« a riM M M M M H M M i
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 20, 1995
Doesn't north end deserve the best
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P S 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Oymied Weekly Newspaper
Published weekly and entered as second-class matter at the Post Of
fice at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3. 1879. Second class
postage paid at Heppner. Oregon. Office at 147 West Willow Street.
Telephone (503) 676-9228. Postmaster send address changes to the
Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836.
Subscriptions: $18 in Morrow. Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant Coun
ties: $26 elsewhere.
Joyce H u g h es....................................... Office Manager. Typesetting
April H ilton-Sykes............................................................. News Editor
Stephanie Jensen . ^............................................................ Typesetting
Monique Devin...................................Advertising layout & Graphics
Susan Hansen........................................................................Distribution
Penni K eersem aker......................................................................Printer
David and April Hilton-Sykes, Publishers
Letters to the Editor
X-ray equipment not "state-of-the-art"
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter in
response to Cheryl Rietmann's
letter of Aug. 31. Her statement
that the Boardman Health Care
Center (BHCC) has "state-of-
the-art'' equipment is incorrect.
I have worked at the clinic in
Boardman for over 15 years.
The x-ray equipment is over 17
years old, the same age as the
equipment replaced recently at
Pioneer Memorial Hospital.
The laboratory equipment is
over five years old, as is most
of the other equipment. The
dictionary defines "state-of-
the-art" as "the current level of
sophistication of a developing
technology". While the clinic
equipment has been adequate
it is not "state-of-the-art".
I am hopeful that the county
wide Medical Board will have
as its mandate quality care for
all of the residents of Morrow
County. In that endeavor I
hope everyone keeps in mind
the different needs of our
communities.
The Pioneer Memorial
Hospital and the clinic share
many services thereby decreas
ing the cost, in overhead, to the
Pioneer Memorial Clinic.
Here in Boardman the near
est X-raty and lab facilities are
25 miles away. Many times it
saves the patient and the doc
tor time and money to have
that X-ray or lab report during
a patient's visit. Diabetics, pa
tients on coumadin or hyper
tensive medications can have
results at their visits. The ap
propriate medicine adjust
ments can be discussed with
the patient in person assuring
their understanding of critical
medication adjustments.
The BHCC lab, as in most
single physician's offices, can
not make expenses. With the
current federal requirements
for licensing, proficiency and
quality assurance, the BHCC
lab is in the red. However, Dr.
Boss requires this service for
him self and his patients
because he does not wish to
compromise the care of his pa
tients just because they live in
a rural area.
Just as the physicians at PMH
have provided continuity of
quality health care to their com
munity, so has Dr. Boss. Dr.
Boss has established himself in
Boardman. He has provided
the longest term of service in
the history of the clinic and pro
vides service to both the
Hispanic and Caucasian com
munity as he is bilingual.
It's time now with the new
Medical District for all of us to
provide all of our communities
with quality medical care
meeting each community's
needs and desires.
(s) Sharron Meyers, RN
Boardman
r
I
ife w ay n to su
rance
I | It's an inexpensive
create an estate for your
L
I
| loved ones as w ell as giving you peace o f mind.
|
|
|
I
C A LL US
■ P loyhar I nsurance j
^
676-5818
J
CO A ST TO CO A ST
Your •
source for
all your
Hunting &
camping
needs
Guns • Ammo
camping supplies
GoasttoGoast
Heppner
WF. CAM HF.I.F YOC
676-9W
To the Editor:
In regard to a recent letter to
the editor, I would like to pre
sent ther following facts regar
ding the Boardman Health
Care Center:
In the last 17 years the Board-
man clinic has seen over
20-plus physicians come and
go. Dr. Boss has been here the
longest of any physician, com
ing here in May 1990. He chose
to come here and wishes to
continue here. Rural physicians
are hard to find today, let alone
keep.
Prior to Dr. Boss, many pa
tients left the area for their
helath care due to the ever-
changing physicians and lack of
continuity of health care.
Because of Dr. Boss this has
changed. Patients have now
returned and are once again ob
taining their medical care local
ly. This was not a feat that hap
pened overnight. It has taken
a lot of work and time to build
this practice.
Yes, Dr. Boss receives
$130,000 per year to run and
operate the Boardman clinic. It
is then his responsibility to pay
staff, utilities, supplies,
malpractice, retirement and
maintain equipment. There has
been no increase in the amount
since 1990. However, expenses
have increased and our physi
cian and assistant are on call 24
hours a day, seven days a
week, for which they receive no
remuneration. I ask what are
we paying the three physicians
and dentist in Heppner. Do our
physician and the people in the
north end of the county
deserve less?
