8 A
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2017
Healthcare
from 1A
According to Yecny, there is a grow-
ing need for physicians nationwide.
This trend is expected to continue into
the future, with a resulting shortage of
20,000 physicians by 2020.
In light of that data, Yecny said he
thinks Peace Harbor has had good suc-
cess in recruiting staff members, adding
13 new providers since January 2016,
and dropping the number of clients
without physicians from 6,000 to about
2,000.
Most of those without physicians will
have the opportunity to select one by
year’s end.
Additionally, OB/GYN Dr. Yvonne
Sculley will arrive this month and
Family Practice/OB Physicians Dr.
Justine Parker and Dr. Jacquline
Serrano will be added to the mix in
October.
“This third forum is to continue the
update,” Yecny said. “We have found
the process to be a great way for us to be
able to communicate with the public
that is interested in these topics.”
In addition to the positive news
regarding staff recruitment, Peace
Harbor has secured funding for three
successful “Community Health” pro-
grams.
Yecny is committed to the idea of
better health for all, and believes that
including different health practitioners
into the options available to patients is a
benefit.
One of the ongoing programs that is
financially supported by PHPH is the
Points of Grace Acupuncture program at
The Wellspring Clinic.
“We have deemed that program to be
a tremendous success and have refund-
ed the program for another year and
doubled the funding amount,” Yecny
said. “We are underwriting the materials
for the program, because this program
links directly to access to primary care.
We thought if people can get pain relief
through an acupuncture clinic, they
won’t be demanding visits from our
already stretched primary care
resources.”
The Points of Grace program started
out treating approximately 25 patients
every other week and now sees 50 or
more people a week. The program has
treated more than 1,000 patients since
its inception.
These are patients that PHPH does
not have to schedule or treat, freeing up
those appointment times for other
patients.
The second Community Health pro-
gram is a new initiative, the Community
Paramedic program.
Yecny said Western Lane Ambulance
District has begun the hiring process for
a new community paramedic.
“Western Lane has put out a call for
applications for the paramedic candidate
position,” he said. “This position will be
on the ambulance district’s payroll, but
we will be funding the position, sort of
like subcontracting, for two years.”
There is a decided benefit to having
EMTs check on recently released
patients, according to Yecny, some of
whom will need to be readmitted, due to
lack of attention or support at home.
EMTs in the Community Paramedic
program are medically and technically
trained. They will be able to do wound
care and be a liaison with patients.
“This will allow us to
more closely monitor
patients’ conditions, so if
we need to add some addi-
tional services, we will be
able to do that,” Yecny
said.
The third Community Health program
is a palliative care program, overseen by
Dr. Stephen S. Kerner.
Kerner specializes in hospice and pal-
liative medicine. He is currently work-
ing with local assisted living facilities to
minimize patient disruption.
Kerner achieves this goal by attend-
ing to elderly patients at their facility,
rather than transporting them to a hospi-
tal for non-surgical, non-emergency
treatments and check-ups. He has been
providing in-home services on a limited
basis, but will now be working fulltime
on this effort.
“Palliative care is for our most frail
and elderly patients, and this program
assists them with medical directives and
working with the family on end of life
issues,” Yency said. “Since Dr. Kerner
has been participating in the program,
we have seen visits to the Emergency
Department drop by 40 percent from
those facilities and a 25 percent drop in
inpatient admissions.”
Yecny believes the Community
Health programs are part of an overall
strategy to reduce stress on his organiza-
tion’s provider resources, but also as a
way of increasing the options and over-
all well being of residents and visitors to
Florence.
“That’s the benefit of Community
Care — providing more access to care to
the community. It doesn’t have to be us,”
Yecny said. “We can partner with others
and make them more successful in their
programs and provide more access to
care for all of our clients.”
Realtors donate to Food Share
COURTESY PHOTO
From left: Norma Barton, Sarah Quinn and Steve Earnshaw
Central Oregon Coast Board of Realtors (COCBR) food drive coor-
dinator and Board Secretary Sarah Quinn and Board President
Steve Earnshaw presented a check to Norma Barton, executive
director of Florence Food Share, from donations received during
the annual COCBR Bi-Mart Florence Food Share drive. In addition
to cash and check donations, local realtor volunteers also collect-
ed 200 pounds of dry and canned goods during this summer’s in-
store food drive.
