CHN Helps People with Chronic Pain Find a Better Way to Live
For people suffering with chronic pain conditions, sometimes “the pain you know” can feel safer than making a change. It’s natural to feel hesitant – perhaps even a little afraid – of adjusting your pain management plan and taking a risk that the new course of action might, unintentionally, make things worse.
At the same time, those living with chronic pain often feel desperate for some relief. That’s where Curry Health Network’s Pain Management Services come in. Board-certified pain management specialist Christopher Amsden, MD, approaches care differently to help address pain from a variety of angles, as well as to give patients the confidence to try again.
“Chronic pain can be exhausting,” admits Danyell Thomson, CMPE, CRHCP, Director of Primary Care Clinic Services at Curry Health Network. “Dr. Amsden takes the time to dig deeper and find ways to go beyond efforts to simply cover up the pain. His goal is to provide an alternative to living a chronic pain lifestyle.”
Since patients need a referral to see Dr. Amsden, they have typically tried numerous other pain management techniques long before they walk through his door. Many times, those early attempts relied on stronger and stronger pain medications.
Instead, Dr. Amsden prefers a broader view of each patient’s situation.
“Rather than covering up or masking the pain, he examines all aspects of a patient’s lifestyle and health information to explore new opportunities for pain reduction or relief,” Thomson explains.
For example, CHN’s pain management services combine lifestyle techniques with traditional and holistic medical treatments, providing a comprehensive approach to rebuilding a robust life. This can include:
• Conditioning, weight management, and lifestyle changes
• Recommendations for medications with lower risk for habit-forming
• Physical therapy treatment
• Spinal manipulation techniques
• Acupuncture and other holistic options
• Psychological skill development
• Stress relief education
• Joint, back, and neck injections
• Epidural steroid injections
• Nerve blocks
“Pain can be complicated,” Thomson confirms. “Chronic pain often stems from multiple sources and stressors. It’s important to work with someone who is up for the challenge of figuring out the puzzle of your personal pain story.”
Thomson also shares that one of the biggest advantages of working with Dr. Amsden is the convenience of local care. “If not for the pain management services at Curry Health Network, patients would have to drive two to three hours for this kind of quality specialty care. That’s always important, but it is especially important for people who are often in pain.”
Learn more about Dr. Amsden’s approach to treating chronic pain by calling 541-412-2000 or on our website. Or ask your primary care provider for a referral to Dr. Amsden at Curry Health Network Pain Management.
Curry Health Network Working to Bring Chemotherapy to Curry County
[GOLD BEACH, OREGON] May 10, 2023 - Curry Health Network (CHN) is thrilled to announce that it is working to bring chemotherapy services to Curry County. The CHN Board of Directors and administration have been working with a consultant for the past 10 months to develop a master facilities plan, and at the board meeting on May 4, the board directed CEO Virginia (Ginny) Williams to move forward with a Request for Proposals for design services for a new building to abut the south side of Curry General Hospital that will house the new service and will connect directly to hospital corridors, ensuring convenient access and comprehensive care for cancer patients in Curry County.
CEO Williams shared, "We are thrilled to embark on this crucial initiative to bring chemotherapy services to Curry County. Our goal is to ensure that cancer patients in our community have access to comprehensive care close to home."
To support this important endeavor, CHN has applied for grant funding totaling $4.5 million. This includes $2 million from the State of Oregon and an additional $2.5 million from the federal government. CEO Ginny Williams, CFO Rick Sicora, board member Derral Hawthorne, and Dietary Manager Shelby Mickelson recently traveled to Washington D.C. to present the federal funding request to U.S. Representative and Congresswoman for the 4th District of Oregon Val Hoyle and others. Shelby's personal story, sharing the challenges she faced when her late husband was diagnosed with cancer, made a profound impact during the discussions.
CEO Williams further emphasized, "By establishing this new facility, we are addressing the pressing need for local chemotherapy services, improving the well-being and outcomes for our residents. We remain committed to serving our patients and reducing the cancer mortality rate in Curry County."
The presentation was further strengthened by over 30 letters of support from local politicians including Senator David Brock Smith and Representative Court Boice, the Board of Curry County Commissioners, City governments, organizations, service clubs, and local businesses. Many of these were heartfelt letters that showcased personal experiences and emphasized the critical need for local chemotherapy services, underscoring the significant impact on individuals, families, customers, and employees within the community.
The county's cancer mortality rate surpasses both the state and national averages by 11.8% and 12.3%, respectively. Residents with cancer are forced to endure long and arduous journeys, often traveling up to 7 hours round trip to neighboring counties, and sometimes even across state lines, for chemotherapy treatment. Compounding the issue is the county's geographic isolation, with a single coastal route, U.S. Highway 101, connecting it to the north and south. Recent highway closures due to landslides, a recurring occurrence, have cut off vital health resources for residents, leaving them with limited options that may cause them to forego treatment altogether. Transportation remains a significant barrier to healthcare access, as revealed in the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, where 38.3% of respondents identified it as a challenge. For cancer patients, the burden of travel becomes particularly overwhelming due to the frequency of chemotherapy visits that often requires overnight stay due to distances traveled and associated side effects of the treatment which can include extreme fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
The chemotherapy project aims to serve a population that is underserved, older, and disabled, thereby addressing the pressing need for cancer services in the county. Over 52% of Curry County's population is 55 years or older, with 34% aged 65 and above. The 65-74 age group alone is projected to grow by 15.1% in the next five years, highlighting the urgent demand for accessible cancer care.
CHN remains steadfast in its commitment to provide essential chemotherapy services to deserving patients within their local community. If all goes according to plan, groundbreaking for the new facility is expected to commence in early 2025.
CHN Welcomes Two New Same Day Clinic Providers, Expands Availability by 45%
Patients now have fast, convenient access to healthcare for non-chronic issues at Curry Medical Center in Brookings, Oregon
Curry Health Network is pleased to announce the arrival of two new Same Day Clinic Providers, Kim Orta, FNP and Julie Green, PA-C. The addition of these two providers has allowed the network to expand appointment availability by 45%, and now the clinic is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Patients who require a quick visit for a single, non-chronic issue can make an appointment to see one of the providers. These issues may include headaches or migraines; fever; diarrhea or constipation; skin infections; sinus pain; new back or muscle pain; nausea, vomiting, and minor stomach pain; painful or increased urination; cough, sore throat, or congestion; STI/STD screening and treatment; and small lacerations, cuts, abrasions, sprains, burns, and eye injuries. However, the clinic is not intended for prescription refills, referrals to a specialist, chronic/ongoing conditions, or emergency medical care.
CEO Virginia (Ginny) Williams expressed her excitement about the new providers, saying, "We are thrilled to welcome Kim and Julie to our team. Their expertise and experience will be invaluable in providing our patients with fast, convenient access to healthcare."
Danyell Thomson, Director of Primary Care Clinic Services, echoed Williams' sentiments, adding, "With the addition of Kim and Julie, we are able to offer more appointments and better serve our community. We understand the importance of timely access to healthcare, and we are committed to providing our patients with the care they need when they need it."
The Same Day Clinic is located at Curry Medical Center, 500 5th St., Brookings, Oregon. To make an appointment, patients can call 541.412.2000.
This expansion of services is great news for the community, as it provides more options for those who need quick medical attention. Patients can rest assured that they will receive high-quality care from skilled providers at Curry Health Network's Same Day Clinic.
Good News from Curry Health Network: Brookings Therapy Center Remodel is Complete
BROOKINGS, OR (April 3, 2023) - Curry Health Network is delighted to announce the completion of the fully remodeled therapy suite at Curry Medical Center in Brookings after six months of construction. The therapy suite is expected to reopen to patients in April, pending final inspection by Oregon Health Authority’s Facilities Planning and Safety Division and licensing. This much-anticipated upgrade has both patients and therapists excited to return.
Teigan Beck, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech language pathologist at Curry Health Network (CHN), cannot wait for the positive impact the new space will provide for patients.
“This remodel is definitely going to enhance the patient experience,” she said. “The updated space is going to be safer, more accessible—just all around a wonderful space for patients.”
The project was not a small undertaking. The former treatment area was converted from office space into a therapy space, which was functional but not optimized for the services offered there, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The new therapy suite will be updated to the most current building standards to ensure patient safety and increase staff efficiency. The new configuration adds additional patient privacy, with separate rooms for each therapy specialty to have congruent appointments while providing a more comfortable environment for patients to work with their therapists.
But perhaps the most significant benefit of the reopening of the Brookings therapy suite is that patients who live in or near Brookings will no longer need to travel to Gold Beach for their care. The convenience of receiving needed care close to home cannot be understated.
Nicole Hernandez, a patient who currently receives physical therapy for a torn rotator cuff and whose son receives speech therapy from CHN, expressed her excitement about the new therapy suite. She and her son live in Brookings but have to travel to Gold Beach every week for their appointments, and she is ready for their 40-minute drive to become less than 10.
“All of the therapists are very, very good—it’s why we continue to go to Gold Beach,” she said. “But once the remodel is done, and we can stay right in Brookings, it will be so much easier for us. I’m glad that there will be a state-of-the-art facility so close.”
Isaac Hodges, Chief Operating and Experience Officer for CHN, shared his thoughts on the reopening of the Brookings therapy suite: “This upgrade was undertaken for the benefit of our amazing patients. Since 2017, CHN has been proud to offer one of the best outpatient therapies suites available inside Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. CHN has a goal to provide the best care in the best facilities, and the completion of the Brookings therapy suite accomplishes that goal. It provides the community with the high-quality physical, occupational, and speech therapy care it needs and deserves.”
CHN invites the community to celebrate the reopening of the Brookings therapy suite with an Open House at Curry Medical Center from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 8. The Open House will showcase the investments in improved healthcare to the communities, including the new therapy suite and therapy services, 3D mammography equipment, a new CT scanner, and a new nuclear medicine scanner. Patients and their families can enjoy refreshments, take tours of the facility, and learn more about the new and improved healthcare services available to them.
District Board Election Notice
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Position # 1 and Position # 5 on the Curry Health District (DBA Curry Health Network) Board of Directors will be up for election in the May 16, 2023 Special District Election.
The first day for district candidates to file was February 4 and the filing deadline is March 16, 2023.
Interested parties can obtain the District Candidate Filing Form (SEL 190) and a Candidate Signature Sheet (SEL 121) from the Curry County Elections Division web page.
The Board of Directors is comprised of five individuals that together, set policy, select, direct and support the Chief Executive Officer, review his/her performance; provide long-term direction and planning by updating the District strategic plan; engage in the review and approval of the annual District budget; and assist in District compliance with all applicable laws and regulations governing critical access hospitals and health districts.
Candidates must be at least age 18 and be an elector of the geographical district. Please note the geographical district does not include most areas of southern Curry County. Please contact the County Elections division if you need help determining if you reside in the district.
