SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018 | 5A
FLORENCE from page 1A
She showed the Wastewater Fund
on page 12 of the report and relat-
ed it to Public Works Director Mike
Miller’s presentation on three up-
coming utility projects. Money from
that fund, as well as wastewater sys-
tem development charges, will fund
those projects.
“One of the capital projects that
was anticipated for the year is this
sewer extension project. You can
also see that we have not spent as
much as we thought we would,”
Reynolds said. “We thought we
would have this project a little fur-
ther along this year than it is actually
playing out.”
The council first heard about
the Highways 101 and 126 Utility
Projects in August, as city staff were
already working on plans to extend
water and wastewater facilities on
the highways. Those projects are
now coming together, with a public
hearing scheduled for the forma-
tion of a reimbursement district on
Highway 101.
“You can see that in the capital
outlay, there is a budget for $1.199
million, and we’ve only spent about
$380,000 in wastewater. By the time
you get to the next year end, on June
30, 2019, you’ll see that project spent
out based on the timeline presented
to you,” Reynolds said.
City Councilor Ron Preisler
thanked Reynolds and city staff for
their work on the project report.
Mayor Joe Henry said, “We’re un-
der budget, so that’s always a good
thing.”
After the planned public hearing
on the reimbursement district, the
bidding and construction timeline
will be solidified on the three sepa-
rate utilities projects, with construc-
tion scheduled to take place early in
2019.
“The (wastewater expansion)
project that Mike spoke about will
include five annexations of proper-
ties that are looking to grow and add
to our city, for both commerce and
residence,” Reynolds added. “They
see the potential, and there is a lot of
excitement out there, on both sides
of the highway. … Our city is grow-
ing, and it is growing at a pace that
makes sense for Florence.”
In addition to these annexations,
two other requests to join the city
have come in, making it seven new
properties annexing into the city. All
the properties are going through the
Planning Commission process.
The City of Florence will begin
the audit on the preliminary report
this month, with the Florence City
Council expected to approve the re-
port in December.
For more information, visit ci.
florence.or.us.
HEALTHCARE from page 1A
“They’re just checkups to go in, see
their vital signs,” Martin said. “See how
everything’s going. Make sure the house
is in good shape, if there are any problems
I see.”
If the program is successful, it could
become a permanent fixture in the Siu-
slaw Region. Other areas, such as Eugene,
are closely monitoring the Mobile Inte-
grated Healthcare program to see if it can
be integrated into their own healthcare
system.
How the program chooses patients be-
gins at a daily morning meeting at Peace-
Health Peace Harbor, where patient dis-
charge planner and medical social worker
Mary Anne Carter goes over the roster of
current patients with Martin.
“We have a daily worksheet and we
print out patients every day,” Carter said.
“We have categories that are important to
us, such as if they were readmitted. We try
and focus on COPD (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease), diabetes, heart fail-
ure. Those are the ones that seem to have
the most return to the hospital, especially
COPD. They’re at the home, they can’t
breathe, they start to panic, they can’t
breathe even more, they go into the ER.”
Carter said that they do have a home
health agency that can help, but its time
is limited.
“Chris is like a free agent,” Carter ex-
plained. “He has the option to just go in
there, sit and talk with them. Develop that
rapport that makes them comfortable, so
they don’t come rushing to the ER. Statis-
tics have shown that patients who return
to the ER frequently, it’s traumatizing for
them. It’s really better to keep them at
home, unless it’s an emergency. Of course
you come to the hospital then. But an
emergency room is very traumatic for an
elderly person.”
Martin added, “And some patients
are afraid to go into the hospital because
they’re afraid they won’t come out of the
hospital. This way, I can go out there and
talk to them in their home and assure
them.”
After Carter, Martin and other health-
care professionals at PeaceHealth choose
which patients are best suited for the
program, the program inquires if the
discharged patient is willing to meet with
Martin. A visit from the Mobile Integrat-
ed Healthcare Program is not mandatory,
with patients having the final say if Mar-
tin visits or not.
“Sometimes they don’t want me to
come out, and sometimes they do,” Mar-
tin said. “It just depends. It’s frustrating
at times, because I can help them, but
they’re not accepting the help.”
Carter explained that the patients who
primarily use Martin’s services are very
private.
