Kristi Mellema BSN, RN, CPHQ
Prosser Memorial Health
723 Memorial St | Prosser, Wa 99350
I’ve been in healthcare since 2005 when I obtained my LPN and RN in 2006 which came later in life after our children were in school. I have worked on the post-surgical floor and operating room for a large 275 bed hospital and then spent several years in the ambulatory setting starting in an OB/GYN office. It was during that time that I got into leadership as the Nursing Supervisor which led to being the Director of Quality and Education for 45 ambulatory Clinics. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in 2016 and my CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) in 2020. During that time, I have become the Chief Quality and Compliance Officer for a 25-bed critical access hospital (CAH) with six ambulatory clinics (three RHCs). I’m involved in the Quality Rural Collaborative Committee, RHC Rural Collaborative Committee and the co-chairperson for the Compliance Rural Collaborative Committee. I sit on the CHNA Steering Committee for Benton Franklin Health Department and the development committee for our annual Prosser Leadership Class. I have a passion for our patients and ensuring that they have the best experience they can have regardless of whether it’s in the hospital or our clinics. My outside interest include spending time with my husband of 33 years and our three grown children. We live on five acres and have nine goats (three Nigerian dwarfs, four Nubians and one boar) which are simply pasture pets, four dogs (great Pyrenees, chocolate lab, Yorkie and Shih tzu/Pekingese) and one cat (outdoors). We love RV camping, golfing and simply enjoying life!
Kristi Mellema BSN, RN, CPHQ
President
Brad Becker, MHA, FHFMA
Senior Director of Revenue Cycle, Mason Health
Brad has over 30 years’ experience in healthcare, on both the payer and provider side of the industry. He has worked for a variety of organizations throughout Washington state, from Critical Access Hospitals to a multi-state system; with an emphasis on revenue cycle and payor contracting for clinics and hospitals. Brad’s volunteer passion is reflected in his 40 years of participating at Seattle Children’s Stanley Stamm Summer Camp. He also served as an active volunteer with the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) for 20-years, having held various chapter, regional and national positions. He looks forward to this new opportunity with RHCAW.
Brad Becker, MHA, FHFMA
Vice President
Missy Dubuque
Family Care Network
Location: 2511 M Ave Suite A, Anacortes, WA 98221
I have worked in healthcare since 1993. I started as a part-time receptionist for Island Hospital and enjoyed it so much I wanted to continue and make a difference in people’s lives, so I moved to one of their primary care clinics in1997 becoming manger in 2000 and was there until 2015 when I became the manager for Island Family Physicians, a Family Care Network clinic. I love that we can help patients behind the scenes by keeping our medical facilities running smoothly.
I’ve enjoyed every position I’ve held over the past 29 years working in this and I continue to look forward to bringing all I’ve learned over that time to benefit the rural health community and continue gaining as much knowledge as I can in this everchanging health care world.
My outside interests include spending time with my spouse, family, grandchildren & traveling.
Missy Dubuque
Secretary
Barbara Schlimmer
Odessa Rural Health Clinic
Location: PO Box 190, Odessa, WA 99159
Barb has worked in healthcare since she was in Junior High School cleaning the medical clinic and becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in High School in Odessa. Other places she worked in healthcare was Spokane County Health District as secretary to a children’s program, nursing homes as a bookkeeper and an Internal Medicine office in Bellingham as bookkeeper & biller. She was the Clinic Manager at the Odessa Clinic for 43 years until her retirement in August 2021. However she couldn’t leave entirely and works part time as an Insurance Navigator. The Odessa Clinic is a Provider Based Rural Health Clinic and is part of Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center, a Critical Access Hospital. Barb continues to be a an advocate in rural health care.
For Barb, one of the most important things in healthcare is access to quality healthcare in rural areas. She has continued to stay on the board as Treasurer for the past 20 years because of her commitment to the mission of the RHCAW. If we don’t work as a team to protect this aspect of healthcare, it can result in huge losses to Washington’s rural health community.
Barb is also Secretary for the Odessa Historical Society, is active in many community activities, country living, traveling as time permits and visiting with friends & family.
Barbara Schlimmer
Treasurer
Katie Jo Raebel,CPA
WIPFLI
Katie Jo began her accounting career in 1999 with Michael R. Bell & Company, LLC which merged with Wipfli LLP in 2010. Her experience with both of these firms has allowed her to solely concentrate on health care clients. With her continuing commitment toward understanding the unique issues affecting the health care industry, Katie Jo strives to offer clients assistance designed to meet their specialized needs. She has worked on various projects since the beginning of her career from audits and reviews to cost reports and analyses. All of these services and client interactions have helped her to understand the various facts of the health care industry.
Katie Jo is a member of both the American and Washington Institutes of Certified Public Accountants as well as a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. A graduate of the Whitworth University, Katie Jo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and has a double major in accounting and business management. She is a Certified Public Accountant.
Katie Jo Raebel,CPA
Honorary Board Member
Rhiannon “Rhi” Drake
Newport Hospital and Health Services
714 W Pine St, Newport, WA 99156
Rhi began her healthcare career in high school having many different roles in an assisted living facility, working alongside her mom. After working a few years in the mortgage banking business, she returned to school and became a Certified Medical Assistant in 2008. The bulk of her clinical career was spent in surgical practices including general, thoracic, vascular and orthopedics. In 2016 she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health with a focus in Epidemiology. Her studies in public health and diverse clinical background set the foundation for a career in hospital administration. In 2019 she transitioned from clinical work to quality management for a small rural hospital in Western Washington. In 2022 she and her husband moved to North Idaho to be closer to his family, and she became the manager of quality and accreditation at Newport Hospital and Health Services. She is now overseeing compliance, risk, patient experience-relations, quality, infection control and employee health for Newport Hospital and Health Services.
Rhi has a passion for patient advocacy and helping to provide healthcare resources to members of rural communities. She also sits on the Suicide and Overdose Fatality Review Board for the Northeast Tri County Health District.
Rhi thoroughly enjoys volunteering for causes that are close to her heart. She is active in community activities and enjoys traveling, camping, reading and riding her ATV in the mountains.