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The INDEPENDENT, June 4, 2009
Help Vernonia Health Board move forward Seniors may qualify for eye care
The Vernonia Health Center
Board of Directors has con-
tracted with Providence Health
& Services for the last decade
on behalf of the community to
provide health care to the town
and surrounding areas. Many
of you may not be aware that
the Board has quietly provided
this service to the community.
Even prior to the contract with
Providence, the Board (a non-
profit organization) has diligent-
ly sought to make affordable,
convenient and accessible
health care for this community
a priority for over 30 years.
The building currently occu-
pied by the clinic is owned by
The Vernonia Health Center;
medical services and staff are
provided by Providence. The
flood raised several issues as
to the safety and accessibility
of the building should another
event occur. After thorough
study of resources available,
The Board has determined that
flood-proofing or raising the
building is not a viable option.
In order for medical services to
be accessible during any event,
The Board is currently review-
ing options to move the clinic.
Providence, likewise, has
begun an assessment of how
they can best participate in
continuing to provide quality
care to the region. In order to
become a more invested part-
ner with Providence, the Board
will be restructuring its organi-
zation and business model.
To maintain compliance with
new regulations regarding
floodway management, the
Board has set a deadline for
moving by fall 2011. Reorgani-
zation of the business model
will be done concurrently with
consideration to providing a
seamless transition for the
community. As a first step of
this restructure, the Vernonia
Health Center Board of Direc-
tors would like to invite applica-
tions for new board member
positions from any person cur-
rently living in the service area.
This is an exciting time for
members of the community to
participate in designing how
health care services are provid-
ed here in the Upper Nehalem
Valley.
To apply, please submit a
written summary of experience
and why you would like to par-
ticipate in this process to: Car-
olyn Keasey, 14426 Keasey
Rd., Vernonia, OR 97064.
Update on hospital in Columbia County
The Columbia Health District
Board of Directors voted unani-
mously May 14 to proceed with
basic land improvements al-
lowed by law on the property
purchased for a 12-bed hospi-
tal.
The District has received
State clearance to make im-
provements to the site, located
on Millard Road near Division.
The work planned is not specif-
ic to the hospital but would take
advantage of the summer sea-
son to do some site work.
Jana Fussell, Certificate of
Need Coordinator, said in a let-
ter to board attorney Peter
Stoloff, that she had gotten ad-
vice from the state Assistant At-
torney General, and concluded
that the activities are allowable
under Oregon law, before a
Certificate of Need for the hos-
pital is granted.
Fussell cautioned, however,
that the CN process was ongo-
ing, and approval is not guaran-
teed. The District submitted an
application for a Certificate of
Need to the Department of Hu-
man Resources in November
2008 for a small hospital on 8.3
acres of land. The District has
received two sets of clarifying
questions from the CN office
and is waiting for the applica-
tion to be deemed complete.
When that happens, public
hearings will be set.
Work planned includes grav-
el to protect the site during the
rainy season, repair and re-
placement of the culvert be-
tween two existing wetlands,
construction of a sewer line off
site to connect the property
with city sewer, street improve-
ments along Millard, utility ac-
cess and bioswales for manag-
ing storm water runoff.
Tary Carlson, project man-
ager of Inici Group, said the de-
cision allows better use of the
public’s funds. If the gravel and
rock are not placed before the
wet weather, winter work will
difficult. Additionally, he said,
this work will provide an oppor-
tunity to capture some of the
lower costs that currently exist
in the construction market, as
well as a chance for providing
or maintaining jobs in Columbia
County.
Other work Carlson said is
underway:
• Clark/Kjos Architects are
working with the Columbia
County Land Development
Services to confirm the file for
plan review;
• The wetlands and Depart-
ment of Environmental Quality
permitting is expected to be
complete by mid-July, allowing
site work to proceed;
• Anderson Construction is
preparing documents to be put
out for bid;
• Work on the site is expect-
ed to start after permits have
been received.
More information on the hos-
pital is available at columbia
rivercommunityhospital.com .
Imagine not being able to
read the newspaper, watch tel-
evision, or drive your car.
These are a few of the things
many seniors have trouble do-
ing due to various eye dis-
eases. In fact, by the age of 65,
one in three Americans has
some form of vision impairing
eye disease. However, with the
U.S. economy experiencing a
major downturn, senior com-
munities on fixed incomes are
struggling to pay for health
care.
In light of this, EyeCare
America is reminding seniors,
“Don’t Lose Sight of Your Inde-
pendence.” The national health
campaign is intended to remind
the senior community about the
value of eyesight and encour-
age seniors 65 and older to call
EyeCare America’s Seniors
EyeCare Program to see if they
qualify for an eye exam and
care, often at no-cost.
“I had excellent care and I
now have 20/20 vision and it is
so very good,” said Melva
Rayles, an EyeCare America
patient from Warner, Okla-
homa. “Now I can do all of my
crocheting and knitting. Thank
you all so very much for giving
me my eyesight back so that I
can do the things I love most,
seeing my husband, children,
grandchildren and my great-
grandchildren. They are not a
blur anymore.”
EyeCare America’s 3-month
promotional campaign runs
June 1 through August 31. The
program provides a compre-
hensive eye exam and care for
any disease detected in the ini-
Money available for EMS training
Intel recently sent a grant of
$3895.00 to Vernonia Volun-
teer Ambulance Association in
accordance with the Intel In-
Action Ads
INEXPENSIVE – EFFECTIVE
Mariolino’s
S TART Y OUR D AY
W ITH A F RESH
S TRAWBERRY W AFFLE
AND C OFFEE $4.75
721 Madison Ave.,Vernonia • 503-429-5018
tial visit for up to one year, at no
out-of-pocket cost, for seniors
who are without an ophthalmol-
ogist (a medical eye doctor). To
see if you, a loved one or a
friend, 65 and older, is eligible
to receive a referral for an eye
exam and care, call 1-800-222-
EYES (3937), available 24
hours, 7 days a week, year
round.
EyeCare America, a public
service program of the Founda-
tion of the American Academy
of Ophthalmology, operates
one of the largest programs of
its kind in American medicine.
All eligible callers receive a re-
ferral to one of 7,000 volunteer
ophthalmologists. Volunteer
physicians agree to accept
Medicare or other insurance as
payment in full, resulting in no
out-of-pocket cost to the pa-
tient. Individuals without insur-
ance are seen at no charge.
EyeCare America’s Seniors
EyeCare Program is designed
for people who:
• Are U.S. citizens or legal
residents
• Are age 65 and older
• Have not seen an ophthal-
mologist in three or more years
• Do not belong to an HMO
or the VA
For a Seniors EyeCare Pro-
gram referral, those interested
may call the toll-free help line
1.800.222.EYES (3937). The
Seniors EyeCare Program help
line operates all day, every day,
year-round.
The Seniors EyeCare Pro-
gram is co-sponsored by the
Knights Templar Eye Founda-
tion, Inc.
503-429-9410
$4.50 for the first
10 words, then just
10¢ for each
additional word
volved Employee Matching
Grant Program. The Ambu-
lance Association would like to
thank Intel Corporation for its
generous grant. The grant is a
result of Intel Employees volun-
teering 389.5 hours with the
Volunteer Ambulance Associa-
tion during 2008. The Ambu-
lance Association has ear-
marked the funds to provide
EMT training to new volun-
teers.
If you would be interested in
making a commitment to the
Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance
Association and receiving EMT
training, please contact Randy
Carlton or Kristina McCord at
503-429-4600.