Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2018)
Page 12A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian Saturday, April 7, 2018 NURSE: Work begins Monday Continued from 1A Staff photos by E.J. Harris It can take up to five dispatchers to work on an busy swing shift when calls for service are at their highest for the day. DISPATCH: Job can take its toll Continued from 1A “The first is mostly obser- vation,” he said. “Learning the codes, really just getting familiar with the flow of infor- mation.” New dispatchers will have a headset that’s linked to that of a senior employee, and can listen to that person take calls. From there, Russell said, they learn how to take calls on the non-emergency line and document and enter informa- tion. Then they move on to emergency calls, and finally combine all those tasks. “The most challenging thing is honestly finding time to (train) while still working as a dispatcher,” Russell said. “Trying to train someone to connect the dots that you already see.” Each dispatcher sits at a desk with seven screens: two connected to the phone lines, three where they enter and access information from various databases, and two that access the radio system. There are usually five or six working at a time, with each person managing a different agency. One person will take care of all emergency and fire agencies, and one dispatcher will be assigned to each police agency. As they receive infor- mation about a call, they enter it into the system, where the other dispatchers can view it. “Even if I’m not covering Umatilla, I can still see their information, because I might interact with them at some point,” Russell said. A light tower tells other dispatchers and managers whether a dispatcher is on a call or talking over the radio. After some in-office training, dispatchers will go to a two-week academy, where they’ll learn more call taking, as well as how to dispatch certain emergency situations. They must learn how to instruct people in CPR over the phone, as well as help deliver babies. Communications officers also get training for how to give courtroom testimony, as they may be called in for a domestic violence case or a shooting they dispatched. Some of the more technical aspects of the job, Russell said, come from rote memorization and experience. Dispatchers work with several different databases, such as Law Enforcement Data System. The statewide data- base can access information about wanted people, stolen vehicles and driver history. As an officer pulls someone over, dispatchers will get to work, pulling up the information for that vehicle, and let the officer know any relevant information. They also have access to a national system, NCIC, where they can check for warrants and other infor- mation. Dispatchers also have to familiarize themselves with the county map — even if they’ve never been to the area, they may have to direct an officer around it. “I’m not from here, so that was hard for me,” Slette said. “People will say, ‘I’m on this street,’ and I won’t even know what city.” They communicate with officers using “10 codes.” Common ones include 10-4 — copy — as well as several traffic codes. The code for a mental subject is 10-96, and for a domestic problem, 10-16. For an intoxicated driver, it’s 10-55. Some things can’t be taught in training, Slette said. “You still have to work to build the trust of the people in the room with you,” she said. “You get those calls where it takes a little longer to click in, like CPR or when an officer’s been injured. That’s terrifying.” Dispatcher Kevin Dunham said he continues to get calls he’d never expect. “I still get surprised when I get a 911 call, and they’re wanting the phone number for a restaurant,” he said. Many dispatchers say the emotional strain is often over- looked. Though they’re not on the scene of an incident, they’re the first ones to hear about it. “When I went to my first training to be a dispatcher, they opened up with, ‘You will last in this job five years,’” said Dunham. Though he’s now in his 18th year, Dunham admitted it can take its toll. “We’re service-oriented people, and someone is truly in need of help,” he said. “If we can talk someone down from considering suicide. A lot of times we’re not successful, but a lot of times we are.” Communications Sergeant Karen Primmer said one of the toughest parts of the job is the lack of closure — once law enforcement takes over, dispatchers are no longer a part of the call, and don’t know whether something was resolved. “We sometimes get left out of that conclusion piece,” she said. “We want to hear the rest of the story.” BROWN: Republicans urged governor to veto the bill Continued from 1A raise $244 million in the current two-year budget cycle, which concludes in mid-2019. Many Republicans in the Legislature and some members of the business community had been vocal about their opposition to the bill and called on the governor to veto it. In a press conference Friday, Brown noted that those business owners already receive special rates from the state and will be able to use the deductions on their federal returns. Brown said signing the bill “prevents a third tax break at the expense of our schools, our children and our seniors.” Senate Republican Leader Jackie Winters, of Salem, disagreed, saying in a statement after Friday’s announcement that “the right thing to do would be to veto this partisan tax increase on small business.” “Start-ups, mom and pop shops, and young entrepre- neurs are doing great things for Oregon, but the majority party insists on passing an unfair tax increase that will stifle their growth, and harm the very Oregonians we should be helping,” Winters said. “There is no budgetary need to raise taxes on small businesses.” no one knows the condi- tion of these schools,” student health