SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Morrow County Health District to expand
Ephphatha - Be opened emergency services
Spiritually Speaking
to the Lord
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
Today we are invited to reflect on
the power of Jesus available for those
who are seeking it and are ready to share
it with others. Jesus came to this world
and lived in our midst to serve and save.
He demonstrated His power in His will-
ingness to serve others in gentleness and Fr. Thankachan
compassion. Are we ready to surrender Joseph
ourselves to His holy will and serve
others in humility and love?
The Prophet Isaiah (35:4-7) tells us that whatever
happens around us, nothing will affect us without God’s
knowledge. Always His words are strong and often touch
our feelings and spiritual sensibilities. He tells us today,
“Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear
not!” I suppose these words are real encouraging for all
of us who have to deal with the COVID-19 menace. We
can be upset, we can be lazy, and we can be against God.
Whatever. But we can know that we don’t have to be
frightened. God is still going to seek us out and can bring
us out of our anxieties and worries. We don’t even know
how God will come into our lives. Though we abandon
Him, God can never abandon us. Today’s first reading is
a nice explanation for assurance and support to all who
find their lives miserable. Isaiah gives us hope through
his encouraging words, “Fear not, Be Strong.”
The letter of St James (2 :1-5) is a message to not
make a distinction between the rich and the poor. James
frowns at the sin of despising the poor in favor of the rich.
His words equally apply to all types of prejudices in our
families, churches and society. So, to favor some people
and disregard others based on their race, economic, social
or religious background is a terrible evil against God and
man. This evil afflicted the early church, which is why
seven deacons were elected to avoid favoritism in the
distribution of resources, in Acts 6. The message of James
is still very relevant today because in our families, com-
munities, churches, states and indeed all over the world,
people still suffer terrible injustice because of who they
are, where they come from and the color of their skin.
In the Gospel of Mark (7:31-37), Christ gives the gift
of hearing. He pronounces, “Be opened” and the ears of
the deaf man suddenly are able to listen. Perhaps we need
to pray that our own ears might be opened, and we might
be able to listen to the voice of God piercing through the
chatter and clutter of our time. We pray that we might
listen to God’s voice coming to us in the poor, the lonely,
the broken-hearted and the abandoned. Perhaps we need
to pray: Open my ears O Lord, that I might open my heart
so that I might follow your command. In the story of the
deaf and dumb man whom Jesus touches and heals, Jesus
gives a brief account of his life-story before and after
the cure. He says the trouble with being deaf is that most
people find deaf folks a nuisance. They sympathize with
people who are blind and lame, but they get irritated and
annoyed with people who are deaf. The result of this is
that deaf people are apt to avoid others and become more
and more shut in. When they can’t hear, a lot of doors
in the normal world slam shut. Turning on the radio is
pointless. Watching television is often boring. Conversing
with someone is next to impossible. When you are deaf,
you are deprived of so much that others take for granted.
You cannot hear the laughter of children, the singing of
birds, the bleating of young lambs, the sound of wind in
the trees, the roar of waters, the voices of friends, of words
of comfort and encouragement, words of hope and advice.
Many people find trying to communicate with the deaf
too tedious. They haven’t the time or patience or skills.
It makes the deaf feel terribly isolated.
What about us? Do we help others speak; others hear?
Do we direct others to God? Do we recognize that Jesus
was fulfilling the prophecies? Jesus does not go about
saying: “I am God, listen to me.” Instead, Jesus performs
works of mercy and compassion. Be open to God’s divine
presence. Anyone who believes in God everyday experi-
ences the mighty power of God in his or her life.
Justice Court Report
Morrow County Justice of the Peace, Glen Diehl, has
released the following Justice Court report:
-Jasmine L. Owens, 22, Heppner, was convicted of no
ops, fine $265, and failure to report an accident, find $440.
- Juvenile, Heppner, was convicted of no ops, fine
$265.
-Anthony H. Mortensen, 20, Stanfield, was convicted
of violation of basic rule, fine $265.
