MCHD healthier, but not recovered
erssiE
u
OF
• ' r
E U rt
VOL, 117_____ NO. 49
The Morrow County Health
District
is
still
ailing
financially, but the patient is
making a comeback and no
longer appears to be on its
deathbed.
Interim MCHD interim CEO
Sheila Dahlman presented a
much healthier outlook for the
district at the MCHD regular
monthly meeting held Dec. 7 in
Heppner.
The district ended up $85,353
in the black for the month
ending October 31. However,
Dahlman cautioned the board
that the rosy financial picture
was in part due to the sale of the
dental clinic which had been
owned by the district and the
receipt of the district's taxes.
Dahlman estimated that the
district would have lost around
$16,000 for the month,
significantly less than the losses
in previous months. "Even
though it's a loss, it's headed in
the right direction," said
Dahlman.
Gross patient revenues for the
month of October amounted to
$319,434. After deductions for
bad
debts,
contractual
adjustments
and
charity
amounting to $26,659, and
additional operating revenue of
$955, the district had a total
operating revenue of $293,730.
wFTirtt
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S P A . ’ F. R- L ‘ -
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8 Pages
Wednesday, December 9,1998
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
i
Open house to mark 70 years in business
for Peterson's Jewelers in Heppner
Peterson's Jewelers in
Heppner, owned by Randall and
Marlene Peterson, will celebrate
its 70th anniversary with an
open house this Saturday, Dec.
12. The store plans to give away
door prizes, including a man's
Black Hills Gold watch, a
diamond and sapphire pendant
and a pair of diamond earrings.
Cake punch and coffee will be
served from 2-4 p.m.
Peterson's Jeweler's was
founded in 192?f*by Randall's
father, John Oscar Peterson. He
had been working in Pomeroy,
WA, up until he established the
shop. He went back to Pomeroy
to marry his wife, Bertha, and
then returned with her to
operate the store. J.O. started
out his business with one
necklace and six watches. His
first sale was to Etta Parker's
husband, former resident, who
bought the necklace.
The elder Petersons first
established their jewelry shop in
the building once on the comer
of Main and Center streets next
to the bank of Eastern Oregon
and then moved to the Fair
Building. The Fair Building
occupied the comer where Cal's
Service Center was before its
demolition this November. J.O.
moved the store to its current
location next to the Post Office
on Mam Street in Heppner in
1941 at the beginning of World
War II. They held their grand
opening on April 17, 1941. The
store was expanded and
remodeled in 1970.
Randall began working at the
store when he was 10 years old,
first learning watch and clock
repair from his father. The store
was open six days a week as it
is now, but back then it was
open until 9 p.m. Saturdays to
accommodate farmers, ranchers
and their hired hands who came
to town. Saturday was a busy
day, the day most of the watch
repair work was brought in and
picked up.
Randall apprenticed under his
father, who was a master in the
jewelry trade and noted for his
engraving by hand with a sharp
steel instrument before stainless
steel was prevalent. Randall
learned the trade, working at the
family business during high
school. After taking time to
attend college at Whitman in
Walla Walla and North Idaho
College at Coeur d' Alene and
completing a two year stint in
the Army, Randall returned to
Heppner to help his parents in
the store.
J.O. passed away in 1960,
staying active in the business
until 1959, when Randall took
over operation. Randall says he
has no plans for retirement. "A
Marlene and Randall Peterson
lot of my classmates stop by
and many have retired." says
Randall. "But 1 don't think I
would like it. I like to work and
I like to keep busy."
Peterson's Jewelers won the
Heppner
Chamber
of
Commerce business of the year
award in 1989 Marlene and
Randall continue to offer 14
The Fair Building, home to
Peterson's Jewelers for many
years.
carat and costume jewelry,
watches and clocks, china,
J.O. and Bertha Peterson
silver and flatware, gift items,
clock, jewelry and watch repair,
engraving, free ring cleaning,
free gift wrapping, a wish list
registry and a wedding registry
New DA sworn in
The additional income of taxes
(around $47,000) and sale of the
dental offices amounted to
$146,102.