3D Mammography Now Available at Curry Health Network
Superior Technology and Routine Screenings Save Lives
Curry Health Network is thrilled to announce that the first exam using 3D mammography was scheduled December 21, 2023 at Curry Medical Center in Brookings. In 2024, we began offering 3D mammography at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. Combined with superior imaging technology, routine mammograms are the best defense against breast cancer because regular screenings make it easier to detect cancer in its early stages.
A 3D mammogram, also known as breast tomosynthesis, or "tomo", creates a three-dimensional image of the breast and shows the tissue in thin, one-millimeter layers, allowing a better chance to detect cancer hiding behind overlapping tissue.
CHN Director of Ancillary Services, Corinna Silvius, explained further, "The goal of mammography is to find breast cancer as early in its development as possible. Studies have shown that 3D mammography can increase detection by up to 40%, and that 73.7% of breast cancers found with 3D mammography were 1 cm or smaller."
Dr. Jessica Carlson, CHN's general surgeon, breast cancer survivor, and outspoken advocate for screening mammograms, knows well the value of the high quality, detailed images produced by tomo. "I believe my particular cancer may have been missed if I didn't travel to receive a 3D mammogram. It is powerful technology that can often detect cancers at earlier stages and pick up abnormalities that might be missed on other mammograms. I'm pleased that our patients can now benefit from 3D mammography without the need to travel long distances."
There are other benefits, according to Silvius. "Tomo is found to be reliable and accurate. Because 3D mammo can separate overlapping tissue, there is up to a 40% decrease in the number of patients requiring follow-up or biopsies with results that are ultimately found to be negative," Silvius continued. "Not only does the much lower rate of screening recalls save patients time and money, but it also saves them unnecessary anxiety," she said. "So, too, earlier diagnosis can help avoid more aggressive treatments often needed later in the disease progression."
Ginny Williams, CHN CEO, agreed. "The benefits of 3D mammography simply cannot be ignored, and we're excited to be able to offer the service locally. We would also be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the community's support of this technology through the efforts of the Curry Health Foundation and player participation in the 2021 Golf Fore Health Tournament that raised more than $20,000 to help with the purchase of CHN's first 3D mammography machine in Brookings. We're very grateful."
According to The American Cancer Society, women should receive annual mammograms beginning at age 40, and women with a family history of breast cancer should talk to their primary care provider, who may recommend screening at an earlier age.
Patients with a primary care provider who wish to schedule a 3D screening mammogram can call 541.412.2098. Diagnostic mammograms or any mammogram for symptomatic patients require an order from a provider. Learn more here.
Crisis Standards of Care no Longer in Effect
On November 30, 2022, CHN declared with the Oregon Health Authority its Crisis of Care Standards status. On December 5, 2022 at 2:40 p.m., the crisis was declared ended and the network is no longer operating under that status. Read more.
Curry Health Network's standards of care status is always up to date and available on our web site at the above link.
Triage Decisions for Critically Ill Patients in the Event of a Resource Constrained Period due to an Emergency
Triage is Currently NOT in Effect
In the event that Curry Health Network's resources are constrained during an Emergency and triage decisions are being made for care of critically ill patients, this page will be updated with an effective date for triage decisions. Curry Health Network was operating under Crisis of Care Standards from November 30, 2022 to 2:40 p.m. on December 5, 2022. CHN is not currently operating in this status
In the event triage decisions are being made, Curry Health Network must provide official notification as required by OAR 333-505-0036 as prescribed by Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division's Temporary Administrative Order filed July 29, 2022 and effective July 29, 2022 through January 24, 2023. Notification must include posting on our web site and signage in our facilities.
This notification means that Curry General Hospital (which includes the Emergency Department in Brookings known as Curry Medical Center-Emergency Care) is experiencing a resource constrained period and triage decisions for care of critically ill patients are being made.
Triage Decision-Making Tool
Curry Health Network's Medical Staff formally adopted the Oregon Health Authority's "Triage Decision-Making Tool" that we are using to make triage decisions. This tool is available by request, and can be downloaded here.
Patient Advocate
In the event of a resource constrained period during an Emergency where triage decisions are being made for care of critically ill patients, we are required to let you know how to contact the hospital's patient advocate. At Curry Health Network, that role is fulfilled by the Quality Department. You may reach them by calling 541.247.3183 or emailing concerns@curryhealth.org.
Everything you need to know about RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
On November 14, 2022 Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency due to surge in pediatric respiratory infections. The spread of respiratory viruses in children, including RSV, and the related strain on hospital capacity, has created a threat to public health and safety.
Since the onset of Oregon's RSV season on October 29, the pediatric hospitalization rate has more than tripled to 7.6 hospitalizations per 100,000 children. The governor thinks it is likely that the recorded peak weekly hospitalization rate of 9.5/100,000 will be exceeded.
What is RSV?
RSV is a highly contagious virus that can lead to respiratory illness in babies, including lung infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. RSV infections can go from mild symptoms to hospitalization in less than a week. Mild symptoms may include a runny nose, sneezing, and coughing, while severe symptoms can include wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Fast Facts
1. RSV is most common during the winter virus season (November - March) but can vary by local areas.
2. RSV spreads when droplets from a cough, sneeze, or infected surface get inside the eyes, nose, or mouth.
3. 2 out of 3 babies will get RSV by age 1.
4. RSV can go from cold-like symptoms to hospitalization in less than a week.
5. Though hospitalization happens in only 1-2% of RSV cases, it's not predictable which baby will be hospitalized.
6. Babies are 16x more likely to be hospitalized with RSV than with the flu.
RSV Signs and Symptoms
RSV can often mimic a cold or the flu. But as the infection becomes more severe so do the symptoms. Keep a close eye on your baby if you notice any of the following: ●coughing ●sneezing ●runny nose ●fever ●wheezing ●congestion ●decreased appetite.
In babies under 6 months, the only RSV symptoms they may show are irritability, decreased activity, decreased appetite, and difficulty breathing.
When to Contact a Doctor
If you notice any of the following in your baby, contact their doctor right away: ●Short, shallow, and abnormally fast breathing - look for chest wall retractions (a "caving in" of the chest in between and under the ribs) ●Your baby has a wheezing cough ●Nasal flaring - when your baby's nostrils spread out with every breath ●Your baby has poor feeding ●Your baby is unusually tired or has a blue tint to their lips or fingernails ●Your baby has a fever - 100.4 F / 38 C or higher for a baby younger than 3 months. 102.2 F / 39 C or higher for a baby older than 3 months
Risk of RSV for Older Adults
RSV can be dangerous for older adults (especially those 65+), adults with chronic heart or lung disease, and adults with weakened immune systems.
Curry General Hospital Earns 4-Star Rating for Patient Satisfaction
Curry General Hospital is the only coastal Oregon hospital within 100 miles north and 100 miles south of Gold Beach to receive a 4-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the July 2022 report, an accolade bestowed on only 29% of the 3307 hospitals included. Even fewer - 6% - earned 5-stars.
CMS assigns star ratings to hospitals nationwide based on performance reported by adult patients after discharge through a standardized, 29-question survey. Patients of Curry Health Network (CHN) receive the survey by mail through an unbiased, independent third-party; the CMS ranking system helps consumers easily compare hospitals to make more informed decisions about their care.
CHN's CEO Virginia (Ginny) Williams said it is the growing number of positive patient experiences - like that of Curry County Commissioner Christopher Paasch, owner of Cornerstone Ranch - that make it easy to understand why the hospital's patient satisfaction star rating skyrocketed during the last quarter from 2- to 4-stars.
Paasch found himself in Curry General for a ruptured appendix near the end of July, and discovered firsthand how the hospital continues to strive to provide patients with the best care possible.
"Every service I was offered at Curry, I felt as if they really cared about the outcome, and that's very important to someone in the hospital, especially if it's life threatening," said Paasch, who had surgery and received care during his two-week recovery. "The fear and anxiety you feel, you want to know that the people taking care of you are doing the best they can for you."
HOW THEY DID IT
CHN set its sights on increasing its previously lackluster star rating and implemented a variety of steps, including monitoring and evaluating current trends to look for areas in which to improve.
"Monitoring trends is important, but probably one of the most important steps we're taking is actively listening - listening to our frontline staff and our management team, and most importantly, listening to our patients. We want to hear about their experiences, whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied," said CHN's Patient Experience Officer Isaac Hodges.
After listening comes action, and staff involvement is key, explained Hodges: "When staff have ideas about new or improved processes that can enhance the experience of our patients, our new Service Excellence Department is listening and empowering staff to establish goals and work together to make positive changes. We celebrate successes with staff, give credit when credit is due, and share that news throughout the organization."
CHN's Director of Quality Sunnie Day Spansail agreed: "Service Excellence and Quality are now working hand-in-hand to deliver the best care and best experience and to address any patient concerns. And while we love hearing about positive experiences, there's always room for improvement in any health system and it is equally as important to learn when a patient is less than satisfied."
Hodges added: "We take all concerns seriously; if the patient isn't satisfied, we're not satisfied. When a patient shares their concerns, we listen, and we make sure they know they've been heard. Learning
about their experience gives us an opportunity to see where we may have fallen short, determine how and why, and make adjustments that will improve the experience for the next patient."
Williams summed up the positive ratings: "We are honored to be recognized as a 4-star facility. We want all of our patients to be as satisfied with their hospital experience as Mr. Paasch, and we're working hard to get there. This is an amazing hospital providing quality care with state-of-the-art equipment, and compassionate and dedicated providers and staff who love our community and care for our patients as if they are family."
Curry Health Network adds teledentistry services at Curry Family Medical in Port Orford
important preventative care is now closer and more convenient
PORT ORFORD, OR May 4, 2022 -- Curry Health Network (CHN) is excited to announce the addition of teledentistry services for Medicaid members to its Curry Family Medical clinic in Port Orford, a community that has been without dentistry for about two decades. The decision to partner with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), AllCare Health and Advantage Dental was made to make dental care accessible in the communities the healthcare system serves and provide a much-needed resource to help people protect their oral--and overall health.
Curry County was recently identified by the OHA as one of the most underserved regions in the state in terms of access to dental care--a variable that has led to poorer overall dental health than those living in other Oregon areas. With one third of adults not receiving recommended dental check-ups, and a provider-to-patient ratio of almost half the state average, there is a critical need for oral health services in our communities. Curry Health Network wants to help change that.
Any patient can receive, at no cost, an initial oral health consultation from an expanded practice dental hygienist (EPDH). These free visits include the assessment to determine oral health risk level, prevention/stabilization care such as fluoride treatment or sealants, oral hygiene instruction, nutritional counseling, tobacco counseling, toothbrush kits, and anticipatory guidance.
