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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2018)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, December 5, 2018 Court agrees to stipend for county clerk Community HEALTH BEAT Prairie City police contract approved By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle 170 Ford Road, John Day • 541-575-1311 • www.bluemountainhospital.org Blue Mountain Hospital District: Serving Grant County in 2018 Blue Mountain Hospital District (BMHD) has had a busy 2018 serving our Grant County residents. Through the efforts of our caregivers and employees across the District and the leadership of the BMHD Board of Directors, Medical Staff and Management Staff, the District has grown in many areas. 2018 represented a year of serving and providing access to care close to home for more patients than ever before. We are pleased to have provided compassion, care and quality health care to our patients, focus on priority initiatives and opportunities and grown access to services in a number of areas. Patient Experience Committee: The BMHD Patient Experience Committee has been actively improving our patient experience throughout our organization. A number of projects and improvements related to the patient experience have occurred, such as: • The Emergency Room registration has been remodeled, improving the Triage experience and improving patient privacy. • BMH is piloting informational and soothing television programming in the waiting rooms. • Directional signage has been updated to assist patients, guests, and vendors in locating the departments they are seeking. • Red & green lights have been installed to alert patients when registrars are available to serve them. • BMH Emergency Department technology, patient privacy curtains, and furnishing have been updated • Patients can pay online for Blue Mountain Hospital (BMH) and Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic (SWCC) or pay by credit card, check, or cash at the registration desk. • Blue Mountain Hospital website has been improved and updated offering an array of information, and an opportunity for patients to “Leave a Comment”. Hospital Remodeling and Improvements Outside of the project improvements made surrounding the Emergency Room registration remodeling, the hospital campus has experienced other improvements over the course of the year. • Additional remodeling has created designated, private waiting rooms for ancillary departments such as Lab, Radiology and Cardiopulmonary services. • Additional patient rooms have been created for Physical Therapy, Radiology, Lab, and patient access, following a Chapel and office space remodel. • The hospital has installed a new Emergency Call System. This Emergency Call System has been installed throughout BMH in patient rooms and public restrooms to improve patient response time and patient safety. We are very grateful for all who participated in the Foundation Dinner Golf Scramble, and for those who have made contributions to the Foundation to allow them to support this project. Outpatient Department Expansion: Blue Mountain Hospital’s outpatient service departments, including Radiology, Physical Therapy and Laboratory, have made great strides over the last year with increased access and new permanent employees. • Radiology Department: BMH now offers 2-day appointment turnaround time for DEXA Bone Density orders. BMH Radiology Department also provides Mammograms, CT Scans, Ultrasounds and MRIs. They have expanded their hours of operations to 10-hour days, Monday thru Friday, to better serve Grant County. • Physical Therapy: Our PT department has expanded services with the hiring of new permanent therapists. This has resulted in improvements surrounding access and current wait time for an appointment with a therapist is only one to three weeks. • Laboratory: The BMH lab recently went live with the Alere Molecular Testing Platform, which will be used to test for Influenza A and B. This instrument is an innovative system with unique technology, making flu testing significantly faster and more accurate than conventional flu testing. Blue Mountain Hospital Swing Bed Program: BMHD has put much focus on continued implementation and maximization of our Swing Bed/Transitional Care program. The BMH Swing Bed program provides care for patients who are recovering from surgery, or need treatment to support their recovery, and will benefit from receiving care close to home. Bill Hodgson, BMHD’s Social Worker/Transitional Care Coordinator will assist you in transitioning to BMH where you or your loved ones can heal in a great atmosphere close to home, surrounded by family and friends. He provides resources and accommodations to meet your needs. Bill can be reached at 541-575-1311 ext. 2331. Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic Access: SWCC now offers daily “Fast Track” appointments for patients suffering with urgent symptoms such as ear infections, UTI’s, sore throat, pink eye, flu-like symptoms, and sinus pain, to name a few. Our Providers: Dr. Hall, Dr. Bailey, Dr. Lieuallen, Dr. Betza, Dr. Sickler, Shawna Clark, DNP, Nora Healey, FNP and April Bieber, PA-C are here to serve your primary care, pediatric, geriatrics, semi- urgent, urgent/same day appointments and OB care needs. The clinic is open Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. The receptionists accept calls beginning at 7:00 am. Call 541-575-0404 to make your appointment today or learn more about our Fast Track and same day appointment access. Blue Mountain Home Health & Hospice Services: Blue Mountain Home Health & Hospice has also grown programs and services to meet patient and family needs. Blue Mountain Hospital Outpatient Clinic offers wound care, ear irrigation, testosterone injections and catheter changes according to physician orders and referral. Nurses are available to assess ear impaction and treat or refer to a physician. The Foot Clinic serves self-pay diabetics and non-diabetics without a doctor’s referral. Call 541-575-1648 to make your appointment or drop by to learn what Home Health and Hospice provides. Hours of operation are from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. Pastor Michael and Michelle Gibson offer Grief Support Courses throughout the year; this support has received great reviews. Light up a Life, an annual event to celebrate those who have passed, is December 13th at 6:00 pm at Valley View Assisted Living Facility. Call Michelle at 541-575-1648 or email mgibson@bluemountainhospital.org for more information. Blue Mountain Care Center Improvements: The Blue Mountain Care Center has had a busy year filled with increased census and facility improvements. The Care Center has received recent reinvestment and facility improvement in the form of a new facility generator, heating system, and outdoor grounds improvement projects. Much of this funding and support in the reinvestment of the Care Center was provided through the Healthcare Foundation and the generous donations received in 2017. As the physical building at the Care Center has seen improvements, so too has the number of residents occupying the facility. We have seen a steady increase in resident occupancy with 20 residents consistently residing at the Care Center over the last year. Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Committee Work: Blue Mountain Hospital District has been engaged with two Community Heath Needs Assessment (CHNA) Committees: Substance Abuse & Trust in the Healthcare System Committee, and Access and Preventive Wellness Committee. Both committees, led by Nick Green and Tilli Bjronberg, have devoted time, energy and commitment to improving and attaining goals. The leadership of BMHD is very thankful for the efforts, successes and committee engagement surrounding this mandated 3-year project. A few of the projects implemented have aimed to improve awareness and education surrounding substance abuse, foster trust and confidentiality by educating employees and the public regarding BMHD’s commitment to confidentiality. This has included broadening training from BMHD Board members, providers and employees to volunteers, contractors and vendors. We have partnered with community stakeholders such as Grant County Schools, Community Counseling Solutions, and Grant County Health Department to develop a community-wide campaign for positive messaging, and increased awareness of the availability of health care services, financial assistance and insurance coverage options. A new Grant County Resource Guide will be published and available soon, both electronically and in a hard copy form. All of our caregivers across Blue Mountain Hospital District including Blue Mountain Hospital, Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic, Blue Mountain Care Center, Blue Mountain Home Health & Hospice and the Blue Mountain Emergency Medical Service would like to wish you and your families a healthy, happy and fun-filled 2018 holiday season. We feel privileged to serve our Grant County family, friends, and neighbors, and we thank you for allowing us to continue to offer you quality healthcare close to home. Submitted by: Derek Daly Blue Mountain Hospital District Chief Executive Officer December 5, 19 Bend Cardio - Dr. McLellan Presents... DECEMBER VISITING SPECIALISTS BLUE MOUNTAIN CARE CENTER Resident of the Month ELVA LOYD December 7 Bend Neuro - Dr. Tien 1809 First Street • Baker City • (541)523-5439 BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7 ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY MOVIE SCHEDULE DEC 7 - DEC 13 CREED II (PG-13) Under the tutelage of Rocky Balboa, heavyweight contender Adonis Creed faces off against Viktor Drago, son of Ivan Drago. FRI & SAT (3:50) 6:50 9:30 SUNDAY (3:50) 6:50 MON - THURS 6:50 INSTANT FAMILY (PG-13) A couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children. FRI & SAT (4:00) 7:00 9:35 SUNDAY (4:00) 7:00 MON - THURS 7:00 RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (PG) Ralph and Vanellope discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure. FRI & SAT (4:10) 7:10 9:40 SUNDAY (4:10) 7:10 MON - THURS 7:10 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth December 17 Baker Podiatrist - Dr. Rushton 92670 Quality Healthcare Close To Home The Grant County Court agreed to provide a $537 per month stipend to County Clerk Brenda Percy for her work han- dling payroll for county em- ployees. County Judge Scott Myers said Percy had informed the court she would no longer do payroll work without the sti- pend but agreed to handle pay- roll for January and February as a courtesy. Myers noted he had asked for an opinion from the county counsel on whether any ethi- cal issues had been raised by Percy’s decision. Payroll is not included in the state’s statuto- ry description of her job as an elected official. Myers had been reluctant to approve Percy’s request in the past out of concern that a prec- edent would be set that might affect other county