Almost all of the "state-of-
the-art" equipment at the
Boardman clinic was purchas
ed by Dr. Boss years ago. Most
of that equipment would not be
considered up to date state-of-
the-art. The current X-ray
machine is over 17 years old,
which is the same age of the X-
ray machine the hospital just
replaced. I believe that machine
was considered inadequate and
an antique.
Dr. Boss' accountant provid
ed the financial information
that the auditors requested. Dr.
Boss would not agree to giving
them his personal income taxes
which are totally irrelevant to
the operation of Boardman
Health Care Center. Dr. Boss is
an independent contractor. If
his is to be audited, then why
aren't we auditing the other in
dependent contractors? The
Health District is currently pay
ing almost a quarter million
dollars for a management con
tract and computer services.
The board member that re
signed from the Medical Dis
trict was filling an elected posi
tion representing the people of
this community. It only makes
sense for this community by
way of the Chamber and city
council to endorse the person
they felt best qualified to
replace him. The board ignored
the Boardman community's de
sire as reflected by the
Chamber and city council en
dorsement in this matter.
Over half the population
(and still growing) is in the
north end of the county. Ap
proximately 50 percent of the
patients seen at the Boardman
clinic are either on Medicare or
Welfare. Due to managed care
there have been some drastic
changes in the last two years
concerning reimbursement.
Additionally, the clinic is a
preferred provider for HMO,
Blue Cross, PACC, Qual Med
and Railroad. As a preferred
provider, we take a write-off
(collecting only 70-90 percent of
the billing) on all of these office
visits. This is a mandatory part
of a medical clinic's business if
we are to be available for our
patients who have these in
surances. Lastly, workers' com
pensation does not reimburse
at the 100 percent rate either.
Indeed, current pending
legislation will lower the reim
bursement to the current Medi
care and Welfare fee schedule.
These changes have greatly
reduced the clinic revenue
generating ability while in
creasing the cost of operating.
I hope this answers some
questions but one question I
have is does not the north end
of the county also deserve the
best medical care possible? I
also feel the treatment of Mr.
Glenn was totally cruel and un
called for as we all deserve the
right to our opinion. If you
have that much time and
energy on your hands maybe
you should volunteer at the
hospital and nursing home as
I'm sure volunteers are always
needed and appreciated.
In the future please ask if you
have a question as Morrow
County does deserve good
quality medical care both in the
north and south.
Respectfully,
(s) Kathy Cash
Boardman
Communities need quality medical care
To the Editor:
This letter is in regards to the
X-ray facility at Boardman
Health Care Center. I am cur
rently the radiology supervisor
here and am in charge of mak
ing sure the machine and pro
cessor meet Oregon standards
and that all of our films are ac
ceptable. I have worked at
three different hospitals and
several clinics and believe I
know what is generally thought
of to be an optimal, desired X-
ray machine/room ("state-of-
the-art") and what is thought
to be just adequate (not "state-
of-the-art"). The machine cur
rently in use at Boardman is a
1978 General Electric single
phase machine. In simple
terms, this means it is 17 years
old and definitely not "state-
of-the-art".
Although our machine is an
tiquated, it is serving a great
purpose for the people of north
Morrow County. The closest X-
ray facility is 25 miles away.
That is too far away when an
x-ray is needed to confirm or
diagnose a patient when they
are in our office. As many of
you know, having the X-ray
equipment in the office saves
you, the patient, time and
energy. I don't think any of you
want to drive to Hermiston
every time an X-ray is needed.
Our physician, Dr. Boss, and
physician assistant, Mr. Carab-
ba, demand high quality of care
for their patients and you, the
patient, shouldn't expect any
thing less. Why would you
want to go somewhere for
health care if a facility doesn't
have the lab and X-ray neces
sary to diagnose and treat you?
Of course the X-ray machine
with its maintenance and pro
blems probably doesn't pay for
itself. We have had two field
engineers from G.E. to work on
the machine for recurring pro
blems of alignment. This is very
costly and wouldn't be neces
sary for a "state-of-the-art" X-
ray machine. I would also like
to point out that the X-ray
machine replaced at Pioneer
Memorial Hospital was approx
imately the same age as ours.
I have to wonder, as I hope all
of north Morrow County does,
why Pioneer Memorial Hos
pital is more deserving of a new
X-ray machine than Boardman
Health Care Center is.