If patients of any age are covered by Advantage Medicaid and are in need of dental services, the patient is scheduled for a return teledentistry appointment. Teledentistry is an innovative care model to deliver preventative and early intervention dental care to people with limited access to oral health services or for those facing other obstacles, like dental providers who don't accept Medicaid. During the teledentistry visit, the EPDH takes X-rays and provides additional assessments that are submitted electronically to an off-site teledentist who then evaluates the information to offer treatment recommendations and any necessary plans for care. Teledentistry can save time and other expenses for patients who may need to travel significant distances for checks ups only to return later if additional care is needed. This efficient care approach saves patients time and resources as they only need to travel when care is needed.
Currently, if a patient is not covered by Medicaid but is in need of dental services, they are referred to local dentists and resources. Mary Ann Wren, Director of Integration and Community Programs for Advantage Dental says their team is working on being able to bill for non-Medicaid patients which would allow them to offer teledentistry visits to all patients - no matter the insurer or if the patient is uninsured - by the end of the year.
The decision to donate clinic space and support staff for initial oral health assessments and teledentistry services in Port Orford was easy for CHN. "We are fully invested in the health of our communities; any service that we can facilitate to improve health and quality of life of our neighbors is so important," said Ginny Williams, Curry Health Network chief executive officer. "Oral health has an enormous impact on overall health and wellness. Preventative dental services and oral health can help prevent infections, cardiac issues, and regular visits can offer early detection for some types of cancer. Dental care can save lives."
"We hope the accessibility of oral health consultation visits and teledentistry removes some of the barriers preventing people from getting the important care they need," Williams continued. "This is a great opportunity to schedule an easy, convenient oral health assessment where it's close and convenient, and to receive the same expert care they may otherwise travel for."
Oral health consultation appointments are currently available Thursdays at Curry Family Medical in Port Orford with plans to expand the service as needs grow. If you or someone in your family hasn't been to the dentist in a year, schedule this important visit. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 541-332-3861.
CHN Upgrades Diagnostic Imaging Equipment
Superior technology and advanced diagnostics where it's close and convenient
Dedicated to providing advanced services for the communities they serve, Curry Health Network (CHN) added new, leading-edge technology to its radiology and imaging department. The equipment upgrades provide faster results, more comfortable patient experiences and sharper, more precise images to detect and diagnose illnesses, injuries and other conditions. Enhancements include equipment with the newest, most advanced technology in the region: a 64-slice CT scanner, echocardiogram (cardiac echo) and a high-definition dual head gamma camera to aid in nuclear medicine diagnostics.
Imaging technology is critical to detect and diagnose conditions, so patients get fast, accurate diagnoses and receive important medical care sooner. Often for people in rural communities, accessing advanced imaging means traveling to larger healthcare systems--something that can be inconvenient and stressful, especially when people are sick. CHN offers the same, or better, imaging services as larger healthcare systems so local patients can receive state-of-the-art imaging--and get the answers they need--where it's closer for them and their families.
"We installed a new Siemens CT scanner," shared Cori Silvius, CHN Director of Diagnostic Imaging. "The new CT is a 64-slice scanner compared to the 16-slice scanner we replaced. It provides much more detailed images in a shorter period of time and gives us clear, truly superior images to detect conditions ranging from bone and joint issues to cancer and heart disease," she continued. "The new scanner even has technology to image patients with metal parts--like joint replacements--without blurring in surrounding tissue caused by the metal. With our previous scanner, we were unable to remove this artifact."
CHN enhanced its nuclear medicine capabilities and upgraded to a new Siemens Symbia Evo Excel dual head gamma camera which produces crisper, more accurate images. The tool helps detect and diagnose tumors, infections, hematomas, cysts and tests organ function and blood circulation.
The healthcare system also added a new echocardiogram (cardiac echo). Handheld wands use ultrasound technology to capture pictures of the heart's valves and chambers and evaluate the pumping action of the heart. Providers use the detailed images to identify heart disease, check heart function and detect other heart-related problems.
Imaging is available at Curry Medical Center in Brookings, with most services also at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach and X-ray services at Curry Family Medical in Port Orford. "It's so important to us to offer advanced services so patients don't have to travel for the important care they need; we are so fortunate to continually improve technologies and offer truly specialized capabilities," shared CHN Chief Executive Officer Ginny Williams, who also credits the healthcare system's staff for providing high-quality imaging services. "Our expert technologists and equipment are second to none."
All CHN medical imaging professionals are licensed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Radiologists and the mammogram departments are accredited by the American College of Radiology--the gold standard of safe, quality care. The trained, licensed professionals work closely with providers to give complete, clear pictures of each patient's health; this allows them the best options for care.
High-quality, local imaging can lead to faster diagnoses, better treatment options and even save lives through earlier detection. If you or someone you know has health issues that require advanced imaging services, help is closer than you think. "Even providers who are not affiliated with Curry Health Network can schedule imaging at our facilities," Silvius added. "Staying local can really help make a stressful situation easier, especially when people don't feel well. That's why it's so important that our community is aware of all the services we offer and know that the quality of our equipment and technologists rivals those in larger communities."
In addition to CT, cardiac echo and nuclear medicine imaging, CHN offers MRI, mammography, stress testing, bone density scanning (DEXA), ultrasound and X-ray services. "I encourage everyone to talk to their provider about having their diagnostic imaging services done here, close to home," Silvius reminded.
Photo: Cori Silvius, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, with the new Siemens 64-slice CT scanner
Southern Oregon Cardiology Directs CHN's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Expert care and providers with heart make advanced services accessible to Gold Beach and surrounding communities
GOLD BEACH, OR - (March 1, 2022) Cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the heart or blood vessels that lead to heart attack, heart failure and other conditions, are the leading cause of death worldwide and claim an estimated 17.9 million lives annually. Lung and respiratory diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema and others kill thousands and make breathing--and living--painful for millions more. Here in Curry County, coronary heart disease, heart disease, and lung disease rates are especially concerning with mortality at 39.3%, 31.5%, and 26.9% above the state average, respectively.
Cardiac rehabilitation--customized care that's led from the heart
Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program to improve the cardiovascular health of patients with heart conditions. Chief Executive Officer Ginny Williams announced recently that Southern Oregon Cardiology, the region's premier and most well-respected cardiology practice, is now overseeing the program as its medical director. "We are so pleased to provide this invaluable service, with the highest quality care anywhere, right here in Gold Beach," said Williams. "Having skilled care teams and state-of-the-art facilities where it's close and convenient for our community helps people receive care to live longer, healthier lives, and program oversight by the cardiologists of Southern Oregon Cardiology ensure effective, quality care."
Cardiac rehabilitation is customized to help patients recover and prevent future issues. CHN's cardiac rehabilitation is a true team effort, with doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and pharmacists working with patients and their families. Together, patients learn the fundamentals of exercise for heart health and steps to control and reduce stress--a major factor in heart health. They also receive education about lifestyle changes, such as proper nutrition, to help speed recovery. Throughout the program, respiratory therapists customize treatments and partner with patients to help them take ownership of their health and lives.
"It's one thing to survive a heart attack, or receive a difficult diagnosis, but the next steps--what recovery means for you and your family--can be frightening and intimidating," Williams shared. "All too often in smaller communities, rehabilitative care means frequent travel that makes an already difficult time more stressful and even prevent patients from getting the care they need to recover and prevent future problems. With resources here at CHN, we help our neighbors return to the lives they enjoy."
Breath support that saves lives--pulmonary rehabilitation
For those living with lung or breathing issues, pulmonary rehabilitation helps people manage chronic lung problems like asthma and COPD, through education, learning better breathing techniques, and increasing physical activity to get stronger and help reduce shortness of breath. CHN's licensed registered respiratory therapists provide comprehensive evaluations and assessments to customize rehabilitation plans for each patient. The team takes a comprehensive approach to pulmonary care, to help patients live a more productive life with lung disease and will continue to reassess, monitor and adjust treatments until the best possible outcome is achieved.
"More and more people are suffering with COPD and other breathing issues," said Williams, "While we know that we may not be able to reverse or cure some lung conditions, we can definitely help people live more actively, comfortably and happily."
To learn more about outpatient cardiopulmonary services at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, call 541-247-3060 or click here.
Skilled therapists make full-service rehab services close, convenient and here when you need it--physical, occupational and speech therapies
Curry Health Network (CHN) has the unique distinction as the only healthcare system in Curry County to offer a full range of rehabilitative services -- physical, occupational and speech therapies -- to patients of all ages. Even better, the specialized services are easily accessible for people in our communities as state-of-the-art therapy facilities are located at both Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach and Curry Medical Center in Brookings.
Therapists behind CHN's rehabilitative services bring a diverse range of expertise and experience to the health system, along with a shared dedication to providing personalized patient care and helping their patients live confident, more independent lives. Amanda McVay, CHN's therapy services coordinator, is a physical therapist and is passionate about her craft. In addition to providing what many consider traditional physical therapy, utilizing movement and exercise to help people recover after an injury or orthopedic procedure, McVay also customizes therapy plans for patients recovering from burns, trauma and specializes in geriatric care and providing post-stroke rehabilitation. McVay is proud of the specialized and varied services the team offers, giving people in the community access to the important care they need where it's closer and more convenient for patients and their families.
Learn more about CHN's therapy services at CurryHealthNetwork.com and access videos highlighting the team and physical, occupational, and speech therapy services here. The videos offer insight from the therapists themselves who explain both the benefit of the specialized services and their dedication to help patients recover, regain independence and lead happier, healthier lives.
Government Program: Free At-Home Covid-19 Tests Now Available
January 18, 2022 - The federal government has announced that every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
The tests available for order: ●Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR ●Can be taken anywhere ●Give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required) ●Work whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms ●Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines ●Are also referred to self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests
New Family Medicine Physician Comes to Brookings Facility
What began as a favorite childhood vacation destination turned into a lifelong goal for Curry Health Network's newest family medicine physician, Dr. Tyler Ferris.
Ferris, a Utah native, recently moved his six-member family to Brookings, where he will begin seeing patients on December 15 at Curry Medical Center.
"We love the area," says Ferris. "I always have, and my wife fell in love with it when we visited after we were married.
"It's been somewhere we've always wanted to end up, and when we had the opportunity to do that, we made the move."
Dr. Ferris and his wife Kate have four children between the ages of 13 and 6; being outdoors is a passion for the entire family - "Their favorite thing is probably the beach" - and Ferris has his sights set on upgrading his fishing game.
"It's a learning curve, going from fishing mountain streams and lakes to the ocean, but I am looking forward to catching some bigger fish," Ferris says.
Fishing isn't the only sport that interests Dr. Ferris: the entire family is committed to soccer, with both Ferris and his wife volunteering as coaches for each of their children's youth teams. It's something they hope to become involved with again in Brookings.
