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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 2016)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2016 Health from 1A Oregon governor’s office south valley/mid-coast regional solu- tions coordinator Jackie Mikalonis also attended. Henry said, “Since the advent of the Affordable Care Act, 550,000 new patients have entered the Oregon healthcare system. That system was already struggling with a shortage of healthcare providers before that. The city government does not have the knowledge or the ability to solve this problem. What we can do is support the efforts of our dedicated healthcare profes- sionals.” Audience members were encouraged to write questions on cards handed out as they entered the seating area. PeaceHealth panel members explained the current nationwide doctor shortage and new recruit- ment procedures and then answered audience questions. Richard Bennett, vice presi- dent of operations of Peace Health Medical Group for Oregon, said most physicians were moving to urban areas with populations over 500,000 and that less than 10 percent are mov- ing to rural practices. He also said that there is currently a doc- tor shortage of between 40,000 and 50,000 in the United States. “We have a shortage today, but we are going to have a larger shortage as we go to 2025,” he said. “This is a national issue. We can’t meet the demand.” Michael Penrose, system director of provider services for PeaceHealth said, “We are target- ing applicants who were born, raised or educated in the states of Oregon, Washington and Alaska.” According to Penrose, most residents come out of training with about $250,000 to $300,000 of debt and that PeaceHealth was offering a loan forgiveness pack- age of up to $100,000 for a five- year contract. Henry read the audience ques- tions that had been assigned to specific panel members. The questions ranged from getting prescription refills and referrals and how to deal with chronic health problems, all without a primary provider, and what patients can do if they do not like their provider. Henry read one question, “Providers are required to sign off on prescription refills. If I don’t have a provider, how do I get my refills?” Nina Harvey, director of oper- ations for PeaceHealth Medical Group replied, “You go through the same process; you call your pharmacy and request a refill. That will come into our office and it will be processed. The providers as a team are going to take care of the need of the patients of the clinic. It could take longer. It is always a good idea to call in 10 to 14 days before you run out.” Henry read the next question on referrals for specialists and services such as physical therapy and imaging. “How will these services be ordered for patients without providers?” he asked Bennett replied, “We will be working within the clinics to DATE AND TIME: 09/01/2016 at 12:00 PM David Clark, DO Eugene, OR SPEAKER: 1285 Restobar 1285 Bay Street in Old Town Florence, OR 97439 LOCATION: EVENT CODE: TR380590 (1333668) evaluate what your needs are and making sure you get those things that provide the best care for you. If your physician is no longer here, we are going to take care of you.” Henry read, “How will ongo- ing problems with chronic condi- tions be handled? If I don’t have a primary care provider, who will monitor my health needs?” David Duffey, vice presi- dent/medical director of PeaceHealth Oregon said, “In addition to the provider, there is a team of individuals that help us in our population health strate- gies in managing some of these chronic diseases. We have nurse care managers, advanced practice clinicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners that will help. When you need help, go to the clinic and we will help you as quick as we can.” Another question Henry pre- sented to the panel addressed how Peace Health would provide information when new doctors are available. Harvey replied, “We have providers coming for the end of this year. For patients without providers, they should be able to be placed with those new providers. They should all receive letters by January or February.” Henry read, “Why, when we call to see our primary doctor, are we referred to the walk in clinic? We are charged a premium as a new patient and then told to see our primary doctor, who we wanted to see in the first place. Now we have to pay two co-pays to take care of one issue.” Bennett said, “Having that question put out here into the public forum raises issues for us on this panel. We are going to come up with some innovative ways to address this. I can’t say we are going to have an answer tomorrow. We need to work with you to make this as easy as possi- ble. We are under some stress here because we have lost some providers. We are going to try and do the best we can.” The next question asked if rumors of doctors spending little time with patients were true. Bennett said, “There is no truth to that. ... There is no restriction on five minutes per patient.” Duffey added, “We want to get as many patients through as we can. We don’t want to dally a lot in the room, but if we took an hour for every visit that came in, that would mean there would be a lot of people that didn’t get seen that day. We have no require- ments on how long somebody spends with an individual patient.” Another question asked if PeaceHealth had an ombudsman and for ways that person could be contacted. Bennett replied, “PeaceHealth has a patient family advisory council. We have patients that are a part of that council located in Eugene.” He added that the council does visit Peace Harbor. “How will the walk-in clinic manage the increase in patients?” Henry read. “Will wait times become unrealistic for patients that work and can’t sit waiting for hours?” Harvey said that the walk-in clinic will have longer waits. “We do have a program where you can walk in and get your name on a list and then you can leave,” she said. “We can call you when your name rises to the top of the list so you don’t have to wait so long.” After the meeting, Bozievich said, “I’m impressed with the recruitment effort they are doing. I’m a little jealous because we have a similar issue in recruiting people to our public health sys- tem. Particularly mental health providers are hard to recruit right now.” Peace Harbor CEO Rick Yecny said the medical center has five new potential primary recruits scheduled to visit the facility. In addition, three new providers have signed on and will start by the first of the year, with one more to begin in 2017 and one in 2018. “We are trying to fill positions now and create a pipeline for the future,” Yecny said. Issues VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT LORRAINE GRAHAM Florence Garden Club Lorraine has been a Florence Garden club member since 2007. She has been an actual member in many club projects. She has been the Plant Sale Chairperson for the last 5-years. She also works part time at Kitchen Klutter on Bay Street. She is a delightful person and a team player. Florence Garden Club Florence OR, 97439 First Baptist Church Wanda Johnson, Broker Coldwell Banker Coast Real Estate County Transfer and Recycling Chad Clement, D.D.S., P.C SPONSORED BY: Oregon Pacii c Bank Sawnson’s Pest Management Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County 7 A from 1A The Trans-Pacific Partner- ship is a trade agreement aimed at promoting economic growth, creating jobs, improv- ing partnerships and increas- ing environmental concerns among 12 countries. Negotia- tions concluded on the part- nership in 2015, but it has yet to be signed. Opponents argue that it takes away rights of countries and their people in order to favor corporations — “because it was written by corporations,” DeFazio said. “American people have woken up to it ... I think we’re going to beat it. I think finally we’re going to stop this mad- ness of trade policies that export our jobs and challenge our sovereignty. I am hope- ful,” he said. After about 20 minutes, DeFazio invited the audience to ask questions. People asked for more information on the Trans- Pacific Partnership and about plans to help Congress and the Senate accomplish more, the stockpiling of emergency equipment to assist communi- ties, increasing gun security, protecting Social Security and about more local concerns, such as the timber industry, transportation access, tsunami preparedness and rural health options. DeFazio has been a U.S. representative since 1987. He responded “I have a bill for that” on several issues. He was also able to point out his track record in voting for or against controversial bills. “I can only do what I can do on one side of Capitol Hill,” he said. “I try. I’ve done bipartisan bills in the House, but I can’t force the Senate to do anything.” DeFazio invited people to send him — and the rest of the Oregon contingent — com- ments on these and other issues. For more information, go to defazio.house.gov/. 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