitals. As simple as it may sound, I believe it comes down to one word: culture. From the start back in 1972, the culture of EvergreenHealth has been one that attracts incredibly talented people who pursue excellence, are collaborative and compassionate, who respect the beliefs and values of everyone we care for and love their community. It’s our organizational DNA.

As proud as I am to serve EvergreenHealth as its CEO, and as proud as our staff are to be associated with EvergreenHealth, we also approach what we do with humbleness knowing we still have more promises to keep. We are far from done in fulfilling our vision to create an inclusive community health system that is the most trusted for health care solutions.

As we look ahead to our next decades of service, we are excited to be part of what makes the greater Kirkland area one of the top 50 places to live in the nation. We look forward to the continued opportunity to serve our community’s health care needs and thank you for your partnership and trust.

Bob Malte is CEO of the EvergreenHealth system, whose main hospital campus is located at 12040 N.E. 128th St. in Kirkland. For more information, visit www.evergreenhealth.com or call (425) 899-1000.