In November 2012, Tammy Haas started with Northwest Healthcare Inc. as associate director. Recently, the Battle Ground resident was promoted to director of operations.
“I have the honor of being the primary person responsible for the care of our clients and for overseeing the care our CNAs provide,” Haas said of her new position. “I am directly involved in the operation of the company, including business development as well as doing client consultations and assessments, which include opening up services to new clients. I am available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to our clients and staff.”
For more than 14 years, Northwest Healthcare Inc., a state-licensed home care agency, has provided home care services to hundreds of senior citizens in Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties, serving all of Southwest Washington from the agency’s office in Vancouver. The company was founded by Gail Haskett, MA, CMA, a master’s level gerontologist.
Led by Haskett, the expert team of geriatric care managers at Northwest Healthcare Inc. include Haas, certified nursing assistants and personal care aides who offer an array of services, including companionship, personal care, medication management, hospice support services and more.
“As the ‘preferred provider’ of many health care professionals, and with extensive local references from satisfied customers, we enjoy a great reputation for quality, integrity and customer service,” Haas said. “We offer complimentary consultations for families experiencing the challenges of helping an aging relative.”
Haas, 53, has experience caring for her own aging mother and mother-in-law. She said her mother-in-law lived with her and her family for some time, during which they cared for all of her needs. They now continue to support her care in her new living arrangement process. Haas’ own mother, who now lives in Portland, lived in Vancouver for 18 months and in Battle Ground for two years. Haas continues to provide care to her.
“Aging is not an easy process and often seniors and their families find themselves in a crisis situation overnight and have no idea where to go for help,” Haas said. “That’s where we come in. We have a lot of expertise to assist and I love doing this. It is overwhelming to deal with these situations. I can attest to this having personally been through it. Were it not for this agency and Gail’s insight, I’m not sure what my husband and I would’ve done when we had questions.”
Haas and Haskett can both offer insight to so many of the challenges adult children and their parents face. They say it can be daunting trying to figure out what to do, especially since seniors often have no hobbies or interests and often wonder why they are still alive. The staff at Northwest Healthcare Inc. is there for families and individuals for many things, least of which is offering companionship to a person who would normally not have it on a regular basis.
“Families are busy and are often juggling their own lives, their work and now caring for an aging parent,” Haas said. “I am passionate about making sure we add value to the client and their entire family. We have so much expertise and passion here that we can and have been a resource for families for years. It’s a pleasure to be a part of a company that does it right and for the right reasons.”
As the new director of operations, Haas said she won’t compromise the quality of care the agency provides to their clients for anything, so that aspect won’t change.
“We do what’s right, not what’s convenient,” Haas said. “This is one of our five mottos. This agency is well founded on its principles and I have no intention of making any changes in that regard. It’s one of the many reasons I’m here.”
Haas said bringing technology into the company and creating efficiencies through it is key to any company’s success, and this is an area of focus for the staff at Northwest Healthcare Inc. Her goal is to continue to be in the forefront of the “Silver Tsunami” and make sure the agency is well equipped to continue to serve the needs of their seniors and the families that need help.
Haas has several attributes that she said she knows add value to the company, including the fact that she is creative, forward thinking and driven to succeed, as well as that she has a strong business acumen, good business development and strategic planning skills. She said she and Haskett complement each other very well.
“My hands-on experience as a care manager with my own family has given me much empathy for the challenges my generation faces with supporting our aging parents,” Haas said. “Every call I take is one where I often had their same challenges. It’s a joy to share what I’ve learned firsthand.”
Haas and her husband, Vern, have four adult children between them and two grandchildren. In her spare time, Haas said she and Vern have three dogs who follow them everywhere, and they love to travel and entertain. She has also been involved in Rotary since 2001 and is currently a member and president of the Lewis River Rotary Club in Battle Ground.
“I am passionate about giving back to the community in which I live,” she said. “Rotary will be a part of my life forever. It’s a lot of fun and it gives me a purpose and a sense of fulfillment. I’ll have someone push me in a wheelchair if I have to so I can continue to go and enjoy the fellowship and service that it gives both myself and my husband.”
The Northwest Healthcare Inc. office is located at 7710 NE Vancouver Mall Dr., Vancouver. Contact staff at the office at (360) 574-5293. For additional information on Northwest Healthcare Inc. and the services they offer, visit their website at www.northwesthealthcare.com.