Whether on the field with the team or in the exam room with patients, listening is one of Ferris' key skills: "I try to provide as much time as the patient needs, and I try to provide that for every patient. Sometimes what a patient needs is just to talk and work through some things.
"I take a piece of paper into the exam room with me; I feel it's more personal to jot down notes on that paper. I really care about getting to know my patients, and getting to know them is how I provide better care for them."
Board certified, Dr. Ferris completed his medical education in 2014 at Ohio University Heritage College, Athens, Ohio after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He has experience providing exceptional care as an attending physician in a family medicine clinic, as an emergency department physician, and in urgent care.
To make an appointment with Dr. Ferris at Curry Medical Center in Brookings, please call 541-412-2000 or go to www.CurryHealthNetwork.com to learn more.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: early detection saves lives
Dr. Carlson Practices What She Preaches
3D Mammography Coming to Curry Medical Center in 2022
Do as I say. And as I do.
Words of wisdom for women when it comes to annual mammograms, according to Dr. Jessica Carlson, a general surgeon with Curry Health Network - and a breast cancer survivor.
The American Cancer Society recommends that women begin annual mammograms at the age of 40; Carlson, 40, who has a family history of breast cancer, says that her very first screening earlier this year picked up the abnormality in her breast.
"I decided I should practice what I preach," Carlson, who is now cancer-free, says about her decision to get her first mammogram. "The most important thing [about mammography] is early detection, and that was definitely true in my case."
Annual mammograms, in addition to regular self-exams, are key to catching breast cancer early. Carlson notes many women put off mammograms because they're afraid the screening will be painful or awkward; instead, she encourages women to keep up with mammograms - and to encourage one another to do so.
Carlson admits that even her friends have asked if a mammogram at 40 is necessary, but she says her reply to such questions is immediate: "I said 'Get it done.' If I had waited a couple of years, I could have had a lot different outcome."
Carlson opted for a 3D mammogram, which meant an hour-and-a-half drive to Coos Bay; however, 3D mammography will soon be available at Curry Medical Center in Brookings in 2022, thanks in part to funding raised through the Curry Health Foundation's first annual Golf FORE Health outing this August.
3D mammography combines multiple breast X-rays to create a three-dimensional picture of the breast that allows for detecting more cancers than a standard mammogram alone and improves cancer detection in dense breast tissue.
"It's so important to have the best imaging quality available to our community," says Carlson. "Having 3D mammography in this community is going to be amazing - it's always been a goal for Curry Health Network. We want to provide the best quality of care possible."
Curry Health Network Welcomes National Guardsmen
Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach welcomes 11 National Guardsmen, ten of whom will be assisting hospital and clinic staff with non-clinical job functions, and one who will oversee their deployment. Oregon's Governor Brown has been deploying up to 1,500 National Guard troops to help hospitals in the state deal with resources stretched thin during the Covid-19 pandemic surge.
Curry Health Network's CEO Ginny Williams greeted them at Curry General Hospital on August 27 where they received general orientation and job-specific training. "The highest priority of these National Guardsmen will be to serve as patient sitters and entrance screeners, although they can assist with other job functions such as those in environmental services or the dietary department," she said.
"Patient sitters help our staff by keeping an eye on patients that may require a little extra assistance, and entrance screeners are integral to keeping our staff, patients, and visitors safe," she added. Screeners serve as front-line defense to identify persons with Covid-19 symptoms or previous recent exposure and ensure that anyone entering the healthcare facilities uses hand sanitizer and is properly masked. All healthcare facilities are mandated to require masking of staff, patients, and visitors.
"These gentlemen will become part of the Curry Health Network team and part of our communities. We hope the community will join us in welcoming them. We're very grateful for their help during this time," said Williams.
The National Guardsmen, all from Oregon, have been deployed to Curry Health Network and will be assigned to serve at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach and Curry Medical Center in Brookings through September 30. The deadline could be extended to the end of the year, depending on the needs of each facility.
CHN Welcomes Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Bruce Perry
GOLD BEACH, OR - July 15, 2021 Curry Health Network is pleased to announce the addition of orthopedic surgeon Bruce Perry, M.D. to its team of medical specialists. Dr. Perry has three decades of experience and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the healthcare system where he will begin seeing patients July 19 at Curry Medical Practice in Gold Beach and at Curry Medical Center in Brookings. He will perform surgeries in the state-of-the-art surgery suites at Curry General Hospital.
Throughout his more than 30 years as a general orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Perry has provided a variety of care. "I'm a general ortho surgeon, which means I do everything," he explained. "I do shoulders, hips, knees, hands, feet, sports injuries, trauma. My career has been very full of all-nighters and working through a weekend of trauma procedures."
As important as Dr. Perry's experience is, his deep personal connection with patients is equally notable. "My overall approach is that the patient is number one, and I've never lost that focus," Dr. Perry shared. "My practice has always been personal, and I've been taking care of the kids of the kids of the kids (of patients). You know them. That is a very special gift and privilege."
His personable demeanor and relationship-focused patient approach make Dr. Perry a perfect addition to the community, and to Curry Health Network (CHN). He will provide a full range of general orthopedic services at CHN and offer endoscopic carpal tunnel release, an outpatient procedure that helps alleviate the pain, numbness and tingling of carpal tunnel syndrome, and gives patients a faster and often less painful recovery than traditional surgery.
Dr. Perry also understands the unique needs of the aging population and is eager to serve this group with respect and dignity as they experience orthopedic issues associated with aging, such as pain or injuries from falls. When asked about patients who have understandable anxiety and concern when visiting an orthopedic physician, Dr. Perry described his process. "When you see a patient, you need to get a feel for one another. It's an interview both ways. It's about developing a relationship. When I get an apprehensive patient, I start slowly to earn their trust."
Dr. Perry received his medical degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing and earned his master's degree in microbiology and bachelor's degree in biology from Occidental College in Los Angeles. He completed a medical internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan and a residency in orthopedic surgery at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Prior to joining Curry Health Network, Dr. Perry had a successful private practice in Grants Pass, Oregon, with hospital privileges at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
Curry Health Network is excited to welcome Dr. Perry and provide important orthopedic services to people in the communities the healthcare system serves. A referral to Dr. Perry from a patient's Primary Care Provider is required and can be faxed to 541.412.2084. To learn more about Dr. Perry, visit his web page.
Men are Twice as Likely to Develop Type 2 Diabetes
Preventive Visits Can Help Prevent a Life-altering Diagnosis
June is Men's Health Month, the perfect time to encourage the men in our lives to get important healthcare needed to protect themselves from chronic conditions, like type 2 diabetes. While significant in both genders, type 2 diabetes, and pre-diabetes, is more often undiagnosed in men who delay--or skip--routine healthcare visits where providers could detect and treat the condition sooner.
Diabetes is the fastest-growing chronic disease nationwide. More than 88 million Americans -- that's one in three adults--are pre-diabetic and at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. And 84% of adults who have the disease are unaware they have it, putting them at danger for kidney damage, an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, blindness--and death. The Curry Health Network team urges men to schedule wellness visits to get important screenings and talk to primary care providers about type 2 diabetes. Early detection is important to manage -- or reverse --this life-altering diagnosis.
The quiet danger of undiagnosed and unmanaged diabetes, or pre-diabetes, is higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that aren't yet high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. If you're pre-diabetic, damage to your kidneys and cardiovascular system may have already started, and type 2 diabetes will likely become a reality without medical care or lifestyle changes. And because pre-diabetes is often without symptoms, it's even more important to get screened to catch the disease early.
Family history, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. While genetics can't be changed, adopting a healthy lifestyle is an easy way to protect your health. Simple changes like incorporating a healthy diet, losing weight, getting adequate sleep, and engaging in 150 minutes of exercise weekly go far to prevent type 2 diabetes.
If you're at risk for type 2 diabetes, there are many things you can do to live a long, healthy life. Talk to your primary care provider; he or she can recommend lifestyle changes or employ strategies to prevent or manage the condition. Most importantly, keep routine wellness visits to get the screenings you need.
"Even if you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you won't be alone," said Jane Doroff, one of two registered dietitians at Curry Health Network. "We work with your provider--and you--to personalize plans to help you manage diabetes and improve your overall health," she continued. "Our teams have extensive experience with all aspects of diabetes care to help you manage or prevent type 2 diabetes. We also provide education on eating and lifestyle changes that may prevent type 2 diabetes from fully developing."
Men's Health Month is a perfect reminder to schedule wellness appointments at Curry Health Network. Your primary care provider is your first defense to help you avoid, manage, or reverse this dangerous diagnosis. Get the care you need to protect your health, and maintain a happy, healthy quality of life.
Great things are happening!
It's an exciting time at Curry Health Network, where the healthcare system is thriving, adding new technologies, services, locations and staff -- all of which work together to provide greater health and wellness services to our communities.
In the 2020 fiscal year, CHN invested nearly $1 million in capital equipment to upgrade its facilities with state-of-the-art technology. Some of the improvements include new inpatient beds, Smart IV pumps, PAPRs, laboratory microscopes and analyzers, boilers, bedside ultrasound, portable telemetry boxes, ventilators, and computers in our surgery and inpatient departments. Curry Health Network also has plans to upgrade its CT scanner and Nuclear Medicine camera so that our providers have a clear picture of their patients' health.
Growth has been an important focus and a notable success for Curry Health Network in recent years, beginning with the construction of new hospital in 2017, and continuing through the opening of the specialty clinic in Brookings, and new physical, occupational and speech therapy services in both Gold Beach and Brookings. In 2019, CHN opened the first satellite emergency department in the state of Oregon, which is staffed around-the-clock with emergency physicians, trauma- and critical care-trained Registered Nurses and other personnel so care is always available. Other recent accomplishments include the availability of same-day office visits in Brookings for non-emergency care, where providers treated over 5,000 patients since 2020, and the launch of behavioral health consultation, diabetes education and nutrition programs.
Quality of care is the top priority at Curry Health Network, achieved daily by the hard work and dedication of the medical community, providers and the organization's 315 employees who collaborate to provide the best patient experience possible. With successes like the overwhelmingly positive patient feedback about experiences in our COVID-19 vaccine clinics where we've administered 9,084 doses through April 19, the effort of the entire team means better health and wellness in and for our communities.
Service is essential to any healthcare network, and Curry Health Network continues to improve and expand on offerings available to the communities it serves. Curry County was one of the first three rural communities in Oregon to receive rapid PCR testing in the fight against COVID-19. Because of the pandemic, CHN quickly adapted to offer telehealth services to provide quality healthcare to patients remotely. Curry Health Network was also the first in Curry County to offer vaccines on a weekly basis in all three cities in the county.