screenings, Feldman said. “We’re just kind of the which former President Bill Clinton announced first eyes on the ground,” Cline said, and what they Tuesday. The federation is the report helps determine second largest nurses future actions. The federation also union in the nation and an affiliate of the Oregon asked nurses to bring Nurses Association. hospital supplies. Nick Federation spokesperson Bejarano, Good Shepherd Andrew Feldman said the communications director, U.S. Virgin Islands are helped Cline load up a box “still a mess” with wide- of gloves, dressings, ice spread ruin in once-vibrant packs and more. “We love to support this communities. Some areas, he stated, resemble the kind of initiative,” Beja- aftermath Hurricane Maria rano said. “It’s a selfless act to help others in need.” left in Puerto Rico. Cline said she wishes The federation in October sent 40 nurses she could bring more, but there. Feldman said they the flights have weight and helped in an array of size restrictions, partic- medical situations, from ularly for the “hopper people suffering mental planes” they will take health issues to citizens between islands. Cline was on a planning stuck in homes and coping with diabetes or high phone call Thursday night. She said they were told not blood pressure. to bring coats “ T h e y or sweatshirts were there for b e c a u s e three weeks temperatures and really at the scene had a huge are plenty impact,” he warm, and said. don’t plan This time on having air the federation conditioning will land 10 in their resort nurses on rooms. the island of Yes, she St. Croix to said, they are assess the in a resort, general health but one that of 5,000 children, — Tamie Cline, r e m a i n s while Cline Hermiston nurse who closed. Comfort- and 11 more is heading to the able shoes are nurses go to United States Virgin another must the island of Islands to help in the because they St. Thomas ongoing relief efforts will be on to provide their feet for check-ups on 7,000 children. A long stretches. Cline said nurse from Bend and nurses tend to have that another from Medford are covered. U.S. territories in the making the journey. The group returns home next Caribbean have far to go Saturday, giving them five in their recovery from last days to complete the work. year’s hurricanes. Sections “Our goal is we’re of Puerto Rico still lack going to get every child power, and major factories seen,” Cline said. “I’d hate there remain offline and to be that nurse that misses unable to produce drugs, fluids, and other medical the one kid.” The Oregon Nurses resources for hospitals Association in its March around the globe. Cline 9 newsletter told its said Good Shepherd, like members the American other hospitals, is keeping Federation of Teachers close watch as those was looking for volunteers supplies dwindle. Researchers at the for the effort. Cline, a nurse of 19 years with 18 Colorado State University Meteorology at the hospital, said she Tropical has never done a medical Project predict this Atlantic mission. She and her hurricane season will be a husband, Bill, a cattle little above average with rancher, have three grown 14 storms, and seven will children, none at home. become major hurricanes. Helping children is core The season is less than to who she is, Cline said, eight weeks away and lasts so she asked her husband until Nov. 30. Cline is on call Friday what he thought of her night to Saturday morning. going. “He said I just have to She said she is hoping the hospital has a quiet night do it,” she recalled. In addition to the before her husband drives student screenings, the her Saturday to Portland nurses will check the to catch the first of several schools for health risks, flights. Getting to the U.S. such as asbestos exposure Virgin Islands from the or the spread of dangerous West Coast, she said, takes 24 hours. mold. Come Monday, the “These schools have been open all this time, and work begins. ‘Our goal is we’re going to get every child seen. I’d hate to be that nurse that misses that one kid.’ McKay Creek Estates FREE Cognitive Screening Fitting into those skinny jeans again? THAT’S COOL Freezing away Stubborn fat? THAT’S COOLSCLUPTING OPEN HOUSE April 25 • 5:00 OR 7:00 RSVP to hold your spot. • Special pricing • RESULTS AND PATIENT EXPERIENCE MAY VARY *Cool Sculpting is the treatment doctors use most for non-invasive fat removal. In the U.S., the CoolSculpting proce- dure is FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges in the sub mental area, thigh, abdomen, and fl ank, along with bra fat, back fat, underneath the buttocks {also known as banana roll), and upper arm. In China, the Crylipolysis system is used for fat layer reduction of the abdomen and fl anks. In Taiwan, the CoolSculpting procedure is cleared for the breakdown of fat in the fl ank (love handle), abdomen, and thigh. Outside the U.S., China and Taiwan, the CoolSculpting procedure for non-invasive fat reduction is available worldwide. COOLSCULPTING® and its design are trademarks of ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc., an Allergan affi liate. ©2017. All rights reserved. IC03171-A Appointments ALWAYS offered for FREE consultations Is Mom a little more forgetful lately? There are many early warning signs of a potential memory disorder, such as Alzheimer’s disease. That’s why we’re offering a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL cognitive screening. We encourage anyone who is concerned about cognitive decline to take this short, in-person screening. The screening is administered by a qualified health care professional. To schedule your cognitive screening today, please call (541) 704-7146. Steven L. Neal MD 541-276-4160 702 SW Dorion, Pendleton, OR 97801 McKay Creek Estates 7607 Southgate Pl. Pendleton, OR 97807 www.PrestigeCare.com