Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 2014)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 30,2014 HEALTH DISTRICT -Continuedfrom PAGE ONE (See story below). -learned from Grigg that the retirement open house for Dr. Ed Berretta went well and was well attended. -heard from G rigg that he attended the lone Community Agri-Business Organization dinner. He said that in addition to discussing the d istrict’s u p c o m in g lev y , lo n e Principal Sarah Crane- S im pson and M orrow County Health Department D irector Sheree Sm ith jo in ed him in a panel discussion about pursuing a school-based health clinic in lone. A survey indicated that people in the lone community are generally in favor o f establishing the clinic. Grigg said that many o f the details as to whether the clinic will be established still have to be worked out. -received the following p ro fit-lo s s sta te m e n t, showing a $149,174 loss for March: Morrow County Health D istrict received $677,957 in gross patient revenue, less $5,845 in bad debts and $190.486 in contractual and other adjustments, plus $ 127,629 in ta x r e v e n u e an d $17,222 in other operating revenue for $626,478 in total operating revenue; $787,620 in total operating expenses, $11,967 for a non-operating gain for the $149.174 loss. -a p p ro v e d a y e a r long contract with Dr. Ed B erretta to continue to serve as the Emergency Medical Services adviser. The contract calls for Dr. Berretta to be compensated at the rate o f $350 per month and for the district to pay for travel expenses to attend meetings and training pertaining to his role as EMS adviser. MCHD will also pay an allowance of $450 daily for him up to two meetings during the term of the contract. -received information on the district's “Promise o f E x ce lle n ce” policy, w h ic h o u t l i n e s th e d is tric t’s standards for em ployee behavior and c o m m u n ic a tio n w ith customers and patients. -received information c o n c e rn in g the R u ral H e a l t h c a r e R e fo rm Initiative. A ccording to a letter from G overnor John Kitzhaber, “O regon is engaged in c o m p re h e n siv e h ealth system transformation, and hospitals are an integral part o f that transform ation.” The new p o licies may affect how hospitals are reimbursed for Medicaid, w hich would generally result in a reduction in r e i m b u r s e m e n t s to hospitals; however, Grigg and Mahoney said they do not believe that MCHD will be adversely affected, for now, at least. “ I t’s good for us that we’re still cost based,” said Grigg. Cost-based reimbursement means that the hospital will be reimbursed for the costs actually incurred in treating Medicare patients. -learned from Grigg that the Morrow County Health District now has a Facebook page. • learned from Mahoney of a change in policy concerning private payments. She said that the district will no longer charge interest on current accounts, if people are still making payments on those accounts. “It’s an incentive for people to make current payments,” said Mahoney. -h eard from G rig g that the “ upgrade on the fin an cial system is on schedule and continuing to progress.” He said that “a clinical team has begun to transfer key data from the paper chart to the electronic record.” “The clinic system build is scheduled to start the week of May 5, with a go-live date set for June 17,” he said. -learned from Grigg that Pioneer Memorial Clinic in H eppner has subm itted its application for Tier 2 Patient Centered Primary Care Home certification, which will provide the clinics with an additional $6 per member per month from each EOCCO (Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization). -received the following report for March: Pioneer Memorial Clinic had 415 p atien t v isits, 11 new p atien ts, 32 seen by a nurse and 15 no-shows; Irrigon Medical Clinic had 225 patient visits, 28 new patients, 59 seen by a nurse and 18 no-shows; Pioneer Memorial Hospital had one admission, seven swing bed admissions, 14 observation admissions, three hospital respite adm issions, one sw ing nursing