Overlake's Strong Performance Earns S&P Ratings Upgrade

Overlake Medical Center has earned a financial ratings increase for the sixth time. They have gone from "A-" to "A" with a stable outlook from Standard and Poor's Rating Service.

CFO Gary McLaughlin presented in front of both Moody's and S&P with new CEO J. Michael Marsh last month in San Francisco. McLaughlin said, "We at Overlake are extremely pleased with our solid financial performance. Hospitals and healthcare providers across the country face continued financial pressure to keep pace with needed infrastructure investment, regulatory pressures, and declining reimbursement for services. Receiving this increase is a powerful statement about Overlake's financial health and management."

Overlake's upgrade to "A" is due in large part to the medical center's successful completion of an electronic medical record conversion during the past year. S&P also noted in the report that Overlake has a "good management team that has consistently delivered on results and has shown detailed consideration to future planning."

To read the full story on Overlake's rating upgrade click here!

WGU Washington awards degrees to a record number of graduates

Saturday, May 17th WGU Washington awarded a record number of degrees during its commencement ceremony at McCaw Hall in Seattle. Students, family members, mentors, and community supporters packed McCaw Hall to celebrate the online university's largest class of graduates yet and recognize the university's increasing role in strengthening the state's workforce with career-ready graduates.

WGU Washington offers career-focused degrees for a flat-rate of $6,000 per year for most programs. Of the school's 6,000 full-time students, more than 2,500 are enrolled in science, technology, engineering, or math related programs (STEM). The university is only three years old and awarded over 1,000 bachelor's and master's degrees this year-a nearly 100 percent increase over the size of last year's graduating class. Nearly half of the graduating class is receiving a STEM-related credential.

"We are incredibly proud of the academic accomplishments of the WGU Washington class of 2014," said WGU Washington Chancellor Jean Floten. "The record number of graduates reaffirms the our online, competency-based model is an effective and practical way for working adults to achieve their higher education goals in the state of Washington."

To see the personal stories of students who graduated with this year's class click on the links below!

Tacoma News Tribune

Redmond Reporter

Digital Journal 

Bonnie Lake Courier-Herald

Kent Reporter 

Maple Valley Reporter

Sequim Gazette

Walla Walla Union Bulletin 

Bainbridge Island Review

New device at Overlake Hospital helps cure atrial fibrillation

Overlake Hospital Medical Center's electrophysiology program is using new pressure feedback technology to increase success rates in a procedure to cure atrial fibrillation.


Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia and currently affects 2.5 million American adults. In a heart suffering from atrial fibrillation, irregular electrical signals are produced in the heart, creating a fast or irregular heartbeat.


In the 1990s Doctor Michael Haissaguerre and his team identified electrical signals from the pulmonary veins as the cause of atrial fibrillation. Haissaguerre then originated the technique of isolating signals from the pulmonary veins as a cure.


This procedure is now commonly conducted surgically by a catheter device inserted up an artery in the leg which allows the surgeon to map the interior of the heart. After this is completed, the surgeon uses radio frequency to create lesions around the pulmonary vein, creating a barrier to unwanted electrical signals. This surgery provides a less invasive alternative to an open-heart procedure.


To perform this procedure accurately, surgeons need to apply the perfect amount of pressure with the tip of the catheter on the walls of the heart. If too little pressure is applied lesions will not form effectively and if too much pressure is applied the tissue could be perforated. Previously surgeons had to perform this procedure somewhat blind in terms of the pressure applied, causing a 10 to 20 percent error rate where surgeons applied too little pressure.


Today, Overlake is the first hospital to use the ThermoCool SmartTouch, a catheter that provides computer feedback on the amount of pressure being applied during atrial fibrillation procedures. According to the Bellevue Reporter, before the introduction of the TermoCool SmartTouch, surgeons with Overlake had been able to achieve an 80 to 90 percent success rate of non-recurrence in patients. The new catheter improves accuracy in the amount of pressure applied and has the ability to create 3D maps of the interior of the heart.


Earlier this month, Overlake Hospital demoed the new technology for reporters. Check out Daniel Nash's piece from Monday's Bellevue Reporter here!

Reflections from WGU Washington Grads

WGU Washington's commencement ceremony is fast approaching and, in the lead up to the big day, the state-endorsed online university has taken a moment to ask its graduates to reflect on what it took to earn their degrees.

From parenthood to full-time employment, it seems just about every WGU grad has something else on their plate in addition to earning his or her degree.  "By going to WGU, I could get a degree the way I wanted, the way I needed, and at the pace that was right for me," said soon-to-be graduate Erica.

