I would like to thank the entire CBHA organization and specifically the 14th Ave. Clinic for allowing me to do the family practice phase of my training here. I was very anxious when I arrived at the clinic my first day, especially being 2 hours from home and starting a new phase of training, but the staff and patients made me feel very much at home. Although I had so many people help me during the 4 months I was here, there are a few people I would like to thank individually.
First, I would like to thank John Betz for inviting me here, putting up with all my questions and for allowing me to participate in his patients’ healthcare. Not only are you a great educator but you’re a compassionate, skilled provider who is a true patient advocate. You have been a very influential part of my education and will be a role model I can look up to throughout my entire career. The Othello community is lucky to have you, and after spending time with your patients, I know they are extremely grateful. Its been an honor to learn from the man who virtually started my future profession.
Many thanks to both Annie Coronado and Maria Guzman for being so helpful, friendly and supportive. You have both shown great patience in explaining the daily routine and answering my countless questions. You’ve given me words of encouragement when it was desperately needed and given me guidance when I became stuck. You are both excellent at your jobs and loved by your patients.
I would also like to thank both Dr. Richard Bunch and Dr. Randal Bunch for taking time to find me for interesting cases and for bringing me into the operating room on many occasions. I will be entering the next phase of clinical training much more confident since having these experiences. You are both excellent doctors and wonderful instructors, thank you.
The Othello community is fortunate to have CBHA as their resource for medical care. In my opinion, CBHA has set the bar for rural practice, proving that you don’t have to live in a large city to receive quality health care. I have been to other rural areas where this is not the case so it is very refreshing to see it done so successfully. Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at CBHA that made my time here so valuable.
Chris Rieman, PA-S
Physician Assistant Student
MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program
University of Washington School of Medicine
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Please accept my compliments for the supportive role you played in my medical training as a Physician Assistant. I had six months of high-level experiences. When I was chosen to do my family practice preceptorship at CBHA, many of the University of Washington MEDEX Northwest Faculty and students were raving about the organization and facilities that CBHA offers. Columbia Basin Health Association is a perfect example of what a healthcare provider can be for the insured and underinsured patient.
I have worked in the medical field for over 10 years and witnessed many different clinics, hospitals, and healthcare facilities and I am a firm believer that Columbia Basin Health Association was just what the community of Othello needed circa 1972. It is also the perfect example of what a healthcare facility should be to its rural patients.
You allow your medical providers to teach, and set excellent examples for up and coming medical providers. I was impressed with numerous aspects of CBHA.
- Providers are well respected and staff were all treated with fairness and respect, and that example was set every single day.
- The CBHA EMR was truly amazing and will only continue to get better and it really makes a medical provider's job much safer, efficient and most important good, quality care for a patients. I also found that the chart reviews by the medical provider's peers and the evidence-based medicine practice guidelines were well defined and well covered, with quizzes at the medical staff meetings. This is an excellent example that any medical facility or healthcare association should incorporate into making it a top leader in any health service.
- I also found that allowing the students to attend and participate in medical staff meetings, and high risk OB rounds, was an imperative part of medical education. Learning the business side of healthcare is a huge component to having a well rounded medical provider.
You demonstrated the leadership style that other healthcare facilities or associations rarely do. Your willingness to provide high-quality healthcare and up-to-date, evidence-based medicine is an example that should be the standard, not the exception. And because CBHA is a leader and I feel is the future that healthcare is heading, I commend you with the highest regard.
Thank you for giving your time to me. It will pay off in a big way. If I am not able to provide care within Columbia Basin Health Association one day, you should be proud in knowing you helped train and educate a future provider that will assure that patients get the best possible care and their medical needs met, just as you impressed daily onto me.
Kenneth A. Haverland, PA-S/RRT/RCP
Physician Assistant Student
MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program
University of Washington School of Medicine
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I was provided with my family practice preceptorship in the fall and winter 2007-2008 with John Betz, PA-C. All I can say is what a valuable, educational, and heartwarming experience it was. I was welcomed into this small rural community with open arms and left with a heavy heart to continue my education at various clerkships. I fell greatly blessed to have had the opportunity to work in the CBHA organization.
Having grown up in Goldendale, WA I was not nervous about assimilating into a small community. However, I was a little nervous about how I would be accepted as a student working in a community that took pride in its healthcare and had long established care with their quality providers. I was impressed how I was received by the community, their willingness to be seen by a student, and their ambition to help develop quality practitioners for the future. My apprehension quickly faded and I was supported throughout my time here by this wonderful community.
I was thoroughly impressed with the facilities CBHA has to offer for the community. The clinics and hospital are beautiful and well designed. The equipment at the facilities is second to none. CBHA strives to always provide their patients with the most current and up to date treatment options and I believe they are doing this and more. This would be a difficult feat for a private practice, but to see it happening in a community health care center is remarkable. The community should show nothing but pride for this outstanding organization that is keeping it healthy.
The other element that is keeping the community healthy is the outstanding providers employed here. I am impressed with their level of education, dedication towards education of themselves and students, compassion, and work ethic. As a student it is important to see a well-balanced interdisciplinary medical community that works together in an environment of teamwork and trust. My experience here provided me with these values and more – one of family. I can only hope that I can emulate these same values wherever my professional career takes me.
John Betz, PA-C instilled these principles on me in my daily interaction with him as a student. He is a great medical provider, teacher, and mentor. I couldn’t have asked for a better preceptor than him. Not only did he increase my medical knowledge base, but also taught me how to be a successful member of the medical team while giving the best patient care possible. John’s care for people is remarkable and his medical knowledge is unmatched. John is an outstanding role model and the whole community should be grateful that they were lucky enough to have him find their community more than 35 years ago. My only hope is that I can provide as good of care as he does when I become a certified physician assistant.
Thank you so much for allowing me to enter your community and learn from the best! I feel very fortunate that I was chosen for this site. Thank you all for putting your trust in me and allowing me to further my education in an organization that is unmatched in the state. You all should be very proud of the professionalism, excellence, and outstanding care that are seen daily at all the CBHA facilities. I would recommend this site to any student contemplating a rotation here. Thank you all again for helping shape my future with such a superb example.
Dan Patzer, PA-S, ATC
Physician Assistant Student
Medex Northwest Physician Assistant Program
University of Washington School of Medicine