News Articles & Interviews
“Patients enduring prolonged hospital stays awaiting transfer” – Methow Valley News, February 1, 2023
“No lead changes emerge from primary’s second unofficial count” – Quad City Herald, August 15, 2022
“Brewster hospital seeks tax for its emergency department” – Wenatchee World, July 20, 2022
“Three Rivers adds antigen tests” – Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, March 2, 2022
“Rural Eastern Washington hospitals say no big losses in staffing post-vaccine mandate” – MYNorthwest, October 23, 2021
“Okanogan County hospitals stretched ‘to the limit'” – Wenatchee World, September 10, 2021
“Brewster hospital levy heading toward approval” – Wenatchee World, August 3, 2021
“Three Rivers gets tissue donation award” – Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, May 26, 2021
“Three Rivers adds 3D imaging” – Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, October 5, 2020
“COVID-19 puts hospitals on brink of financial collapse” – Wenatchee World, April 19, 2020
“Three Rivers Hospital celebrates last first baby” – Quad City Herald, January 8, 2020
“Opinion: We will miss OB at Three Rivers Hospital” – Methow Valley News, November 27, 2019
Contact our PR Department
Our Public Relations Department is led by Jennifer Best, Business Development Coordinator. She also serves as Three Rivers’ Public Records Officer.
To contact us, please use one of the methods listed below.
- Email: media@trhospital.net or jbest@trhospital.net
- Phone: (509) 645-3347
If you need to submit a public records request, please visit our page HERE.
If you need to submit a medical records request, please visit our Health Information Department HERE.
Three Rivers Blog Posts
Three Rivers Hospital
Three Rivers Hospital is a public, not-for-profit, critical access hospital in Brewster, WA.
Three Rivers Health Link: Issue 1, February 2022
We are pleased to present the first issue of our new community newsletter, Three Rivers Health Link!
Below are the links for the English and Spanish versions.
If you as a member of our hospital district would like to suggest content ideas for the Provider Corner or anything else, please feel free to contact our Business Development Coordinator, Jennifer Best:
Phone: (509) 645-3347
Email: media@trhospital.net
Website Contact Form: Click Here
Three Rivers explains COVID-19 testing process
BREWSTER, Wash. – Residents needing COVID-19 tests may have a longer wait.
Three Rivers Hospital offers non-urgent COVID-19 testing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The demand for tests fluctuates, so the hospital has been notifying patients that results may not come in until 48 to 72 hours later.
“We are urging everyone to please plan ahead when they need to travel,” said Business Development Coordinator Jennifer Best. “Check with your airport and airlines regarding their requirements for testing. Some have extended the testing window to 72 hours before your flight, and you also need to keep in mind how long it could take for results to come back.”
Best added that some airports, such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, offer on-site testing. However, there could be fees and other requirements to be mindful of.
Although the holidays are over, that turnaround time has not yet lessened.
A Quest Diagnostics representative picks up send-out tests by 5 p.m. each weekday from the hospital and transports them to its laboratory in Seattle. However, the same laboratory also accepts samples from surrounding states in addition to healthcare providers throughout Washington.
“We’re told Quest accepts several thousands of samples every day, and they are run in batches,” Best said. “Because of the workflow involved there, it’s also impossible to request that they pull out one sample to run faster than all the rest.”
Those needing a travel test should come to the hospital’s main entrance between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, where they’ll be asked to check in and complete the required paperwork before testing. Three Rivers Hospital is located at 507 Hospital Way in Brewster.
Residents who have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should call the Three Rivers Family Medicine clinic for screening before getting tested, at (509) 689-3749. The clinic staff helps patients complete some intake paperwork over the phone and provides directions to the private testing area.
For non-travel testing, Director of Ancillary Services Jeremy Vandelac advises testing about 2-3 days after developing symptoms, or five days following an exposure. This may help ensure more accurate results.
Due to short supply, the hospital reserves its rapid tests and in-house PCR tests for ER patients needing transfer, inpatients, and those presenting severe symptoms.
Non-urgent questions about the testing process at Three Rivers are best directed to covid@trhospital.net to keep phone lines open, but residents can also call the hospital at (509) 689-2517. Three Rivers also provides updates online at https://threerivershospital.net/covid-19-information/.
Three Rivers seeks extension of one-year levy
BREWSTER, Wash. – Three Rivers Hospital is seeking renewal of the one-year levy approved by voters last year.
Three Rivers has used the current levy, which passed with a combined 71 percent in Okanogan and Douglas counties, to help offset the cost of maintaining emergency services 24 hours a day, all year round. The approved cost was 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The hospital is not requesting an increase, according to CEO Scott Graham.
“We are requesting that it be extended for another year at the same rate,” he said. “This revenue has been tremendously helpful to our hospital during the pandemic. It has helped us continue providing this critical service to our district during a time that has been economically uncertain for a lot of rural hospitals like ours.”
If approved, the estimated annual tax for a home valued at $200,000 would be $66 per year.
Purpose for Property Tax Revenue
Among other operational costs, the revenue is used to pay for round-the-clock staffing with board-certified physicians through a contract with ERx Group, LLC.
“This has been a successful arrangement for about seven years, and we have expanded their contract recently to include inpatient coverage, as well,” Graham said. “This provides a more stable consistency of care for our patients, from the time they’re seen in the ER to their stay in Acute Care.”
When to Vote
The levy proposition is on the August 3 primary ballot. Ballots should be in mailboxes by this Friday, which is when the voting period begins.
“Our district’s support during these extremely trying and unprecedented times has been overwhelming. Thank you,” said Board Secretary Leslie McNamara. “I love our community and the opportunities we have to offer valuable and reliable health care.”
“Three Rivers Hospital has saved lives of people who are very dear to me. We are fortunate to have quality care close to home,” said Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Munson.
Where to Get More Information
Residents with questions about the levy proposition can contact media@trhospital.net, or call 509-645-3347.