facility a d m is s io n , 472 to ta l outpatients, 65 emergency room encounters, 1,702 lab tests, 77 x-ray procedures, 25 CT scans, 19 EKG tests, five colonoscopy procedures, one endoscopy procedure, 41 respiratory th e r a p y p r o c e d u r e s ; Heppner Ambulance had 31 p ag e-o u ts w ith 28 tran sp o rts for $37,612 in rev enue, B oardm an Ambulance had 20 page outs with 14 transports for $20,668 in revenue, Irrigon Ambulance had 24 page outs with 21 transports for $26,979 in revenue, there were three flights; Home H ealth had 114 patient visits; pharmacy had 1,252 drug doses for $85,700 in revenue. - FIVE 1,000 yard shoot this Saturday lone, OR—The lone 1.000 yard shoot w ill be this Saturday, May 3, at Frank and Joe Halvorsen’s Farm. Registration is from 8:30- 9:30 a.m. and the cost is $20 per shot, per person. A prize of $100 w ill be awarded to the one person who hits the metal gong, which is the size of a 27” television. If more than one person hits the gong, then a shoot- ofT, after everyone has shot, will determine the final winner. Additionally, Allison and C arey Gun Works from Portland and other c o n t r i b u t o r s wi l l be p r o v i d i n g f r ee c l a y sh o o tin g . Par t i ci pant s are invited to bring their favorite shotguns; some shotguns will be available. There will also be a gun raffle on the day of the shoot; tickets will be available for purchase only at the event. Lunch will be available for purchase. M onies raised after expenses will go toward fishing pond prizes and other parts o f the lone Fourth of July Celebration. For more information and d ire c tio n s, visit www. ionethousandyardshoot. com. lone school plans plant sale Saturday Health district proposes 2014-15 budget By April Sykes The Morrow County Health district has proposed an $11,075,778 budget for the upcom ing 2014-15 fiscal year. The district’s proposed re so u rc e s include $6,120,896 in income for Pioneer Memorial Hospital; $481.479 for 1 Iome 1 lealtli and H ospice; $336,508 for Boardman Ambulance; $ 2 5 3 ,8 4 6 fo r Irrig o n A m b u la n c e ; $ 6 2 ,0 2 1 fo r lo n e A m b u la n c e ; $1,009,009 for Pioneer M em orial C lin ic ; and $57 0 ,4 0 1 for Irrig o n M edical C lin ic. O ther projected income includes: $205,900 in other revenue, $102,400 in donations and grants, $21,900 in interest incom e, $ 1 4 0 ,0 0 0 for operating, capital, long and sh o rt term loans, $80,000 for community service fees, $276,707 for electronic health record r e im b u r s e m e n ts , and $1,414,711 in property ta x e s, w hich in clu d es monies from the district’s local option tax currently before the v o ters. The district budgeted no monies for capital leases. Proposed expenditures include: Pioneer Memorial H o s p i ta l - $ 6 ,2 5 7 ,1 05; Home Health and Hospice-$585,884; B o a r d m a n A m b u la n ce-$ 3 2 1,824; I r r i g o n A m b u la n ce-$ 197,345; Pioneer Memorial Clinic-$1,171,574; Irrigon Medical Clinic-$519,440; E me r g e n c y Me d i c a l Services (Lexington and lone)-$ 18.634; Boardman Cl i ni c D o n atio n s and C o mmu n i t y Benefit Grants-$50,000; Revenue D e d u c t i o n s and B ad Debt-$ 1,274,415; Capital P u r c h a s e s - $ 3 7 4 ,3 0 0 ; Elect Don Russell Morrow County Commissioner Capital Lease Principal Reduction-$45,000; Long and Short Term D eb t P r i n c i p a l Reduction-$274,537; Total Expenditures-$ 11,090,059, for a net decrease in cash of $14,281. The district’s adopted budget for 2013-14 was $10,358,738, including t a xes. The a d o p t e d budget for 2012-13 was $10,104,895, including taxes. Property taxes were $1.282,071 for 2013-14 and $1.340,358 for 2012-13. Proposed capital p u r c h a s e s f or 2 0 1 4 - 15 i nc l ude a car di ac m o nitoring system for Pioneer Memorial Hospital for $90,000. which will be purchased through a loan; $72,000 for six ambulance gurneys, which will be purchased with grants and cash; $51,000 for clinic Electronic Medical Records and a radiology interface, which will be purchased with federal reimbursement funds and cash; $15,500 for a video colonoscope, to be purchased with