Total operating
expenses for October were
$354,479.
Broken down by clinics for the
month ending Oct. 31: Pioneer
Memorial Clinic had total
revenues of $30,572 and
expenses of $32,030, for a loss
of $1,458; the Boardman clinic
had total revenues of $10,467
and expenses of $14,846, for a
loss of $4,379; the Imgon clinic
had no revenue for the month
since it just began operation,
and expenses of $5,422.
Dahlman said that the nursing
home now has 17 patients and
the month of November had a
high hospital census.
Gerald Moro of Barnett &
Moro, P.C., Certified Public
Accountants, who was on hand
to present the
financial
statement and independent
auditors' report, said that the
district has had problems,
particularly the loss of doctors
and three administrators over
the past year, but added that the
hospital has the support of the
community and is, he believes,
a viable operation.
In other business, the board:
-heard a report from Dahlman
on the nursing shortage in the
western states and the difficulty
the hospital has had recruiting
and maintaining nursing staff.
The board voted to contract
with a company which would
provide temporary nurses and
also approved incentives of up
to $3,000 for relocation
expenses and up to $1,500 for
incentives for nurses signing on
with the district and staying a
specified amount of time.
-approved purchase of a
training program in patient
accounts, medical records and
nursing of up to $5,000.
-discussed the purchase of a
1 computer for the Irrigon Clinic,
which, says Dahlman, will
become a necessity as soon as
the Imgon and Boardman
clinics both begin full-time
operation.
-discussed the purchase of a
copier which will replace a
failing one now at Pioneer
Memorial Clinic. If purchased,
a new high-volume copier
would be installed at the
hospital and the current hospital
copier would be moved to the
clinic.
-tabled until the January
meeting a decision concerning
the district's computer system.
The current system was
included in the contract with
Western Health. However, the
agreement with WH has been
terminated. WH is considering
a proposal from MCHD that
would allow MCHD to stay on
the system for another year.
-discussed the possibility of
purchasing a CAT scan
machine.
Doctor
Clyde
Burnham and Nurse Practitioner
Wendy Haacl$, b*th of whom
were at the meeting, voiced
enthusiastic support of the
purchase.
According
to
estimates, the machines would
"pay themselves off in six to 18
months" with patient fees and
would allow for the retention of
patients who are sent to other
facilities for CAT scans.
Purchase of the machine would
be tied to a telemedicine
program, which would send
CAT scan results to specialists
in other areas via computer.
Dahlman and Haack said that
grant monies are available to
establish
a
telemedicine
program.
-discussed purchase of new
equipment for the laboratory,
which, according to lab director
Jay Straley, would save the
district money
because it
requires
fewer
expensive
chemicals. The board agreed to
pursue a contract for the
machinery, but did not want to
approve the purchase until
hearing the report of a financial
consultant, which is scheduled
for Monday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.
at Heppner High School and
Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. at
Riverside High School in
Boardman.
-approved a resolution to hire
the firm of Davis Wnght
Tremaine L.L.P. to handle
matters concerning contract
litigation.
-approved a resolution to hire
the firm of Bullard, Korshoj,
Smith & Jemstedt to represent
the district in personnel and
union matters.
-discussed the possibility of
having a mobile MRI, a
diagnostic machine, come to the
area. The mobile MRI firm,
which is out of Boise, would
either do all of the scheduling
and billing out of their office,
with MCHD providing only the
site for the mobile facility, or
the firm would charge the
district a flat fee and the district
would, in turn, schedule and bill
patients.
-approved airfare of around
$468 round trip for Dahlman to
attend a rural health care
onference in Georgetown, near
Washington, D.C. Dahlman has
received a scholarship which
would pay for lodging and
conference expenses.
-tentatively made an
employment offer to physician
ssistant Sheridan Tamasky.
