Smoke Signals
4
Health Authority: commissioners focus on quality care
Continued from front page
across the country. They discovered
that the highly successful tribal clin
ics that provided the best overall
quality of services to its members
had a board of commissioners over
see its operations.
"Now, the people who manage the
different programs here can receive
quality time with the commissioners
to talk about specific health care is
sues and needs. We all are able to
analyze these issues together," said
Austin.
Tribal member Diana George said
that being a commissioner was a way
for her to be directly involved in an
issue she has always cared deeply
about: the overall well-being of the
membership.
"The clinic should be about cus
tomer service," said George. "It should
be run in a professional manner for
our members and people in the com
munity. I wanted to see changes for
the better, and knew this would be a
way to be involved."
George, a correctional counselor at
Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem,
said that the physical and mental
health of tribal members has always
been a key concern of hers, and now
she's happy to be part of the board
appointed to address health issues.
"I wanted to work to make changes
for the better," she said. "The best
way to do that is get involved, ask
questions. I just wanted to work for
the Tribe in a capacity where I'd be
useful."
While the Health Authority ex
pects to have a busy year complet
ing tasks in front of them, tribal mem
bers are always welcome to attend
the meetings and ask questions
about health center issues.
Commissioner Bernadine Shriver,
also a tribal member, said that par
ticipating on the Health Authority
makes her feel like she is giving back
to a community that has given her
so much.
"Though I live in Portland, I
wanted to serve the Tribe. I grew
up near the Tribe. Everyone on the
board works well together. And that
makes me feel like we are doing our
membership some good," said
Shriver. "I just want to help the
clinic work well for everyone."
Dr. Austin said he has no doubt
creating the Health Authority was a
good decision on the part of Tribal
Council.
"Basically, it all boils down to the
fact that when Tribal Council decided
to build a health center in Grand
Ronde back in 1994, they made a
commitment to tribal members and
people in this community to provide
quality health care," said Austin.
"And the Health Authority is a way
they continue to ensure that."
Of the commissioners themselves,
Austin says that he is looking for
ward to the work they will be doing
together.
"These individuals have made a
substantial public service commit
ment here. They have a specific in
terest in seeing this health center
become a successful model in Indian
Country."
It's not an emergency but I can't wait for an
appointment to be seen. What should I do?"
Times arise when care is needed when your primary care provider is not available.
Now, you can access the health center's triage services. Triage was designed to
serve as a choice for medical conditions that need to be treated the same day. It
should not be used as a substitute for regularly scheduled appointments with your
primary care provider. Triage services have been added to allow for quicker access of
the medical staff to walk-in patients. A triage nurse will evaluate each walk-in patient
and determine what course of action is warranted for appropriate treatment.
In each case the triage nurse is responsible for the initial diagnosis of the patient. It
is based on her determination whether the patient will be seen by another clinician.
All medical providers participate in the triage program. Each clinician has time set aside
on normal work days to treat patients in the triage area. However, since the main
focus of the clinician is to treat regularly scheduled patients, the times available during
the day to see patients in the triage area are limited. This means that although the
triage system has been designed to allow for a clinician to see a walk-in patient during
the day, the clinician available may or may not be the patient's primary care provider.
It is important to note that with all clinic visits (including those that are regularly
scheduled), substitution of a patient's primary care clinician by another clinician may
take place.
Expansion of the health center now also includes areas for massage therapy and
foot care.
4
- t
1
.. - . t. ' '.1
. . r t
' 4
Pictured: Shirley Walkhoff, RN; Melody Fuller, Medical Secretary;
and Kathleen Marquart, PA.
Grand Ronde Tribal Health Authority
Board of Commissioners
Sitting, from left: Diana George, Marie Davis, Bernadine Shriver.
Standing: Steve Bowles, Ed Larsen, Tom Seidl, Jim Sizemore, Merle Leno.
D STEVE BOWLES: Systems Engineer and Hospital Administrator with ex
tensive experience in health care management. Experience in planning, orga
nization, and financial management in health care organizations. Steve recently
retired from the hospital administrator position at Dallas Community Hospital
and resides in Salem, Oregon.
D MARIE DAVIS, RN: Registered nurse with advanced training in emer
gency services and advanced life support. Long-time volunteer with North
west Medical Teams world-wide health care emergency services missions. Highly
motivated toward community service with special interest in the Grand Ronde
community. Marie was raised and schooled in Grand Ronde. She resides in
Dallas, Oregon.
H DIANA GEORGE: Presently employed as a counselor with 10 years of
managementcounseling experience, Diana George works in a maximum secu
rity institution for Oregon Department of Corrections. She is also employed as
Customer Relations Supervisor at Spirit Mountain Casino since opening in 1995.
She has an Associate's degree in Law Enforcement and Corrections and is cur
rently attending OSU for a degree in American Indian Law and Government.
D MERLE LENO: Former Chairman of Grand Ronde Health Committee, Merle
Leno's experience includes prior membership on the Indian Child Welfare Ad
ministration Board; prioritized budgeting allocation for Tribal Trust Fund; Health
Center Accreditation Board member since 1998; former elected alternate for
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board for six years; Chairman of Pow
Wow Committee for 13 years; assisted with the restoration efforts for the Tribe.
He has many years experience in the health field concentrating on providing
leadership and spiritual support and ensuring that fairness and service delivery
are thorough and consistent. Merle has had numerous training experiences
sponsored by the Health Committee related to health needs and services.
0 TOM SEIDL: Tom Seidl served over 20 years in the Indian Health Service
as a pharmacist, health center director and program planning and resource
allocation specialist. He has served for several years as health program plan
ning consultant to the Grand Ronde Tribe. Tom has extensive experience in
health program planning, budgeting and management.
D BERNADINE SHRIVER: Has served as Grand Ronde Health Committee
member for four years; self-employed business owner for 13 years. She has
attended various courses sponsored by Council Lodge Institute and University
of Oklahoma. Bernadine has a strong commitment to understanding the is
sues and improvement of services to meet the needs of Grand Ronde tribal
members.
0 JIM SIZEMORE: James M. (Jim) Sizemore, CPA, is a shareholder, Chief
. i y-v rr i .
nnanciai umcer ana licensed investment advisor with Strategic Wealth Manage
ment, Inc. At Strategic Wealth Management, Inc., Jim heads up the Native
American consulting division of the firm. He works very closely with tribal clients
to ensure integration of financial policy and planning to support tribal financial
success and provide information needed in the development of specific invest
ment solutions and strategies. Jim coaches and provides training for finance
officers and their staff to support development of internal fiscal management
capacity. Based on his hrnari trihai PYnpripnro ho ic ralloH nnnn tr acckl" in
many issues that have bearing either directly or indirectly on the finances of
uiemiriDes.
Ex-Officio Members
B ED LARSEN OanH DnnHa -Tvm-,1 r..ii
viuiw ixuiius 1 1 iuai v.uui iui
O MALCOLM SNIDER, M.D. - Specialist in orthopedic surgery in private
nrariro in Clnm rt.