The Morrow County
Health District, at its reg-
ular monthly meeting in
Heppner Monday night,
approved a plan to im-
prove and expand emer-
gency services throughout
the district. With the new
plan, EMS full-time paid
staff would be “available
24/7 in Boardman, Irrigon
and Heppner. Ione will
continue to be served by
volunteer EMS staff as it is
also cross-covered by Hep-
pner’s ambulance service,”
according to projections
provided by interim CEO
Emily Roberts.
EMS in Boardman
would increase from four
paid and four volunteer to
eight paid the second and
third years of the plan.
EMS staff in Irrigon would
increase from two paid the
first year to two paid and
six volunteer the second
year, ending in eight paid
staff by year three. EMS
service in Heppner would
remain virtually the same,
with the exception of year
three, which would add six
volunteer staff.
With the new plan, pro-
jected employed EMS staff-
ing costs (wages, taxes/ben-
efits, uniforms/licenses) for
Boardman would increase
from $95,301 for this fiscal
year to $157,628 for next
year to $173,143 in fiscal
year 2023-2024. EMS staff-
ing costs for Irrigon would
increase from $254,936.84
in fiscal year 2022-2023 to
$278,661 in FY 2023-2024.
Wages, taxes and benefits
and costs for unforms/li-
censes for Heppner EMS
are estimated at $306,889
for fiscal year 2023/2024.
Less call time, less call back
and transfer pay, cost-based
reimbursement, plus esti-
mated additional revenue
from higher level billing
all figure in the estimated
annual totals.
Concerning the dis-
trict’s COVID status, Rob-
erts told the MCHD Board,
“Despite the capacity is-
sues regionally, the district
does have capacity to treat
patients at all locations,
including the hospital.”
Roberts also said that in
regard to COVID infection,
the district has “an adequate
Masonic
Lodge sign
installed
The service club signs
at the entries to Heppner
had the signs for Masonic
Lodge No. 69 added on
Monday, August 30. Merlin
Hughes, John Edmundson
and Bill Ewing completed
the installation of the signs
that had been made by
Bob Hager of the Wood on
Wood business.
stock of PPE (personal
protective equipment) and
other necessary supplies
and equipment.”
In response to Gover-
nor Kate Brown’s COVID
mandate for all healthcare
workers, Roberts added,
“The District is working to
ensure that all employees
and volunteers are vacci-
nated (against COVID) or
have received an appro-
priate religious or medical
accommodation . . .”
Roberts also provided
the board with a report on
providers currently em-
ployed with the district
and those the district is
currently in the process of
recruiting. She reported that
Pioneer Memorial Clinic in
Heppner had two tentative
physicians, Dr. Rio Lion for
employment from Septem-
ber of this year to August
of 2022, who subsequently
dropped out of the agree-
ment, and Dr. Josh Siruck,
from January of 2022 ongo-
ing; a new tentative Family
Nurse Practitioner, Jep Ed-
wards, from October of this
year to April of 2022; and
physician Dr. Emily Jack
from September of 2022
ongoing; plus an advance
practice provider, current
Physician’s Assistant Dan-
ielle Mateleska.
Roberts told the board
the district is in the process
of recruiting a physician
for the Irrigon Medical
Clinic and currently has
two advance practice pro-
viders currently on board,
John Watson and Taylor
Muenchow, both physician
assistants. Ione Community
Clinic currently has an ad-
vance practice provider on
board, Family Nurse Prac-
titioner Eileen McElligott.
A suggestion of hiring
a naturopath to fill provider
slots, was discussed, but
was soundly negated by
Physician Betsy Anderson
via Zoom. Dr. Anderson,
currently chief medical
officer for the district, is
scheduled to leave the dis-
trict in December.
The board also learned
Samarra VanDoorn, who
has been serving as the
interim director of Willow
Creek Terrace Assisted Liv-
ing since the resignation
of previous administrator
George Nairns, has been
hired as administrator.
In other business, the
board:
-approved a physician
assistant service agreement
contract addendum for Dan-
ielle Mateleska, physician’s
assistant at Pioneer Memo-
rial Clinic. According to the
addendum, “The change
to an hourly rate of pay is
intended to temporarily in-
crease Provider’s compen-
sation to reflect additional
work performed.”
-approved a recruit-
ment proposal for the dis-
trict from Healthcare Re-
cruitment Link.