The
Siuslaw
News.com
Get Results...List With Brian.
Brian Jagoe
Principal Broker
541 999-1314
See Jim for your auto sales needs!
Hwy 101 #1701 – Sellers plans
have changed giving you an op-
portunity to own almost an acre
of land in Florence for less than
$40k. This property is just north
of Heceta Water District, and is
the second lot back from the
highway easing the traffic noise.
$39,900. #2500-15435912
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
THIS WEEK
ON
THE
COAST
A W EEKLY L ISTING OF C OMMUNITY E VENTS IN THE F LORENCE A REA
S UBMIT ALL E VENTS I NFORMATION VIA E MAIL TO P RESS R ELEASES @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM
Sept. 16
“Spirit of the Northwest”
Clay Mask Challenge Class
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Registration required
Florence Senior Center
541-991-3760
Back to School Bingo
Benefit for Mapleton Food Share
4-8 p.m.
Tickets required
Three Rivers Casino Resort
Ada Grange Bingo
5 p.m. — kitchen opens
6 p.m. — bingo begins
Ada Grange Hall
10 miles out Canary Road
541-997-2380
Celebrate Siuslaw Salmon
Fundraiser
with Siuslaw Watershed Council
5:30-9 p.m.
Tickets required
Florence Events Center
541-268-3044
Rhododendron Society “Rhodies
101”
6:30 p.m.
Open to public
Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw
541-997-3082, www.siuslawars.org
Sept. 20
Sept. 19
Kiwanis 3-2-1 Club Introduction
6 p.m.
Open to public
Beachcomber Club
“Medicare Made Clear”
Educational Event
10 a.m.
Open to the public
Florence Senior Center
Sept. 21
Us TOO Florence Prostate Cancer
Support Group
Noon to 1 p.m.
Open to public
Ichiban Restaurant
541-999-4239
Peace Health Peace Harbor
Volunteers Meeting & Luncheon
11:30 a.m.
RSVP to womangolfer7@gmail.com
or 541-902-1368
Florence Events Center
Sept. 17
DONATE NOW!
Maximize your donation by donating
to Cars for a Cause by Dec. 31st.
We accept cars, trucks, RVs, boats
& motorcycles CALL NOW!
We buy, sell and consign quality
estate/heirloom jewelry & furniture.
Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with
precious & semi precious stones.
Florence Antiques
2315 Hwy. 101 • Florence • 541-997-8460
CUSTOM ENGRAVING
& CUTTING
CCB# 55030
“Spirit of the Northwest”
Clay Mask Challenge Class
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Registration required
Florence Senior Center
541-991-3760
“Way Out West” Reunion and
Showing
7 p.m.
Open to the public and participants in
the 1994 show
RSVP by Sept. 21 to 541-999-1636.
Class Act Theatre,
WLAD Car Seat Clinic
10 a..m. to noon
Open to public — limited supply of
free car seats
Siuslaw Middle School
WesternLaneAmbulanceDistrict.com
Sept. 23
Sept. 24
Be Ready — Storm Ready Disaster
Preparedness Expo
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free admission with donation to
Florence Food Share
541-997-5691
541-361-9080
jmirvis@charter.net
Florence, Oregon
Glass For Every
Purpose
1780 Kingwood St.
541-997-8526
Alice Brauer Christian Preschool
Back 2 School Carnival
4-6 p.m.
$5 entry
2100 Spruce St.
County Transfer & Recycling
Auto, Home, Life, Business
Flood, Antique Auto, RV’s
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Supplements
Health Insurance
Phone (541) 997-9497
1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence
FLORENCE
Awards • Plaques • Name Badges
Gifts • Signage • Glassware
Florence Events Center
Friends of the FEC Symbols of
America Artist Deadline
5 p.m.
Open to artists
Florence Events Center Galleries
ESTATE JEWELRY AND
ANTIQUE FURNITURE!!!
Call 541-997-8104,
St. Vincent de Paul
Sept. 22
Great prices on all
top national brands!
685-A Hwy 101,
Florence, OR.
541-997-3273
Commerical • Residential
Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly,
One Time Pick-Up.
Easy curb side recycling program-
No additional costs to our customers.
5078 Coastwood Lane
Call us at 541-997-8233
Village Grooming
4981 Highway 101,
across Munsel Lake Rd
541-305-5411
Call for appointment