I really hope everyone
reading the articles about the
Morrow County health care
issues are actually thinking
about what is written and said
and asking questions. This is
your health care center at stake.
If having a new physician every
five years is what you want-
fine. If it isn't, speak up and let
the medical district know.
(s) Melissa South, R.T.
(R) A.R.R.T.
160 Elmonte
Umatilla
Market Report
Compliments of the Morrow County Grain Growers
Tuesday, Sept. 19
Soft White
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
*4.98
*5.02/*5.05
*5.06/*5.08
*5.09/*5.11
*5.12/*5.14
Barley
Sept.-Dec.
*116
Justice Court
Report
Chamber Chatter
By Claudia Hugh*», Cham bf Manager
Individuals make a big dif
ference and we all have the
ability to do just that this week,
be it the Willow Creek Park
District hearing, the vote for
recreation for our Morrow
County youth, or the future of
the Ag/History museum. It's
important to be heard, to
respect the ideas of others and
to listen to all sides of the topic.
One never knows when a
chance idea will cause great
things to happen in our
community.
Have you stopped by the
former GEODC/Chamber of
fice to share your knowledge of
history, artifacts and ideas for
the Ag/History museum plann
ed for the former Morrow
County Grain Growers eleva
tor? This is a project that will be
here for generations.
What an opportunity to
educate visitors and our des-
cendants on the history of
agriculture as well as the cur
rent process, especially folks
who believe food comes from
the grocery. Envision visitors
seeing all the antique equip
ment, photos of it operating;
history
of the family farms;
The Morrow County Clerk's
small
rooms
depicting the
office at the courthouse in
homes
people
lived
in; a work
Heppner reports issuing the
ing
grist
mill;
by-products
of
following marriage license dur
our
cattle,
sheep,
wheat,
tim
ing the past week:
Sept. 12: Raul M. Ramos, 21, ber; hands-on experiences; a
small stage for entertainment
lone; and
and
historians; made in Mor
Jennifer C. Martinez, 18,
row
County products; farm
lone.
tours, etc.
You may disagree with some
of the mentioned ideas and you
may have your own ideas, but
regardless, it's an opportunity
for the entire community to
work together to help the
St. Patrick's Parish will begin
economy and leave a historic
their High School Religious
Education and Youth Ministry path behind. Let's create some
Program on Wednesday, Sept. thing special to tie in with our
new Main Street, sidewalks
27.
and
beautiful historic court
The program will begin with
house. It's a project in which all
a kick-off dinner at the parish
generations can become involv
hall at 6 p.m. Following the
dinner, there will be an even ed with pride. Drop by today
ing of prayer and meditation. or tomorrow and be a part of
All high school students who the decision making process.
Next week at Chamber : Scott
wish to grow in faith are
Sawyer
with our new phone
welcome to attend, said Fr.
company
PTI and a discussion
Gerry Condon. Their parents
of
allotment
grazing recom
are also invited to join them
mendations.
both for the dinner and the
evening of prayer.
Those interested should
register with Fr. Condon at
676-9462 by Sunday, Sept. 24.
The Justice Court office at the
courthouse annex building in
Heppner reports handling the
following business during the
past week:
Shari Lynn Stahl, 29,
Lexington-Exceeding the Max
imum Speed Limit, 68 mph in
a 55 mph zone, $107 fine;
Jessie J. Jefferys, 25,
Lexington-two counts, Driving
While Suspended, Driving
While Uninsured, Failure to
Change Name/Address on
Driver's License, Exceeding the
Maximum Speed Limit, 79
mph in a 55 mph zone, $1,094
fine;
Jessica Stefani, 18, Ione-
Minor In Possession, $131 fine;
Lorene Evivian Papineau, 35,
Lexington-Exceeding the Max
imum Speed Limit, 72 mph in
a 55 mph zone, $102 fine;
Michael Eugene Lairmore,
41, Welches-Exceeding the
Maximum Speed Limit, 72
mph in a 55 mph zone, $67
fine.
Marriage Licenses
St. Pat's to begin
religious program
WANTED
SPORTSWRITER
and
PHOTOGRAPHER
for
lone H S Sports
mmmmommmmm
The O fficial Newspaper of the
City of Heppner and the
County of Morrow
Call Heppner Gazette
676-9228
*
¡smmmmmMmmmmmsismmE
$ 1,000
REWARD
for the arrest and convic
tion of the person or per
sons responsible for taking
wire, steel posts and stock
panels from the Roach
Ranch.
Contact Roy Dragov County Sheriff
Morrow County 676-5317