-approved a support
services renewal with Om-
nicell from October 1 of
this year to Sept. 30, 2022,
at $8,196.
-heard a report from
Home Health and Hospice
Director Molly Rhea con-
cerning quality measures.
-approved an estimate
for $12,060 from Allstott
Construction, LLC, to re-
build the back deck on the
duplex owned by the dis-
trict on Gilmore St.
-learned from Human
Resources Director Patti
Allstott that new hires in-
clude: Tonja Lemmon, pa-
tient business office clerk;
Rinley “Nikki” Lepon, who
was rehired as a tempo-
rary housekeeper while a
full-time housekeeper is
on FMLA leave; Hayley
LePage, who previously
worked for the district as a
certified nursing assistant,
was hired as an RN. Allstott
also listed the following
employees who have had
changes in positions: Jamie
Houck, who added informa-
tion systems director duties
to her clinical infomatics
analyst position (Houk was
previously chief nursing
officer for MCHD before
she moved out of the dis-
trict); Kate Sandoval, who
transferred from the Irrigon
Medical Clinic discharge
coordinator to the IMC
patient care coordinator;
and Marie Romero, who
transferred from the referral
coordinator to the discharge
coordinator position.
-heard from Allstott the
district is seeking a Home
Health and Hospice RN,
a full-time hospital RN, a
maintenance technician,
the chief operating officer,
a clinic director for Pioneer
Memorial Clinic and a di-
etary director for Pioneer
Memorial Hospital.
-received the following
report from Chief Nursing
Officer Kathleen Greenup,
RN: Shanan Carter is slated
to sit for NCLEX exam in
early September and will
then join the team as a new
graduate RN; the district
currently has an opening
for a full-time RN; RN
Rachel Hudson “is doing
well and scheduled to come
off orientation on Sept.
1”; Hayley LaPage, RN,
was added to the per diem
pool; the district has been
filling shifts for one CNA
who has been out on long-
term FMLA; CNA Kaitlyn
Zinter has been added to the
CNA pool.
-learned from Greenup
that a master COVID pro-
tocol for all staff has been
linked directly to the Center
for Disease Control; that
numbered clinic parking
spots have been utilized to
avoid patients gathering in
the clinic lobbies; and vis-
iting regulations have been
scaled up.
-received the following
profit and loss statement
from Chief Financial Offi-
cer Nicole Mahoney show-
ing a $147,594 loss for the
month of July and year-to-
date: $1,174,627 in gross
patient revenue, $114,618
in total revenue deductions,
plus $197,710 in tax reve-
nue and $18,858 in other
revenue for $1,276,577 in
total operating revenue;
less $1,447,968 in total
operating expenses, plus
a $23,797 non-operating
gain.
-received the following
report for Pioneer Memori-
al Hospital for July: PMH
had three inpatient admis-
sions for the month, one
swing bed admission, three
admissions for observation,
two admissions for hospital
respite, one swing (non-
skilled) admission, 613
total outpatient admissions
with emergency room, 98
emergency room encoun-
ters, 1,626 lab reports, 109
x-ray/ultrasound tests, 36
CT scans, four MRI scans,
36 EKG tests, no treadmill
procedures or lower or up-
per endoscopy procedures,
and nine respiratory therapy
procedures.
-received the follow-
ing clinic reports: Pioneer
Memorial Clinic had 327
patient visits with seven
new patients, 22 seen by
a nurse and 26 no-shows;
Irrigon Medical Clinic had
340 patient visits with nine
new patients, 98 seen by
a nurse and 54 no-shows;
Ione Clinic had 56 patient
visits, no new patients, 29
seen by a nurse and zero
no-shows.
-learned that there were
155 Home Health visits for
the month; three Hospice
admissions with two deaths.
-learned that pharmacy
had 1,563 drug doses for
$137,123 in drug revenue.
-received the following
ambulance reports for July:
Heppner Ambulance had
19 transports for $31,774
in revenue; Boardman Am-
bulance had 17 transports
for $33,969 in revenue;
Irrigon Ambulance had 24
transports for $42,648 in
revenue; and Ione Ambu-
lance had no transports.
-held an executive ses-
sion following the regular
meeting.
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