To read more student stories, check out WGU Washington's Blog and stay tuned for updates about next month's commencement ceremony, scheduled for May 17th at McCaw Hall!

Overlake Bandage Ball Gala Raises nearly $1 million

Overlake Medical Center’s 2014 Bandage Ball gala and auction held on March 29 at the Bellevue Hyatt’s Grand Ballroom raised nearly $1 million to help fund a new, $15 million comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer center.

“This year’s Bandage Ball was hugely successful and exceeded our expectations,” said Molly Stearns, Overlake’s vice president of fund development and executive director of the foundation & auxiliaries. “We are eternally grateful for the continuing support of this generous community and are committed to ensuring our patients receive the best possible care here at Overlake.”

Nearly 1,000 people attended the event to raise funds for the new cancer center that will reconfigure cancer outpatient services for more seamless coordinated care, and expand integrative and supportive services for patients and their families.

The new center is part of Overlake’s ongoing efforts to enhance patient-centered care and increase the hospital’s capacity to meet the growing needs of the Eastside community.

Holden Family Plays Benefit Concert to Save Washington Hall

This Saturday, the Holden Family and special guests The Teaching will perform a benefit concert for the campaign to restore and revitalize Washington Hall.

Jerry Large explains in his column in today's Seattle Times, "Washington Hall is in the midst of a rebirth, and that's good for Seattle's connection to its history.  The building, at 14th Avenue and East Fir Street in Seattle's Central Area, is more than a structure with a little nostalgia attached, yet it could have been torn down years ago."


In 2009, Historic Seattle bought Washington Hall and, today, the organization is making a final fundraising push to raise $2.6 million by June.  The money will be used to complete renovation of the Hall, creating spaces for resident groups like Hidmo, 206 Zulu, Voices Rising and other community organizations that call Washington Hall home.

The campaign to save Washington Hall has already raised enough money to replace the roof, complete necessary seismic stabilization work and install an elevator inside the building.

Restoring and revitalizing the Hall represents a crucial component of preserving the city's musical and cultural history.  In a piece that aired this Wednesday, KPLU's Florangela Davila interviewed Dave Holden, who will be performing at Saturday's benefit concert, about his family's history and connection to Washington Hall.

"Holden and his family grew up right across the street from the two-story brick building in the Central District," reports Davila.  "The club ... was one of the places where black musicians could play consistently."

"When Dad would put on a tuxedo and head off to a gig, the kids used to follow him to work," Holden told Davila.  "We snuck in the side door and we'd go to the back of the stage and look at out dad playing the piano."

No need to sneak in the side door to see the Holden Family play this Saturday - tickets for the concert are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/591745.

Event Details:
Washington Hall Benefit Concert: The Holden Family and Special Guests The Teaching

Saturday, March 29th, 7:30 p.m.

Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., Seattle, 98122

$20 general admission, $15 Historic Seattle members, $10 students and seniors

Sclater Architects Announces Key Promotions

Sclater Architects announced yesterday the promotions of Senior Associate Scott Kunnanz to associate principal and Architect Robert Estep to associate.  Both staff members are currently working on the Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square expansion projects in Bellevue, Wash.

"This is an exciting time for our firm, with a number of major projects underway including the Lincoln Square expansion," said Alan Sclater, principal at Sclater Architects.  "Our greatest asset is the talent we have here and I congratulate Scott and Rob on their success."

Scott Kunnanz

Scott Kunnanz has more than 20 years of architecture experience and has worked for Sclater Architects since 1997.  While at Sclater, Kunnanz has worked on a number of major projects including the award winning 2020 5th Avenue Data Center in Seattle and the original Lincoln Square complex in Bellevue, Wash.

Kunnanz is the director of building information modeling for the firm and has been instrumental in the adoption of BIM technology as well as the development and implementation of BIM standards.  He is currently a project manager for the garage portion of the Lincoln Square expansion project, a new mixed-use development that will feature more than 700,000 square feet of office space, three levels of retail and entertainment space, a 244-room luxury hotel and 250 residential units.  The development will also include 2,120 parking spaces in a six-level underground garage.

Rob Estep

Rob Estep has more than 30 years experience in retail, mixed-use and residential architecture and has been with Sclater Architects since 2007.  While at Sclater, Estep has worked on a variety of retail and mixed-use projects including Bellevue Square and the Bellevue Square renovation.  He is currently serving a critical role on the design team for the Bellevue Square expansion project, a new mixed-use development with 175,000 square feet of retail space and 280,000 square feet of hotel and residential space in two towers.  The development will also have five levels of below-grade parking and pedestrian connectivity to adjacent properties.

Congratulations again to both Scott and Rob!