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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1998)
1998 Higher Education/AVT Graduates The Siletz Tribe wishes to congratulate all of its graduates for 1998: Higher Education Luke Dickson attended Pacific University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Creative Writing. Rebecca Hatfield attended Oregon State University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Melissa Butler attended Oregon State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology/Elementary Education. Natanee Olson attended Willamette University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Amy Niemie attended Oregon State University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy. AVT Naulena Artiago attended Apollo College and received a two year degree in Medical Assisting/Licensed Medical Technician. Cathleen Barnhurst attended Linn Benton Community College and received a two-year degree in Administrative Medical Assistant. Julia Kentta-Kerr attended Chemeketa Community College and received an Associate of Arts degree in Accounting. Melvin LaChance attended Pioneer Pacific College and received a one-year degree in Personal Computer Support Specialist. Elaine Lanegan attended Clackamas Community College and received a two-year AAS degree in Computer Science. Rayven Settler attended Heald College and received a two-year degree in Computer Business Administration. A round of applause for these graduates — and the families who supported them in many ways so they could complete their education. AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM The Siletz Supplemental Education Program (formerly JOM) and Title 9 Indian Education Program are offering an after school tutoring program starting October 6th. The children will be tutored by peer tutors and tribal member, Pam Payne. Tutoring days are Tuesday and Thursdays from 3 - 4 p.m. in Room #15. The tutoring program follows the school calendar. If there is no school that day, there is no tutoring. This applies to early release days, also. For your child to participate, they need to be JOM or Title 9 eligible. A student application form need sto be completed, signed and returned to the school office or your child's tutor. Any questions? Call Kelly Ball, Education Specialist, at (541) 444-8237. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES AT THE CLINIC by Marlene Van Noy, MPH - QI Coordinator The CTSI Tribal Council made a commitment to the delivery ofhigh quality health care when it was decided that the Siletz Tribal Health Department should be surveyed by an outside accrediting organization before the year 2000. Currently all IHS facilities are accredited by an outside organization, either JCAHO (which is the organization that accredits most hospitals) or AAAHC, an organization that specifically focuses on ambulatory health centers. In 1998, Chemawa in Salem decided to switch from JCAHO and become accredited by AAAHC. As of August 1998 there were 982 ambulatory health care facilities that had earned AAAHC accreditation in the United States including Chemawa in Salem, and Benewah Medical Center in Plummer, Idaho. What does accreditation mean? While it doesn’t mean “quality" by itself, it does mean that the health care facility is recognized and accepted by all types of third-party payers, including Medicare, as meeting their conditions for participation in reimbursement programs. To our Tribal Council, that is responsible for the Tribal health activities overall, accreditation can mean that the Clinic has in place standards of health care practice that are recognized by professional health care organizations. This should make the Clinic attractive when recruiting new providers and should assure patients that the care they are receiving is as good as can be found anywhere. This September, to help the Clinic prepare for accreditation, Dr. Steven Christensen, Clinical Medical Director, and Marlene Van Noy, QI Coordinator, attended a two day AAAHC conference in Salt l ake City that included 8 representatives from five other tribal health clinics: Shosone-Bannock Tribal Health Department in Fort Hall, Idaho; Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium located in Sitka, Alaska; the Redding Rancheria Indian Health Services in northern California; Neah Bay Indian Health Center in Washington State; and the PHS Indian Hospital located at Whiteriver, Arizona. At the two day conference, staff members discussed all areas that will be reviewed by AAAHC health care professionals when they come to the Clinic for a survey including: Rights of Patients, Governance, Administration, Quality of Care, Clinical Records, Professional Improvement, and Facilities and Environment Marlene reports that the Clinic should have no problem meeting the requirements of accreditation because the Clinic is current in compliance with most standards. The difficulty comes in that sometimes Clinic employees do not take the time to document their quality improvement activities and the resultant changes in policies and procedures. To surveyors - “if it isn’t written down, it didn’t happen!” Marlene reports that everyone is working hard to improve their documentation. Some changes that have taken place this year are: a quarterly report of Clinic quality improvement activities to the Health Committee and to the Tribal Council; the development of a general orientation for all new employees, providers and volunteers at the clinic; and the initiation of Patient Satisfaction surveys. In July, and again in September 1998, patients presenting to the Clinic were asked to complete a survey form and over 200 responded. Most indicated that they felt very positive about all aspects of their care with the exception that many felt they had to wait too long to get an appointment. As a result of these surveys and the Clinic’s own internal monitor of waiting time for appointments, changes were made to improve wait times in Optometry and Dentistry. In Optometry, a Newport Optometrist, Dr. Letherer, was contracted to see patients every Monday from funds made available through the Diabetes grant; and Dentistry proposed various ways to get patients seen sooner, including referring out when appropriate and limiting care to native Americans and tribal employees/ dependents with Coho insurance. These actions should result in less wait time for an appointment and this will be monitored closely by the Clinic’s Planning/QI committee. The Clinic welcomes suggestions as to how to improve delivery of health care to our patients. We have a form that you can fill out when you are at the Clinic called “Because We Care" or you can call Bob Jensen, Adminis trative Officer with your suggestions at 444- 1030 or 1-800-648-0449. IS HYPNOTHERAPY FOR YOU? In a time of increased awareness of the mind/body connection in dealing with health and emotional problems, hypnotherapy has proven to be an extremely valuable therapeutic tool in the treatment of overeating, smoking, stress reduction, anxiety, panic and pain control, self- esteem issues, and more. Many misconceptions still exist regarding hypnotherapy, despite its acceptance by the American Medical Association in 1958, and its regular use by doctors, dentists, psychologists and other medical professionals. Hypnotherapy is a safe and pleasant means of heightening motivation by training the subconscious mind to work in active cooperation with conscious desires. A person under hypnosis would never do anything against their religious or moral beliefs. When the session is over, you will have renewed energy without tension and you’ll find it easier to cope with the frustrations of daily living. Hypnotherapy is available at the Siletz clinic, with Susan Phillips, C.Ht., on Mondays, by appointment. DANCE CLASS & PRACTICE Pow-Wow dance class & practice will be held at the Siletz Tribal Community Center on Government Hill. Classes start October 7th and are every Wednesday until November 18,1998. Classes are held from 6:30 - 8:00 p.. Everyone is invited to attend. Any questions, call Craig Whitehead at 444-2532, ext. 230. FIREWOOD PERMITS AVAILABLE The Brush Creek unit, located about 8 miles from Eddyville will open on Sept. 19th for Elders woodcutting, and on October 24th for all tribal members. Permits are required, and the unit is open on weekends only. Contact the Tribal Natural Resources Department at (541) 444- 8232 from 8 am - 4:30 pm weekdays for a permit, map, directions and fire season restrictions. Permits are for personal use only — firewood may NOT be sold. -11-