cash on hand; $30,000 for a nurse call system at PMH, with cash on hand; $ 12,000 for a washing machine at Pioneer Memorial Hospital to replace the current one th at can no lo n g er be repaired, with cash on hand; $25,000 for external facility signs and traffic directional signs for MCHD facilities in H eppner and Irrigon with cash on hand; $20,000 for landscaping around a monument sign and plant bed areas, with cash on hand; $58,800 for a new roof, siding, windows and paint for Pioneer Memorial Clinic, which will be funded with cash on hand. Total proposed purchases amount to $374.300. BALLOTS -Continuedfrom PAGE ONE courthouse. Open 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m., M-F and Election Day (Nov. 5) from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Lexington: 365 West Hwy 74 (Public Works Parking lot). Turn off Hwy. 74 onto Tom Street and left into the public works parking lot. Open 24 hours. lone: Spring St. (in front o f the turn to 3rd Street). Open 24 hours. B o a r d m a n : NW Boardman Ave. (24 hours). Irrigon: 205 NE 3rd St. (Irrigon Annex). Open 24 hours. ORDER EARLY Mother's Day is May 11th We h a v e a n ic e a s s o r tm e n t o f flo ral a r r a n g e m e n ts , p la n ts St b a llo o n s WE DELIVER Greg Smith state Representative *Don Russell has distinguished himself as a dedicated and highly visible leader through his role as a Port of Morrow Commission member and current President. During Don's tenure the Port of Morrow has maintained and grown an industry base which continues to increase the economic vitality of our county and region. I am certain that with Don s professional background, experience and vision he would serve our citizens well as a member of the Morrow County Court. " » F low ers w ith a p e rs o n a l to u c h WEDDING TABLES N i c o l e G ib b s 6 C o d y H ig h % M um Dm July IQ, 2 0 1 4 217 North Mam S t , Heppner • Phone 676-9158 • TOral 676-9426 Serving Morrow, Wheeler & Gilliam counties Since 1959 lone High School sophomore Jenna Taylor helps pot the planters in front of lone Market with plants from the school greenhouse. The greenhouse will he open all day this coming Saturday, from H a.m. to 6 p.m., for their annual plant sale. Portions of the day’s proceeds will go to ICABO, Outdoor School and the lone Education Foundation. -Photo by Erin Heideman HHS plant sale to begin next week Heppner High School is again planning its once- annual plant sale. The plant sale will be held May 6, 7. and 8 from 4-6 p.m., and May 9-10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students will be on hand to help customers in the greenhouses at the HHS land lab at 710 NW Morgan Street. Some ofthe plants they will offer include geraniums, tomatoes (traditional. Roma and cherry), marigolds, petunias, calibrachoa, blueberry bushes, honeyberry, currants, herbs, vegetables galore, and more. A large variety of hanging baskets, herb bowls and patio containers will also be available. BMCC to offer flagger training Blue Mountain Communi t y C ollege is offering a flagger training class at BMCC Boardman Friday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This class is free to people taking it for the first time and is funded through a CASE grant intended to help the unemployed or underemployed Space is limited, so students must pre-register by going online at www. bluecc.edu or contacting BMCC Boardman at 541- 481-2099. The class is intended to prepare students to be flaggers for w ork-zone t r af f i c c ont r ol . Th e y will learn the basics of f l aggi ng and traffi c control and receive State o f Oregon Department of Transportation credential for flaggers. Students will also learn to find employers who use flaggers regularly. The certification is good in Idaho, O regon and Washington for three years. BUCKAROO BARBECUE CHALLENGE MAY 10TH 2014 PENDLETON CONVENTION CENTER Live Music! Tri Tip Samples! Beer GardenI FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR ALL EVENT UPDATES - CONTACT US AT PCB.BBQ@tfOTMAIL.COM A lso jo in u s fo r th e B ack y ard B rew ers C h a lle n g e l