workers. He also noted that he performed numerous duties that were not included in the statutory job de- scription for county judge. Commissioner Rob Raschio pointed out that contracting the payroll work would cost the county much more than the $537 stipend Percy requested, and he motioned to approve the clerk’s request. The motion passed unani- mously with an effective date of Dec. 26. The court also dis- cussed ensuring that payroll work is completed if Percy is unavailable by training her dep- uty clerk, Brooke Griffith. In other county court news: • The court approved a con- tract with Prairie City to pro- vide law enforcement services through the sheriff’s office. As Prairie City mayor, Commis- sioner Jim Hamsher recused himself. The county has been provid- ing law enforcement in Prairie City since June without a con- tract. The county will charge Prairie City $40 per hour for an officer up to $41,600 per year. The schedule will remain flexible so an officer can be available during peak periods in Prairie City, including the city’s Fourth of July event. The county’s response to mi- nor crimes and complaints will depend on available manpower and other resources, the con- tract states. • SAIF Vice President Chris Vrontakis and Eastern Region Director Mike Elliott presented a plaque to Grant County rec- ognizing 100 years of service. SAIF is a state-chartered non- profit that has provided work- ers compensation insurance in Oregon since 1914. • The court approved the purchase of three iPads with accessories as the court agreed it was time to transition to a paperless office. The move will provide more transparency to the public by improving access to agenda documents while im- proving efficiency for the court members, who often work at home. • Myers reported on a vis- it to Burns to meet with Har- ney County Court and Oregon State University officials about providing natural resource ad- visory services. The Grant County Court has discussed creating a natural resource advisory position at meetings this year. While still in a preliminary stage, one idea called for Grant and Harney counties to each provide a half-time natural resource advisor, while OSU would provide a full-time ad- visor to serve both counties, Myers said. This would allow each county to choose a local person familiar with the county, he said. • The court also discussed reinstating the county historian position. The last time the po- sition was filled, Diane Brown- ing worked under the county road department researching road histories. Myers noted there have been three or four county historians since 1995. • The court approved a property line adjustment draw- ing for the sale of the county health building on East Main Street in John Day to Commu- nity Counseling Solutions. The change must go before the John Day Planning Commission. Myers said the sale price at this point is $400,000. The money would go into the coun- ty’s general fund, with possibly $70,000 being used to pay for remodeling the nearby L Build- ing, which will share a parking lot with CCS. • The court agreed to a re- quest from the Grant County Library Advisory Board to dis- continue use of the bookmobile through May because of declin- ing use. At that point, the court will reevaluate the need for the vehicle. • Forest Service planners provided a presentation on the Ragged Ruby Project Draft En- vironmental Impact Statement. The project is located about 9 miles north of Prairie City on the Malheur and Umatilla na- tional forests. Visitors and court members requested information on spe- cial measures being taken to protect pine marten, which are a project indicator species and are still legally trapped. Por- tions of the project area will not be treated in order to protect pine martens. NEPA Planner Sasha Fertig said the goal is to approve the Ragged Ruby Project before the Blue Mountains Forest Plan is approved. Otherwise the project will need to be modified to make it compliant with the forest plan. Following Raschio’s re- quest, the court agreed to submit a comment in favor of Alternative 2, which calls for more commercial thinning than Alternative 3. Public comments on the Ragged Ruby Project must be postmarked or received by Dec. 17. An open house is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Malheur National Forest Supervisor’s Office. A man wakes up in the morning after sleeping on an ADVERTISED BED, in ADVERTISED PAJAMAS. Elva Lloyd is 102. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Elva was born on Nov. 25, 1916 in Heath, Idaho to George and Alice DeBord; she has two brothers. Elva married Roy Wright and they had two daughters, Rosalie and Evelyn. She was also a foster mother to over 10 children, including four of her grandchildren whom she raised after her daughter Evelyn passed away. She has four grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. She worked in a motel and in a bakery. Elva lived in Baker City for over 65 years, sharing some of those years with her late husband Jack Lloyd. Elva enjoys dancing, especially the jitterbug, old time music, church, fishing, gardening and animals. Elva came to the Blue Mountain Care Center on October 6, 2003. He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR, have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE. Then it’s too late. AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK? DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com 92664 92673 A6 Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710