Because every health network is only as good as its people, CHN continues to add staff and providers. Most recently, Curry Health Network hired two new family medicine providers, Dr. Tyler Ferris, and Pamela Namenyi, FNP, who will join the network this summer. Experienced orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Bruce Perry, will also join CHN in August 2021
Look for more articles in the weeks to come detailing the news and ongoing commitment of Curry Health Network as it continues to grow to better serve patients, and help people in our communities thrive in health and wellness.
Pictured above:
L to R: Carolyn McCain, CHRO; Richard Battey, MD, CMO; Sunnie Day, Quality Director; Cameron Marlowe, CFO; Ginny Williams, CEO; Kristina Martin, CIO; Isaac Hodges, SNO; Meghan Brace, CNO; Ron Neet, Facilities Director.
Sign up for a Vaccine Appointment
**Available for all those age 18+**
Covid-19 Vaccine Events are offered weekly in Gold Beach, Port Orford, and Brookings.
As National Hospital Week fast approaches - a time when CHN appreciates all 315 employed providers and healthcare workers as well as our community providers - we take the time to share in our great ACCOMPLISHMENTS and SUCCESSES of recent years.
These accomplishments could not have been made possible without the dedication and hard work of our Board of Directors, Administration, Management Team, and each and every valued staff member here at Curry Health Network. They have so very much of which to be proud, and we are grateful to them and proud of them!
We salute and thank all of our staff, and healthcare workers in our communities, nationwide, and worldwide!
We invite our community members to learn about and share in the successes of Curry Health Network, as well as learn about all the services we offer - we bet there are a few that may be new to you! Here are just a few of them, but be sure to get ALL the facts!
●Employee satisfaction has improved dramatically and is 6% above industry average. ●Employee engagement is 5% above the industry average ●81% of our staff stated they are "extremely" or "very" satisfied with their supervisor ●87% of staff agree that they see evidence of effective leadership from their manager, 27% higher than the national healthcare average ●Recently brought aboard a fulltime Podiatrist, Dr. Steven Brantingham ●Dr. Tyler Ferris and Pamela Namenyi, FNP - both family medicine providers - will be joining CHN in July / August 2021 ●Dr. Bruce Perry, a seasoned general orthopedic surgeon, will join the Network in August 2021 ●CHN, with the help of many volunteers, has administered 9,084 doses of vaccine as of 4/19/21!
Ages 80 and Over Eligible to Receive Covid-19 Vaccine on February 8
Waiting Lists are open for Ages 65 & Older
GOLD BEACH, OR (February 8, 2021) - Curry Health Network, as the primary distributor of Covid-19 vaccines in Curry County, has, as of February 2, distributed a total of 1,586 Moderna vaccines (first and second doses). This includes 891 initial doses to those eligible in Phase 1a (health care workers and first responders) and 238 initial doses in the first sub-part of Phase 1b (K-12 educators and school district staff, childcare workers, and pre-school workers). Within the next 7 days, an additional 520 vaccines are expected to be distributed.
Eligibility and available supplies
The State's Covid-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee has identified dates when other sub-groups of Phase 1b will become eligible. CHN is prepared to begin vaccinating those age 80 and older on February 8 in accordance with the Governor's plan, but according to Chief Executive Officer Ginny Williams, the ability to continue vaccinating in alignment with the State's phased plan is entirely dependent upon the number of doses allocated to the Network by the State.
The State's plan has assigned the following dates for eligibility: Ages 80 and older on February 8; Ages 75 and older on February 15; Ages 70 and older on February 22; and Ages 65 and older on March 1. Based on the latest projections from the Oregon Health Authority, however, the State does not anticipate supplies of vaccine will be sufficient to meet the demand of those in the State age 65 and older until late April or May 2021. This projection does not include any provisions for additional manufactures that may enter the market, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that recently submitted their application to the FDA.
Waiting lists
Williams says Curry Health Network (CHN) has opened waiting lists for those age 65 and older to join. "Once you've joined and your age group becomes eligible, CHN will contact you to schedule an appointment and when we have sufficient doses. Appointments will be available in either Gold Beach, Port Orford, or Brookings," she said. There are three convenient methods available to those age 65 and older to join the waiting list: ●Visit www.CurryHealthNetwork.com/education (preferred method) ●Send an email to covidvaccine@curryhealth.org (second preferred method) ●Call 541.247.3119 (only if unable to use method 1 or 2)
After you've joined the waiting list
Williams explained that once an individual has joined the waiting list, there is nothing else they must do. "Once you've joined the waiting list, when it is your turn and we have available doses, be assured that we will contact you using the information you provided when you joined the waiting list," she said. "Without unnecessary follow-up calls or emails, our staff will be able to focus their efforts on getting people scheduled and administering vaccines."
Cost and Insurance
"There is no cost to the patient for the vaccine or the administration of the vaccine. However, we can bill an administration fee to insurance companies; therefore, we ask that you bring your insurance information with you to your scheduled visit," Williams explained.
Where to get current information
The CHN web site at www.CurryHealthNetwork.com/education is always updated with the most current vaccine information available, and there is a recorded message at 541.247.3119 with current information the public may call at any time to get accurate and comprehensive information.
Staffing capacity to administer vaccines
"Our staff is working very hard to ensure this vaccination effort is efficient and running smoothly. They're doing a great job, and responses from our community members have been overwhelmingly positive. When sufficient doses become available to increase the numbers of vaccines distributed, we have provisions that will allow us to vaccinate 360 people per day with our current staffing," Williams said. Curry Health Network has also been in contact with community partners who are willing to collaborate in the event the supply of vaccines increases beyond our capacity to quickly administer the vaccine.
Volunteer assistance
"I also want to acknowledge the volunteer efforts of several groups," Williams said. Curry Health Foundation, and their Executive Director Janet Hoffman who is serving as volunteer coordinator, has provided assistance by helping patients easily navigate through the vaccination clinic from the patients' first greeting to departure after the post-vaccination monitoring period. Harmony & Me is volunteering their time by setting up in stores including Fred Meyer and Bi-Mart to help people join the waiting list, Cal-Ore has stood by for EMS support in Port Orford, and Curry County Public Health has allocated some of its doses to CHN, Williams explained. "The entire community is really coming together to help with this effort."
Highest priorities
According to the CEO, Curry Health Network's highest priority when it comes to Covid-19 vaccines is to serve the public as efficiently and safely as possible within OHA guidelines, in consideration of available supplies, and to consistently deliver an excellent patient experience while "quickly getting doses into the arms of our community members who have an interest in receiving the vaccine".
Recording of Curry County Covid-19 Virtual Townhall now Available
GOLD BEACH, OR - (December 16, 2020) On December 15, 2020, Curry Health Network and Curry County Public Health co-hosted a virtual townhall meeting about Covid-19, and a recording of that meeting is available to view.
The presentation addressed the following topics and included a question and answer session: ●current situation in Curry County, Oregon as it relates to the Covid-19 pandemic ●testing for Covid-19 ●hospital capacity at Curry General Hospital, in the region, and statewide ●general information about the Covid-19 vaccine ●Covid-19 vaccine allocation and prioritization ●and more
The presenters including Curry Health Network CEO Ginny Williams, CNO Meghan Brace, Medical Staff President Dr. Jessica Carlson, and Curry County's Public Health Administrator Sherrie' Ward appreciate those who attended the virtual townhall live, but for those unable to attend, you can still stay informed by watching the recording below.
To play the recording:Click on the "right arrow" in the upper left of the screen, and after a brief "no content" image that displays for about 15 seconds, the presentation will begin.
First Covid-19 Vaccines for Phase 1a arrive in Curry County!
What can the general public expect?
GOLD BEACH, OR - (December 23, 2020)
●Curry Health Network received a delivery of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccines in the late afternoon of December 21. These vaccines are earmarked for Phase 1a recipients (healthcare workers and first responders) as currently recommended by the Oregon Health Authority. ●We are beginning to distribute the vaccine to hospital-based healthcare workers and first responders this week. ●Vaccinations in Phase 1a began December 22. Pain management specialist Dr. Christopher Amsden of Curry Health Network was the first in a group of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to receive the vaccine at Curry General Hospital. ●We expect to have all Phase 1a vaccines in Curry County distributed by January 8 (except Long-Term Care Facilities, which should be receiving their vaccines through the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long Term Care program). ●We are monitoring communication from the Oregon Health Authority to let us know when we are able to move to Phase 1b vaccination group (essential workers), and then Phase 1c (high-risk citizens). ●When we are able to move to Phases 1b and 1c, we will order more vaccination doses and begin offering them to a wider population. ●Please watch for future communications from Curry Health Network about when, how, and where you can get a vaccine. ●Curry Health Network is currently focused on distributing vaccines in Phase 1a, and will release more information about other Phases as we move through the process. ●For any AGENCIES in the community that believe they fall into the PHASE 1a category that have not yet signed up to receive Covid-19 vaccines, please email covidvaccine@curryhealth.org so we can allocate doses and schedule your staff. ●There is nothing the general public need do at this time (there is no "waiting list"). ●Curry Health Network will do our best to make sure you are kept informed as we move through the different Phases of the Covid-19 vaccine program. Beginning 8/24/20, you can now be screened online by answering a few simple questions to see if you are eligible to receive a Covid-19 test from Curry Health Network. If you are eligible, the registration process is also completed online. Our friendly patient access staff will contact you within 24 hours with an appointment time when your specimen will be collected as you sit in your vehicle at our facilities in either Brookings, Gold Beach, or Port Orford.
If your registration form is submitted on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, you will be contacted by end of day on Monday.
Now Available: Online Screening & Registration for Covid-19 Tests
Maarten Van Otterloo Appointed to Board of Directors
On July 29, 2020, the Board of Directors of Curry Health Network appointed Maarten Van Otterloo to fill the remaining one-year term of Position # 4 on the board. Mr. Van Otterloo has an MBA from Harvard Business School, has over 25 years of banking and advisory experience, is well versed in contract law. He is active in the community, serving as a volunteer emergency medical responder on the Pistol River Fire District department, is Vice President of the South Coast Beekeepers Association, and is preparing to become a director of the CCD Business Development Corporation. Mr. Van Otterloo's stated objective for joining the board of directors is to make a meaningful contribution to Curry County.
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Van Otterloo to the Board.
Seeking Applicants for Appointment to the Board of Directors
Notice is hereby given that Curry Health District DBA Curry Health Network is seeking applicants interested in completing the remaining term on its Board of Directors. Position # 4 will become vacant on July 1, 2020, and the appointed applicant will fulfill the term through June 30, 2021 but must run for election and be elected to serve beyond that date.
Requirements: Must be age 18 or older, a registered voter residing with the geographical boundaries of the District, not employed by Curry Health Network, no felony convictions, and not excluded from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Qualified interested parties must submit a resume and an application and submit by no later than 5 p.m. on June 19, 2020 to be considered.
Applications may be obtained by emailing info@curryhealthnetwork.com or calling 541-247-3192, or by downloading the application.
