A state audit revealed that Lake Chelan Health improperly destroyed records affecting 300 current and former employees, violating Washington’s records retention laws. The audit indicated that between 2021 and 2023, the hospital system initiated a project to digitize employee records but inadvertently shredded physical documents after transferring them, leading to the loss of essential personnel information.

These records are required by law to be maintained for at least six years after an employee leaves the agency. The audit also highlighted significant turnover in management positions, including the Human Resources manager, which may have contributed to the oversight in record-keeping practices.

Upon discovering the discrepancies in February 2023, the new HR manager took steps to rectify the situation. However, the full impact of the destroyed records remains undetermined, raising concerns about compliance and accountability within the hospital system.