“The retirees worked hard to get where
they are, and they’re very independent,”
she said. “To depend on somebody is giv-
ing up some of their freedoms, and they
don’t give in easily. People think that we’re
going to come into their home and take
away rights, say, ‘You can’t live here.’ They
really feel like we’re infringing on their in-
dependence, and that we’re going to take
it away from them. But, that doesn’t hap-
pen with us.”
Most who have opted for the program
have ended up appreciating it.
“It took us two months to see this one
person,” Martin recalled. “She ended up
loving it. She came in bragging about it at
a community meeting.”
While the group has yet to gather exact
statistics on the program’s efficacy, anec-
dotal evidence points to a drastic decrease
in readmissions since the program began.
“You can see the readmissions were
higher last year than they are now,” Mar-
tin said. “Having a true number, I can’t
have that. I’ve had 400 visits, though.”
It’s impossible to say if the program
prevented 400 hospital visits, but if it had,
the savings to the hospital could be worth
millions, since the average ER visit costs
$8-10,000, according to Martin. Four
hundred ER visits could cost up to $4
million.
Insurance companies save money in
covering costs, and patients save money
in copays.
ONE DAY SEMINAR
Basics of Selling on Amazon.com
David saw the high cost of healthcare
when he went into the ER for salmonella,
which he nearly died from.
“I was so sick,” he said. “I thought, you
know, how much is an old guys life worth?
I really thought that, especially when I got
the bill later from the hospital. $178,000. I
told Pat. She thought I was kidding. Seri-
ously, I thought I wasn’t worth that at my
point in my life. I was 75.
“I’ve changed my mind now. I’m going
kicking and screaming.”
“A little undercover work”
As Martin drove to David’s house for
his checkup, he went over what an aver-
age home visit consists of.
“They’re usually anywhere from 20 to
90 minutes,” he said. “The first visit is al-
ways the longest, as we go through their
medications and make sure they don’t
have questions about the medications.
Why they’re taking it, how long they’re
taking it. If they have any equipment, they
can ask me how to use it, how to clean it.
All of that takes a lot of time.”
He also does a thorough inspection of
the house, ensuring a safe environment:
Handrails are secure, rugs are not slip-
pery, make sure the steps aren’t creaking
and crackling.
“I’ve found smoke detectors that aren’t
working,” Martin said. “Get those re-
placed, talk to the fire department so they
can go out there and get them replaced
through a program they have. That’s up to
25 detectors that I’ve found. People don’t
have fire extinguishers in their home, so I
go out and get one, show them how to use
it. Make sure they have food there, and
that they’re eating the right type of food.
Make sure the house is clean.”
For subsequent visits, Martin does
the usual round of checkups, taking the
patient’s vitals, and answering any ques-
tions.
“When you’re in the hospital, there’s
so much going on and you just want to
go home,” he said. “And with everyone
talking to you, it’s possible you still don’t
understand. Or sometimes they forget to
ask a question. They can ask me. If I don’t
know the answer, I can get it.”
Sometimes Martin visits a patient just
once, but the majority see him four or five
times.
“There are some people that are prob-
ably around 40 visits,” he said. “But when-
ever I stop seeing them, they’re coming
back to the ER. And so, we found that if
I spend 30 minutes of my time, I can pre-
vent them from coming to the ER when
it’s not needed.”
Right now, Martin is seeing anywhere
from 45 to 60 patients, visiting around
five a day. During his 10-hour shift, he
also helps fill in the gaps in the healthcare
system.
“I’ve really helped palliative care a lot,”
he said. “Really helping Home Health out
when they’re falling behind. The Care
Coordinators will call, having concerns
with a patient that they can’t get a hold of.
Or some lab was out of whack and they
can’t get a hold of them. They’ll call me,
and I’ll go out there and talk to them.”
The vehicle he drives is rather nonde-
script; one would never know a patient is
getting a visit from the hospital.
“The original plan was to show up in
an ambulance, but people get panicked,
wondering if someone is hurt,” he said.
“It attracts too much attention. You
have to do a little undercover work.”
“Quite a little bond”
Then it was back to the walking
questions.