We are Asking for Hand-Sewn Surgical/Isolation Gowns, and Scrubs Donations
April 4, 2020 - Curry Health Network is asking for donations of Surgical or Isolation Gowns and Scrubs. We have collaborated with other hospitals throughout Oregon who have seen high incidence of COVID19 patients and learned that surgical / isolation gowns were needed in much higher volumes than they anticipated. Orders are not being immediately fulfilled, and gowns made of cloth (a twin bed sheet works well) can be safely laundered by the hospital and reused. We also have a need for donated Scrubs, and will accept other PPE donations.
We greatly appreciate all donations and thank you for your commitment to keeping our patients, providers and community well and safe.
PPE: ISOLATION/SURGICAL GOWNS
Isolation gowns are PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), a piece of specialized clothing that protects our employees against health and safety hazards. We are currently unable to obtain more surgical or isolation gowns and want to ensure we have adequate numbers on hand in the event of patient surge. We are asking any persons who sew and would like to donate their resources and time, to consider making surgical/isolation gowns to help protect the front-line health care workers at Curry Health Network.
SEWING INSTRUCTIONS: Please refer to the Reusable Isolation Gown instructions and video at the bottom of this page.
OTHER PPE ACCEPTED: We are also accepting donations of other PPE including N95 masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes, non-latex gloves, faceshields, and goggles. Please note: at this time, we are not encouraging donation of hand-sewn face masks.
SCRUBS
Please consider donating scrubs in serviceable condition (not requiring mending or repair) you no longer need or wear to Curry Health Network who will provide to staff for daily wear and laundering on site. Normal sources for our scrubs can not currently fulfill orders, there is potential for increased need, and we would like to offer this service to support staff as well as clinical staff.
HOW AND WHERE TO DONATE
Donated items can be dropped off 24/7 at the screening stations at the entrances of Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach and Curry Medical Center on 5th Street in Brookings.
REUSUABLE ISOLATION GOWN INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO
Size: Fits Large Adult
Materials ●2 yards of polyester or polyester-cotton fabric; can also use a twin bed sheet or woven shower curtain liner (laundered) ●1 package double fold bias tape (1/2" wide, cut 42" long) ●3 yards of one-half inch ribbon for ties (can also use Velcro or twill tape instead of ties) ●2 pieces of rib knit cut 8" x 6" (stretchy side should be 8"). Can also use two (2) 8" pieces of wide elastic.
Instructions ●For best results, use a Serger sewing machine to prevent fraying. ●Cut material. ●Attach one tie to the inside of the seam, and one to the outside seam before sewing. ●Place the other two ties on the outside of the gown in the side seams at the waist. ●Sew both fronts to the back section with ties in the back. ●Attach folded side of the sleeve to the bottom of the arm hole of the gown, then sew the open sleeve to the arm hole. The shoulder of the gown and the sleeve are now open at the top. ●Sew the stretchable cuff to each sleeve. ●Sew the shoulder and sleeve together. ●While using the bias tape, sew around the neck of the gown. ●Hem the bottom of the gown (1/2 inch hem preferred). ●Fold and DONATE. The hospital will launder prior to use.
Do you have health care experience and an interest in helping, if needed, during any potential COVID-19 patient surge?
Curry Health Network has heard from community members with health care experience of their interest in helping at Curry General Hospital, if needed, during any potential COVID-19 patient surge.
At this time, all employed health care Providers are committed to serving in any capacity necessary, so there is no current need for additional health care workers.
However, as part of the Hospital Incident Command (HIC) system in response to crisis, Curry Health Network has provided a venue for those interested to affirm their interest, skills, credentials, and availability to add to our HIC Labor Pool, if needed.
Interested persons are asked to submit this form to tell us about yourself.
COVID-19 Information Resources
Curry Health Network follows guidelines established by the Oregon Health Authority.
Both the Oregon Health Authority and Centers for Disease Control provide the most up to date and comprehensive information about the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, but this information can change rapidly.
Please visit the following web sites for information related to COVID-19:
COVID-19 Testing: Specimen Collection at Curry General Hospital
GOLD BEACH, OR (March 13, 2020) - We know that many in our communities with symptoms of COVID-19 would like to be tested. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) have recently began allowing local health care providers to test for COVID-19 after flu and other causes for respiratory symptoms have been eliminated and ruled out.
To that end, and in order to meet the needs of our communities, Curry Health Network has opened a "Rapid Rule Out Station" at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.
Patients with respiratory symptoms or fever who wish to be tested may present to 94220 4th Street in Gold Beach and will be seen by an ER physician and receive a medical screening examination.
All appropriate tests will be ordered, including COVID-19, if indicated. This service, which includes collection of specimens to be tested but that are sent out for external testing, will be offered as long as COLLECTION SUPPLIES are AVAILABLE.
The purpose of collecting specimens at a single location at Curry General Hospital is to limit potential exposure to our health care providers who are tasked with providing you compassionate and quality care, as well as to other patients, and to do so in a facility with a laboratory that has the capacity to rapidly test and rule out flu and other potential causes. Curry Medical Center in Brookings does not have the rapid flu test capability, and sending test samples by courier to Gold Beach would cause a delay which can be avoided by centralizing COVID-19 at this single location.
Patients with fever or respiratory symptoms should not seek care at any of our clinics at any other location.
Curry Health Network recommends that you keep informed of quickly changing information as provided by the OHA and CDC by accessing the links below. These agencies offer the most up to date information and recommendations on how to prevent the illness, what you should do when you are sick, symptoms, and answers to common questions. Please remember that older people and people with chronic diseases are at higher risk.
BROOKINGS, OR (Dec. 3, 2019) - Curry Medical Center-Emergency Care in Brookings opened at 7 a.m. on December 2. Staffed with experienced emergency physicians, registered nurses, and registered respiratory therapists, and supported by 24/7 Lab and Imaging, the facility treated 33 patients in its first 24 hours of operation.
Curry Medical Center is now also offering Same Day Appointments from 8am-6pm, Monday through Saturday. Patients are invited to call 541.412.2000 during the hours of 7:30am-6:30pm to make a 15 minute appointment to treat a single, non-chronic condition lasting less than 7 days. If you're feeling a little sick or a little hurt, we don't want you to have to wait. We want you to get in, be seen, feel better, and get back to your life.
COVID19 Preparation: For the safety of our patients, visitors and staff
It is the goal of Curry Health Network to maintain the highest level of safety for not only our patients and visitors, but for our staff who are tasked with providing compassionate, quality care for you and your loved ones.
To that end and effective immediately, all patients and visitors of patients will enter all facilities through a single entrance. A friendly staff member will ask each patient and visitor if they have symptoms of COVID19 defined by criteria currently identified by the Oregon Health Authority and Centers for Disease Control. If symptomatic, we will provide to them a face mask to wear throughout their visit.
Additionally, we are following CDC guidelines to support slowing the worldwide spread of respiratory virus infections. One of these guidelines is to limit unnecessary congregations of persons. Effective immediately, in order to increase safety for you, our patients, and our staff, the Café is closed to the general public. It remains open to serve our patients, patient's visitors/attendants, and staff. We offer our most sincere apologies for the inconvenience and hope to see you when we are able to reopen to the public.
Building entry: All members of the public will enter the hospital building in Gold Beach (Curry General Hospital and Curry Medical Practice) through the Emergency Department entrance, which is located on the southeast corner of the building. Patients and visitors will find parking in the eastern-most lot most convenient. Entering through the lower level doors and the main entrance on the upper level will be prohibited.
All members of the public will enter Curry Medical Center in Brookings through the main entrance on the upper level, and will find it most convenient to park in the south (upper lot). Entering through the lower level (Specialty Clinic) doors will be prohibited. We will be asking staff to park in the lower level to make available to patients and visitors more parking in the upper level.
There is only one entrance to Curry Medical West in Gold Beach, and to Curry Family Medical in Port Orford. Visitors and patients will also be asked the screening questions and provided a mask if symptomatic.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Together, with your help, we can provide the safest environment for all concerned.
October 22, 2013
Curry Health Network adds Speech, Occupational Therapy services
Curry Health Network recently announced the addition of speech and occupational therapy now available at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, and at Curry Medical Center in Brookings.
"With services tailored to individual needs of both inpatients and outpatients, our partnership with Synertx allows us to offer innovative programs with a professional speech-language pathologist that address difficulties with speech, language and swallowing disorders," said Curry Health Network CEO Andrew Bair. "We've also added occupational therapy rehabilitation to our growing list of available services.
"Both speech and occupational therapies are also important components of our Swing Bed program in Gold Beach," he added.
Swing Bed is a program covered by Medicare that is an alternative to prolonged acute hospitalization or short term nursing facility placement for post-acute extended care. The swing bed program at Curry General Hospital provides skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapy services. "There are no facilities in Gold Beach that provide our swing bed therapies that allow patients to get the care they need right near home, and near their friends and family," Bair said.
Occupational therapy provides experience and practice with actual tasks to enable patients to participate to the fullest extent possible in activities in their daily living environment.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy may be of benefit to those with work-related injuries including lower back problems; limitations following a stroke or heart attack; arthritis, MS, or other serious chronic conditions; broken bones or other injuries or accidents; burns, spinal cord injuries, or amputations; vision or cognitive problems that threaten the ability to drive; and more.
The new therapy services are available by appointment at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, and at the Network's clinic in Brookings, Curry Medical Center. Referring physicians and patients may call 541-247-3134 for an appointment at either location.
"We're very happy to offer these vital health care services to our community," said Bair.
Gold Beach, Oregon (January 16, 2014)
Contractors, architects vie to build new hospital
This week the Curry Health District Board of Directors and senior leadership team met with eight groups vying to build the new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. More than 65% of District residents in November voted to pass the ballot measure to replace the hospital, and since then there has been a whirlwind of activity.
Having traveled from California, Colorado, Washington, or within the state of Oregon, the firms began the day with a tour of the 63-year old hospital, led by Curry Health Network's CEO, Andrew Bair.
The groups, either Design/Build firms, or Architect and Contractor teams, or Architects, were allotted thirty minutes to give a presentation to the Board which was followed by a brief question and answer period. One question most often asked of the firms was their history of working with local subcontractors and local labor. The firms also answered questions about their experience with Critical Access Hospitals, coastal weather conditions, protection against obsolete working environments, cost containment, and keeping the current hospital functional during the construction phase.
Design/Build firms presenting included Neenan Archistructure, Belay, and Erdman. Architect and Contractor teams included Cushing Terrell Architect & Engineers with Andersen Construction, PKA Architects with Perlo Construction, TVA Architects with Adroit Construction, and Ankrom-Moisan Architecture with Skanska Construction. Aspen Street Architecture, a firm specializing in modular hospital design, rounded out the lineup.
