Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 2023)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 6, 2023 Health district talks accomplishments -Continued from PAGE ONE at Ione Community Clinic. Member Stephen Munkers CHI-Optima last year, and unanimously. The board also passed a resolution making Kilken- ny, MCHD CEO Emily Roberts, Mahoney and Chief Clinical Officer Sa- mantha Van Laer autho- rized check signers for the district. In the financial report, Mahoney said that the dis- trict is still finalizing fiscal year 2022-23 and making adjustments, including the cost report, so final figures for the year will not be available until October. “We can all hope that we can get to a break-even,” she said. “That would be a really great place if we can get there.” She said staff mem- bers are also pushing to get caught up so they can present July and August numbers in September. On a positive note, staff also provided the board with a list of accomplish- ments for the fiscal year 2022-23. Roberts said the health district asked department heads to submit lists of things outside their nor- mal operations, so the ac- complishments listed were above and beyond ongoing patient care. “There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and we like to show that to the board once a year,” she said. “I thought that was pretty nice,” said Kilken- ny. “Lots of good things in there.” Some of the highlights in the document included the opening of Boardman Immediate Care, imple- mentation of lab collection and blood draws at Pioneer Memorial Clinic and an additional day each week for medical appointments An ADA accessible ramp was added to the rear entrance of Pioneer Memorial Clinic, and Ione Community Clinic, Irrigon Medical Clinic and Pio- neer Memorial Clinic all achieved Tier IV Patient Centered Primary Care Home (PCPCH) status. Outpatient lab hours were expanded at Pioneer Memorial Hospital to better meet the needs of fasting patients. The staffing model in the emergency department changed so providers are dedicated separately to the emergency department and the clinic, which is intended to reduce patient wait times and clinic appointment can- cellations. The district hired six additional EMS staff in Irrigon and converted from an on-call EMS model to a fully staffed model for Irrigon. Four home health em- ployees received awards from the Oregon Associa- tion for Home Care. Jack- ie Alleman was awarded Volunteer of the Year, Jerry Conklin was awarded Chap- lain of the Year, Katilyn Zinter was awarded Home Health Aide of the Year and Molly Rhea received the Hope Runnel’s Award for outstanding leadership, service, and achievement as a pioneer in furthering the scope of home health services in Oregon. Among other staff ad- vancements and certifica- tions, Paola Macias Flores and Nathalie Campos be- came certified healthcare interpreters. The full list is available on the health district’s web- site, morrowcountyhealth- district.org. New MCHD Board asked the status of the as- sisted living facility planned for Boardman. Roberts re- plied that the district will be publishing a request for proposals (RFP) for build designs. “Most likely, compa- nies will partner up to re- spond to our RFP,” she said. Roberts added that two companies had already expressed interest, and the health district will be look- ing for a third. “We can’t do any per- mitting until we know what the plans are,” she said, “and we also have some grant writing and fund- raising that we need to do related to that, but we think that we need the plans first.” She said anyone would be welcome to submit proposals, but preference would probably be given to those with experience building ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) com- pliant homes, since that is a big need on the project. In other business, Rob- erts reported that days cash on hand has improved to 66, and days in AR is holding on where it has been at 64. She also pointed out that the patient satisfaction scores haven’t changed from last month but that the patient response rate has been low. The health district board approved the renew- al of a liability insurance policy with CHI-Optima for $79,932. Roberts said the premium increased by five percent over last year, which was expect- ed. MCHD switched to Roberts said the insurer the health district used previ- ously would have increased the rates by 39 percent. “It’s a good thing we changed when we did,” added Mahoney. Kilkenny noted that the policy included terrorism coverage, but Roberts said the health district was not opting into that coverage because it was extremely difficult to get a payout, requiring a certain kind of declaration of terrorism at the national level. “And that has never, ever happened,” said Rob- erts. Murray also addressed something that he said was “kind of floating along out there,” regarding an ethics complaint made against him. The complaint alleged that Murray, by being on the MCHD board and owning Murray’s Drug, benefited financially from decisions made by the health district board. The Oregon Govern- ment Ethics Commission dismissed the complaints at its Aug. 25 meeting. The board also ap- proved the renewal of emer- gency and hospital medical staff privileges for Dr. Wil- liam Everts. At the end of its open meeting, the board held an executive session to con- sider information or records exempt from public inspec- tion pertaining to ongoing or anticipated litigation, but no action was taken in open session. WWW.HEPPNER.NET Submit News, Advertising & Announcements Letters To The Editor Send Us Photos Start A New Subscription Heppner cross-country starts strong at Tillamook meet The Heppner cross-country team traveled to Tillamook, OR over the weekend for the Ultimook Race at Hy- drangea Ranch on Saturday. Heppner women placed fourth out of a field of 21 in the Womens 5,000 Meters Varsity 1A-4A. Contribut- ing heavily to that standing was sophomore Lily Nich- ols, who placed fifth with her time of 20:46.87. The rest of the Heppner women all finished well within the first half of the field of 186. Out of 35 teams in the Mens 5,000 Meters Varsity 1A- 4A, Heppner boys placed 18 th as a team. Senior Grady Greenwood placed ninth out of the field of more than 250 with his time of 17:42.66, while the rest of the Mustang men also made good showings, finishing in the first half of the field. Full Heppner results are as follows: Womens 5,000 Meters Var- sity 1A-4A 5. Lily Nichols, 20:46.87 3 3 . A r i a n n a Wo r d e n , 22:54.63 61. Hailey McDaniel, 24:27.99 62. Brooklyn Hendricks, 24:29.57 64. Riley Archer, 24:31.37 75. Irelynn Kollman, 25:08.93 Mens 5,000 Meters Varsity 1A-4A 9. Grady Greenwood, 17:42.66 113. Carson Greenwood, 21:18.22 114. Max Wilson, 21:18.79 117. Jake Wilson, 21:23.87 164. Quaid Jensen, 22:45.90 Womens 3,000 Meters Mid- dle School 17. Mikalie Duncan, 14:19.57 19. Hadlie Duncan, 14:37.95 32. Khloe Rodriguez, 15:49.34 54. Lizzie Ginn, 17:40.43 Mens 3,000 Meters Middle School 63. Olson Anderson, 14:13.23 64. Jaxson Wight, 14:14.25 77. Jack Lathrop, 15:01.55 82. Axton Hendricks, 15:30.69 The cross-country teams race again this Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Runner’s Soul XC Fest in Hermiston. The first middle school race begins at 10 a.m. Varsity races are in the afternoon beginning at 1:10 p.m. Lunch & Dinner Specials 9/7-9/13 Thursday - meatball sandwich with fries $9 Friday - Turkey Bagel w/ Mac n cheese $9 Saturday - salad is chicken Caesar salad $10 Monday - pulled pork nachos $9 Tuesday - Reuben and salad $9 Tuesday night - 6-9pm $2 hard shell tacos Wednesday - Goulash $9, $7 for seniors For the month of September we are doing a breakfast menu from 11am until 9pm. Please be patient as we try adding all day breakfast to our offered items.