David described walking down to
the end of the street, his normal loop
that runs about a mile. But he hadn’t
been to the gym in a week. Then he
started walking around as Martin
watched. While he didn’t use his canes,
he was still able to get up, but he was
noticeably uncomfortable walking.
“Even walking over here, you’re still
off balance a little bit,” Martin said.
When David first Martin, he could
hardly get out of bed. David was in the ER
the previous night and was still groggy in
the morning.
See HEALTH CARE page 10A
The best kept secret in
Florence, also has the
best view of the Bay and
Siuslaw River in town.
October 27th, 8-5pm • Florence Events Center
Register with required deposit* at: www.LearningToSellOnAmazon.com
Presented by Florence resident Phillip Ebner
20 years selling online and masters degrees in business and organizational psychology.
Topics include: 1. How to startup a business online
:KDWWRVHOODQGZKHUHWRŵQGLW
3. Costly mistakes to avoid (This alone is worth many times the cost of the seminar)
4. How to get started for $500 or less.
Bring notebook computer or tablet and basic computer operations is pre-requisite.
Smartphone highly recommended. For more info. 541-997-1964
*$99 non-refundable deposit required to register,
$100 balance is due by Oct. 12th.Total payment $199 required after Oct 12th , space availability.
Located in the Best Western Pier Point Inn
85625 Highway 101, Florence • 541-997-7191
The Top Choice in
Florence Real Estate.
Let your next home find you!
HomeFinder Reports
Receive our automated HomeFinder Report, with
• Rapid updates of all new listings and price changes
FEATURED LISTING
NEW LISTING
FEATURED LISTING
3356 sqft home on 3.51 acres, lake
access. Approx. 32x56 RV barn w/
upstairs storage. 3+ car attached garage,
bonus room/studio fully furnished with 1/2
bath. Landscaped w/pond.
3 Bdrm, 4 full, 3 partial bath, 3356 sq ft
$825,000 BH7729 ML#18280268
2 acres of peacefulness. Community dock
& boat access. Approximately 191 ft of
paved road frontage. May be lake view. If
you can dream it, you can build it.
$109,900 BH7767 ML#18419852
Enchanted Valley community dock on
beautiful Mercer Lake. Build your dream
home
.77 acre
$39,000 BH7568 ML#17341221
FEATURED LISTING
NEW LISTING
KlaHaNee, 2 tax lots 1700 & 1800. Each
lot approx. 35’ x 76.11 ft. Plan for the
future when City Services are available.
Possible Ocean Views
$65,000 BH7598 ML#17657102
Ranch home borders Ocean Dunes Golf
Links. Lots of room for RV parking &
additional toys. Large private backyard
and circular driveway
3 Bdrm, 2 Ba 1816 sq ft
$219,900 BH7768 ML#18094037
PRICE REDUCED
Great home with adorable studio. This
home is neat & clean, has 12x16 addition,
vinyl siding. Studio has loft & heat. Corner
lot, park-like backyard, ample parking
2 Bdrm, 2 Ba 1272 sq ft
$205,000 BH7720 ML#18101435
FEATURED LISTING
Full time living or vacation get away?
Spacious living area, great kitchen, dining
area & breakfast room, fi replace in living
room. Close to Sutton Lake boat launch,
dunes & Ocean
2 Bdrm + den, 2 Ba 1296 sq ft
$195,000 BH7765 ML#18078503
NEW LISTING
Riverfront ranch with 557’ deep water
frontage, private registered dock. Home
remodeled in 2002 including roof &
Hardiplank siding
3 Bdrm, 2 ½ Ba 2025 sq ft
$645,000 BH7755 ML#18126022
FEATURED LISTING
Mercer Lake area. Beautiful remodeled
home, open design, light & bright, double
garage, 28 x 32 shop, RV parking &
more!
3 Bdrm, 2 Ba 1982 sq ft
$429,000 BH7680 ML#18344188
• Interactive mapping with satellite images
• Price reductions clearly displaying $ and % changes
• Complete listing details, including addresses
• Active inventory by price range
View all our active listings in Florence at
www.RealEstateFlorence.com!
Or give us a call at (541)997-6000
and we’ll do the searching for you!
Florence Branch | 1875 Hwy 101 | Florence, OR | (541) 997-6000 | www.RealEstateFlorence.com
© 2014 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.