"This was a pre-interview," said Bair, "and only the first step of the process to select a qualified firm who can meet our community's need for continuing and expanded healthcare services with a new facility that will accommodate today's modern technology - and last for decades." Bair continued, "All of these firms have a proven track history, and that includes speed to market which is vitally important."
The teams will be submitting by January 29 their formal responses to the RFQ (Request for Qualifications) which will include much more information than they were able to present in their brief thirty minutes. The Board of Directors will then meet on February 3 to carefully review the RFQs and select finalists to be invited back for a more in-depth interview.
Board Member Deb Wilson said, "It was really a diverse group, and each had their own unique presentation style that gave us insight into their project management philosophy and methodology, experience and background. They were all very qualified to do the project, so the Board will have an incredibly tough decision to select the finalists, and then ultimately the team who will build our new hospital."
Board member DeAnna Craig agreed. "All of them were very interesting, but some distinguished themselves with the ideas they presented. It will be very hard to choose."
The Health District expects that a final decision will be made by mid-February.
New Urgent Care Hours in Brookings
BROOKINGS, OR (December 7, 2015) - Effective today, Urgent Care at Curry Medical Center, 500 5th Street in Brookings is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday). Holiday hours may vary.
Sometimes medical conditions occur that require immediate attention, but may not warrant a visit to the hospital Emergency Department. For non-emergency medical conditions such as sprains and strains, cuts and lacerations, scrapes and rashes, fevers, respiratory infections, flu symptoms, sore throats, earaches, diarrhea, vomiting and more, there is Urgent Care at Curry Medical Center in Brookings.
Urgent Care fills the gap between a primary care physician's office and an emergency room, and provides significant savings to patients and insurers compared to hospital emergency departments. Urgent Care has the ability to splint, repair lacerations, treat minor eye injuries, treat minor breathing problems or mild dehydration, and provide other limited diagnostic treatments/procedures. Non-emergency, outpatient care is offered to ambulatory patients on a walk-in basis without an appointment.
If there is any doubt as to whether a situation is an emergency requiring Emergency Department care, you should always call 911 or go directly to a hospital emergency department. Curry General Hospital (541-247-3000) is located at 94220 Fourth Street in Gold Beach.
Partnership with our Communities to the South of Curry Health District
You've got questions? We've got answers!
Who is proposing the annexation? Curry Health District, which is bounded in the north by Elk River (north of Port Orford), south by Pistol River, and includes Agness, is proposing expanding the District from its southern boundary south to the Oregon-California border. The special tax district does not currently include the northern-most or southern-most portions of Curry County. [Click on image to enlarge map]
July 17, 2015 Why?
In an age when many rural hospitals are closing (43 have closed since 2010), the Curry Health District is moving toward strengthening and growing in order to continue to provide quality healthcare, to increase the number of providers and specialists, and the types of services available to the community.
Isn't this all about tax dollars?
No. Curry Health District is financially stable, BUT an expanded District - including an area in which we have invested about $21 Million to provide infrastructure and health care services for more than 13 years - would bring in an additional estimated $1.2 Million annually in taxes. Those additional funds would afford the District the ability to expand Curry Medical Center to accommodate the volume of Emergency Department visits expected. Additionally, Curry Health District would look to provide healthcare services currently not offered in the region and reduce the burden on families that travel long distances for some services not currently available.
People, community, access to quality healthcare, ensured continuation of services, improving the quality of life - and in some cases, life itself - is the purpose of the proposed expanded District. Possible additional benefits to the community may include a bolstered economy, more jobs, and increased property values.
What additional services could potentially be provided?
If feasible, chemotherapy infusion and other complimentary cancer services, dialysis, comprehensive pain management programs and expanded access to specialists via telemedicine or on-site clinics.
How will this affect taxes?
The current District taxpayers pay 74.25 cents/$1,000 in assessed property value, plus an additional approximate 69 cents/$1,000 for the general obligation levy for the construction of the new Curry General Hospital, for a total of approximately $1.43/$1,000.
With an expanded District, all taxpayers (property owners who are residents of both the current District, and the proposed territory to be annexed) would share equally the tax levy and be assessed approximately 99 cents/$1,000 assessed property value.
Once the general obligation levy for the new hospital has been repaid in a number of years, the tax will be reduced approximately 25 cents/$1,000, to an estimated rate of 74 cents/$1,000.
How do the taxes for the Health District compare with other Oregon Health Districts?
According to the Special Districts Association of Oregon, there are currently 27 health districts within the state, and Oregon Department of Revenue statistics reflect that all except two receive a share of local property taxes. Of those districts that impose a tax, in 2014 the highest tax rate was $3.97 per $1,000 assessed value, and the average was $1.03.
How does the Emergency Department at Curry Medical Center in Brookings come into play?
Brookings is the largest city in the state of Oregon without emergency medical services. The Oregon Health Authority has approved a rule that will allow a satellite emergency department at Curry Health Network's clinic in Brookings. The rule is restrictive in that it requires that the emergency facility be a department of a hospital within 35 miles. For a satellite Emergency Department (ED) to exist in Brookings and because of the rule restrictions, Curry General Hospital is the only hospital that can provide those satellite ED services.
In January 2015, Curry General Hospital became safety and quality accredited by DNV-GL. DNV-GL, one of the "Big Three" hospital accrediting agencies for hospitals in the United States, is also the accrediting agency of Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Sacred Heart Medical Centers in Eugene and Springfield, Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, and Legacy Emanuel in Portland, among others throughout the state and nation.
In regard to the Brookings ED only, financial projections estimate the District could have an operating loss of $400,000 annually. The District is already investing $600,000 in capital costs to accommodate the opening of a small ED. To ensure that we are able to provide emergency care with appropriate medical equipment, for the volume of patients we anticipate will use the ED, and to accommodate space for both current services and anticipated expanded services, a building expansion is expected to be needed. Curry Medical Center is already at or exceeding capacity for space, without the ED.
In addition to construction costs, close to 40 additional staff will be needed to provide 24/7 care, with an estimated annual cost of $2.7 Million, including benefits.
If additional tax dollars are not available, the District may need to reevaluate if ED services can continue to be provided in Brookings.
Who gets to vote?
Every registered voter who is a resident of the current District, or who is a resident within the proposed territory to be annexed, may vote. There will be two ballot measures on the November election.
●One ballot measure would seek voter approval from current District residents to allow expansion. ●The other ballot measure would seek approval from the residents of the proposed territory to be annexed in the Brookings-Harbor area to join the District.
Each measure must pass by a simple majority (more than half) in order for the annexation to take place.
What about representation of south County on the Board of Directors? Can there be representation by geographical region?
There are currently five elected Board Members. The next election is in 2017, when three at-large seats will be up for election. By law, the board positions are by number only, and not geographical location. However, the District itself is one single entity, and any Board member has a fiduciary responsibility to make decisions in the best interest of the entire District. The Board, at some future date, may or may not consider increasing the number of its Members, but even if it does so, law requires that the new members be elected and not appointed.
Therefore, if annexation is successful, the Board has resolved to select and appoint two non-voting members from among a number of residents of the entire area to be annexed recommended by the City Council of the City of Brookings.
The appointed non-voting members will provide input in the decision-making process of the District upon annexation, and until such time as the new residents of the District are able to vote in an election.
What happens if a patient of the Brookings ED has a very high acuity level or requires services that Curry General Hospital is not able to provide?
That patient would be transported either by ground or air ambulance to a facility able to provide those services, with transport fees at patient expense or with allowable insurance. Cal-Ore has indicated that they will keep aircraft at Brookings, so in most cases and weather permitting, the patient can be flown directly from Brookings.
OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Curry Health Network doing to recruit and retain health care providers?
A third-party evaluation of the communities' demographics are used to determine what types of physicians and providers are needed, and Curry Health Network recruits to find providers to meet the needs of residents within those communities including Gold Beach, Port Orford, Brookings, and surrounding areas.
Since 2012, Curry Health Network has recruited 22 health care providers. General and orthopedic surgeons, family medicine physicians, an OB/GYN, Pediatrician, a Pain Management and Physiciatry specialist, a Mental Health practitioner, Urologists and an Internal Medicine physician have been recruited to serve the health care needs of our communities. Compensation is based on Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) median compensation wage with adjustments. Compensation packages may include continuing medical education allowances, moving allowances, loan repayment assistance, sign-on bonuses and basic employee benefits.
Prior to being invited to join the Network, Administration and Medical Staff are actively involved in the interview process with the physician and health care provider candidates, and we strive to employ those who enjoy living and practicing in our communities.
What if I don't have insurance? Can I still be seen in an ED?
Yes. EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act) governs when and how a patient may be refused treatment, or transferred from one hospital to another when in an unstable medical condition. The essential provisions of EMTALA are as follows:
Any patient who "comes to the emergency department" requesting "examination or treatment for a medical condition" must be provided with "an appropriate medical screening examination" to determine if he/she is suffering from an "emergency medical condition". If he/she is, then the hospital is obligated either to provide him/her with treatment until he/she is stable or to transfer him/her to another hospital in conformance with the statute's directives. A pregnant woman who presents in active labor must, for all practical purposes, be admitted and treated until delivery is completed. This applies to persons who come to the emergency department by any manner (walking, personal vehicle, ambulance, etc.).
Can I be seen at a clinic, same day clinic, or urgent care without insurance? Do you offer financial assistance?
Yes, patients without insurance may be seen at our clinics, but payment may be required at time of service. Curry Health Network does, however, provide charity care to persons who have healthcare needs and are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government program, or otherwise unable to pay, for medically necessary care based on their individual financial situation. Curry Health Network strives to ensure that the financial capacity of people who need health care services does not prevent them from seeking or receiving care. Interested persons should contact our financial counselors.
------------------- Oregon Secretary of State has granted "safe harbor" status for this ORS 260.432 compliant document, reference ADV.15-076.
Partnership with our Communities to the South of Curry Health District
You've got questions? We've got answers!
Who is proposing the annexation? Curry Health District, which is bounded in the north by Elk River (north of Port Orford), south by Pistol River, and includes Agness, is proposing expanding the District from its southern boundary south to the Oregon-California border. The special tax district does not currently include the northern-most or southern-most portions of Curry County. [Click on image to enlarge map]
July 17, 2015 Why?
In an age when many rural hospitals are closing (43 have closed since 2010), the Curry Health District is moving toward strengthening and growing in order to continue to provide quality healthcare, to increase the number of providers and specialists, and the types of services available to the community.
Isn't this all about tax dollars?
No. Curry Health District is financially stable, BUT an expanded District - including an area in which we have invested about $21 Million to provide infrastructure and health care services for more than 13 years - would bring in an additional estimated $1.2 Million annually in taxes. Those additional funds would afford the District the ability to expand Curry Medical Center to accommodate the volume of Emergency Department visits expected. Additionally, Curry Health District would look to provide healthcare services currently not offered in the region and reduce the burden on families that travel long distances for some services not currently available.