Tamasky previously worked for
the district as a nurse and
nursing
director
before
returning to school to pursue a
career as a PA. If Tamasky
agrees to the contract, she
would work five days a week-a
half a day each day at both the
Boardman and Imgon clinics.
-approved a contract between
MCHD and speech pathologist
Patricia Leighton.
-approved a motion to pursue
a contract with a social worker
for the district.
-approved temporary medical
staff privileges until the district
can finish credentializing the
staff and by-laws are approved.
-received a report concerning
the number of patients seen at
the various clinics in the
district. Doctors and the nurse
practitioner
at
Pioneer
Memorial Clinic saw 612
patients in November, with 20
new patients; staff at the Imgon
Clinic saw 163 patients with 32
new patients; and the clinic in
Boardman, which is not yet
fully staffed, saw 47 patients,
with 15 of those new to the
clinic.
don ’ t miss our
,
-received a report on
monthly ambulance runs. The
Heppner ambulance had 24 runs
in November; the Boardman
ambulance, 12; and the Imgon
ambulance, seven.
Consultant to
present report
Michael Bell, consultant hired
by the Pioneer Memorial
Hospital Foundation to examine
Morrow
County
Health
District's financial situation,
will present his report on
Monday, December 14, at 7
p.m. at the Heppner High
School cafeteria.
Sheila Dahlman, the district's
interim CEO, will also be on the
program. Results of the survey
sponsored by the foundation
will be presented.
The public is invited to attend
and time will be provided for
questions and comments.
A presentation will be held
the following night, Tuesday,
Dec. 15, at-the Riverside High
School auditorium beginning at
6 p.m.
Cabbage Hill
conditions on
ODOT website
Images from a new video
camera
mounted
above
Deadman Pass of Cabbage Hill
between
Pendleton
and
LaGrande are now displayed on
the Oregon Department of
Transportation website.
To see the image, which is
updated every six minutes, go to
the ODOT website address at
www.odot.state.or.us and click
on the "travel info" square in
the upper left hand comer.
When the page opens, select
"cameras" from the list on the
right side or click on the camera
icon on the left side of the
screen. A map of Oregon, with
icons markmg all of the ODOT
camera locations, will open.
Click on the Cabbage Hill icon
to see the local conditions.
The website contains other
information about weather and
road condition reports.
Open house set
The Morrow County Court
announces the annual open
house for the historic Gilliam
and Bisbee Building on the
comer of May and Mam Streets,
Heppner.
The Gilliam and Bisbee
building was built in 1919 and is
listed on the National Register of
Histone Places. Purchased by
Morrow County in 1997, the
building houses the Coast-to-
Coast store and the offices of the
Area Agency on Aging, Senior
Services coordinator, Veterans
Service officer and Headstart on
the street level. The upper floor
of the building is the home of
the County’s "Family Service
Center" which includes the
offices of Children and Families,
Public Health, Behavioral Health
and the Juvenile Department as
well as the Oregon State
University Extension Office.
Anyone interested in viewing the
interior of this building is invited
to the open house scheduled for
Wednesday, Dec. 23.
Church plans
program, service
The First Christian Church
in Heppner will hold its
children's Christmas program
on Sunday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. a
the church.
The Christmas Even
candlelight service will be held
Thursday, Dec. 24. beginning at
7 p.m.
Everyone is invited to attend.
OPEN HOUSE!
on F rid a y D ecem b er 1 1 t h
• Refreshments provided!
PERFECT GIFT
BIG CHRISTMAS SALE G oing
F in d T h e
D u rin g O u r
Incoming Morrow County District Attorney David C. Allen was sworn in
last week by Morrow County Clerk Barbara Bloodsworth at the
courthouse in Heppner.
O n N ow !
M orrow C ounty G rain G rowers
Lexington 989-8221 • 1 -800-452-7396
For farm equipment, w it our web site at www.mcg^tet