People, community, access to quality healthcare, ensured continuation of services, improving the quality of life - and in some cases, life itself - is the purpose of the proposed expanded District. Possible additional benefits to the community may include a bolstered economy, more jobs, and increased property values.
What additional services could potentially be provided?
If feasible, chemotherapy infusion and other complimentary cancer services, dialysis, comprehensive pain management programs and expanded access to specialists via telemedicine or on-site clinics.
How will this affect taxes?
The current District taxpayers pay 74.25 cents/$1,000 in assessed property value, plus an additional approximate 69 cents/$1,000 for the general obligation levy for the construction of the new Curry General Hospital, for a total of approximately $1.43/$1,000.
With an expanded District, all taxpayers (property owners who are residents of both the current District, and the proposed territory to be annexed) would share equally the tax levy and be assessed approximately 99 cents/$1,000 assessed property value.
Once the general obligation levy for the new hospital has been repaid in a number of years, the tax will be reduced approximately 25 cents/$1,000, to an estimated rate of 74 cents/$1,000.
How do the taxes for the Health District compare with other Oregon Health Districts?
According to the Special Districts Association of Oregon, there are currently 27 health districts within the state, and Oregon Department of Revenue statistics reflect that all except two receive a share of local property taxes. Of those districts that impose a tax, in 2014 the highest tax rate was $3.97 per $1,000 assessed value, and the average was $1.03.
How does the Emergency Department at Curry Medical Center in Brookings come into play?
Brookings is the largest city in the state of Oregon without emergency medical services. The Oregon Health Authority has approved a rule that will allow a satellite emergency department at Curry Health Network's clinic in Brookings. The rule is restrictive in that it requires that the emergency facility be a department of a hospital within 35 miles. For a satellite Emergency Department (ED) to exist in Brookings and because of the rule restrictions, Curry General Hospital is the only hospital that can provide those satellite ED services.
In January 2015, Curry General Hospital became safety and quality accredited by DNV-GL. DNV-GL, one of the "Big Three" hospital accrediting agencies for hospitals in the United States, is also the accrediting agency of Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Sacred Heart Medical Centers in Eugene and Springfield, Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, and Legacy Emanuel in Portland, among others throughout the state and nation.
In regard to the Brookings ED only, financial projections estimate the District could have an operating loss of $400,000 annually. The District is already investing $600,000 in capital costs to accommodate the opening of a small ED. To ensure that we are able to provide emergency care with appropriate medical equipment, for the volume of patients we anticipate will use the ED, and to accommodate space for both current services and anticipated expanded services, a building expansion is expected to be needed. Curry Medical Center is already at or exceeding capacity for space, without the ED.
In addition to construction costs, close to 40 additional staff will be needed to provide 24/7 care, with an estimated annual cost of $2.7 Million, including benefits.
If additional tax dollars are not available, the District may need to reevaluate if ED services can continue to be provided in Brookings.
Who gets to vote?
Every registered voter who is a resident of the current District, or who is a resident within the proposed territory to be annexed, may vote. There will be two ballot measures on the November election.
●One ballot measure would seek voter approval from current District residents to allow expansion. ●The other ballot measure would seek approval from the residents of the proposed territory to be annexed in the Brookings-Harbor area to join the District.
Each measure must pass by a simple majority (more than half) in order for the annexation to take place.
What about representation of south County on the Board of Directors? Can there be representation by geographical region?
There are currently five elected Board Members. The next election is in 2017, when three at-large seats will be up for election. By law, the board positions are by number only, and not geographical location. However, the District itself is one single entity, and any Board member has a fiduciary responsibility to make decisions in the best interest of the entire District. The Board, at some future date, may or may not consider increasing the number of its Members, but even if it does so, law requires that the new members be elected and not appointed.
Therefore, if annexation is successful, the Board has resolved to select and appoint two non-voting members from among a number of residents of the entire area to be annexed recommended by the City Council of the City of Brookings.
The appointed non-voting members will provide input in the decision-making process of the District upon annexation, and until such time as the new residents of the District are able to vote in an election.
What happens if a patient of the Brookings ED has a very high acuity level or requires services that Curry General Hospital is not able to provide?
That patient would be transported either by ground or air ambulance to a facility able to provide those services, with transport fees at patient expense or with allowable insurance. Cal-Ore has indicated that they will keep aircraft at Brookings, so in most cases and weather permitting, the patient can be flown directly from Brookings.
OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Curry Health Network doing to recruit and retain health care providers?
A third-party evaluation of the communities' demographics are used to determine what types of physicians and providers are needed, and Curry Health Network recruits to find providers to meet the needs of residents within those communities including Gold Beach, Port Orford, Brookings, and surrounding areas.
Since 2012, Curry Health Network has recruited 22 health care providers. General and orthopedic surgeons, family medicine physicians, an OB/GYN, Pediatrician, a Pain Management and Physiciatry specialist, a Mental Health practitioner, Urologists and an Internal Medicine physician have been recruited to serve the health care needs of our communities. Compensation is based on Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) median compensation wage with adjustments. Compensation packages may include continuing medical education allowances, moving allowances, loan repayment assistance, sign-on bonuses and basic employee benefits.
Prior to being invited to join the Network, Administration and Medical Staff are actively involved in the interview process with the physician and health care provider candidates, and we strive to employ those who enjoy living and practicing in our communities.
What if I don't have insurance? Can I still be seen in an ED?
Yes. EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act) governs when and how a patient may be refused treatment, or transferred from one hospital to another when in an unstable medical condition. The essential provisions of EMTALA are as follows:
Any patient who "comes to the emergency department" requesting "examination or treatment for a medical condition" must be provided with "an appropriate medical screening examination" to determine if he/she is suffering from an "emergency medical condition". If he/she is, then the hospital is obligated either to provide him/her with treatment until he/she is stable or to transfer him/her to another hospital in conformance with the statute's directives. A pregnant woman who presents in active labor must, for all practical purposes, be admitted and treated until delivery is completed. This applies to persons who come to the emergency department by any manner (walking, personal vehicle, ambulance, etc.).
Can I be seen at a clinic, same day clinic, or urgent care without insurance? Do you offer financial assistance?
Yes, patients without insurance may be seen at our clinics, but payment may be required at time of service. Curry Health Network does, however, provide charity care to persons who have healthcare needs and are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government program, or otherwise unable to pay, for medically necessary care based on their individual financial situation. Curry Health Network strives to ensure that the financial capacity of people who need health care services does not prevent them from seeking or receiving care. Interested persons should contact our financial counselors.
------------------- Oregon Secretary of State has granted "safe harbor" status for this ORS 260.432 compliant document, reference ADV.15-076.
Curry General Earns 4-Star Rating
A Journey to 5-Star Service Excellence
GOLD BEACH, OR (June 14, 2019) - Almost one year ago, Curry Health Network - including its flagship Curry General Hospital and clinics in Gold Beach, Brookings, and Port Orford - began a journey to service excellence through implementation of a multi-year strategy that includes not only quality and service, but engaging, developing and empowering their staff and improving processes. Evidence of its progress was recently received when the hospital was notified its federally determined "star rating" for experiences of hospitalized patients increased from three stars to four stars.
"We realize that it is not enough to deliver safe and quality health care, but we must also understand the patient's perception of customer service and exceed their expectations. The patient's experience begins with the very first contact and every employee of Curry Health Network is committed to delivering exceptional care and service to our patients," says CEO Ginny Razo.
That strategy is working, and while cultural change and process improvement is admittedly not easily accomplished, nor accomplished quickly, Razo says that positive changes are palpable and are being recognized by patients. "Service excellence is now becoming 'the way we do things around here'."
Curry General Hospital's 4-Star Patient Experience rating is based on the most recent (4th quarter 2017 through 3rd quarter 2018) Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys, which are a strictly-defined patient satisfaction survey by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Although critical access hospitals are not required to participate, Curry Health Network understands the importance to voluntarily participate with HCAHPS. The survey is administered by an independent third-party that asks patients to rate their experience during their hospital stay on a scale of 1-10 for a variety of criteria, with results reported under the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP).
Curry General topped both state and national averages in several categories including communication with nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, communication about medicines, cleanliness of the hospital environment, quietness of the hospital environment, overall rating of the hospital, and willingness to recommend the hospital. Responsiveness of hospital staff received 5-stars with a resounding 87% of patients saying the staff was "always" responsive whereas the state average was 72% and the national average 70%. Additionally, 77% of Curry General's patients said they would "definitely recommend the hospital" when the state and national averages were 74% and 72%, respectively.
"We are dedicated to continue our journey to service excellence and all of us at Curry Health Network - beginning with the Board of Directors, to administration, to management, and especially our care givers and front-line staff - are firmly committed to continue on that path until we become the 'Provider and Employer of Choice'," Razo stated. "Excellent service is an experience that our hospital and clinic patients and visitors deserve, and we are working hard to deliver. Our goal is to provide a 5-Star patient experience to each and every patient, 100 percent of the time."
"now serving the gynecological needs of women of all ages"
Gold Beach, OR (April 15, 2019) - Curry Health Network is pleased to welcome OB-GYN Richard (Rik) Battey, MD to their team of provider specialists, now serving the gynecological needs of women of all ages. Dr. Battey received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, LA, a city in which he also completed an obstetrics & gynecology internship and residency.
Dr. Battey comes to CHN from the Grants Pass area and has extensive experience in performing various obstetric and gynecologic procedures, both in the clinic and hospital settings. He has participated in over 5,000 deliveries and manages routine and high-risk pregnancies.
Dr. Battey is excited to be living on the beautiful southern Oregon coast with the opportunity to utilize his experience and training as an OB-GYN physician to care for the patients of our communities.
He is seeing patients now at Curry Medical Practice in Gold Beach, and at Curry Medical Center in Brookings. Patients are invited to call 541.247.3910 for an appointment with Dr. Rik Battey.
Pricing Transparency - Costs of Services Online
GOLD BEACH, OR (Jan. 1, 2019) - Pricing for common services and procedures at Curry Health Network (Curry General Hospital, Curry Medical Practice and Curry Medical West in Gold Beach, Curry Medical Center in Brookings, and Curry Family Medical in Port Orford) are now online to help patients make informed decisions, and to compare with other regional hospitals!
Curry Health Network's (CHN) prices are available in "apples to apples" comparison with other hospitals in Medford, Coos Bay, Crescent City, Bandon, Coquille, Ashland, Grants Pass and Lakeview.
CHN determines its standard charges for patient items and services through the use of a chargemaster system, which is a list of charges for the components of patient care that go into every patient's bill. These are the baseline rates for items and services provided. The chargemaster is similar in concept to the manufacturer's suggested retail price ("MSRP") on a particular product or good. The charges listed provide only a general starting point in determining the potential costs of an individual patient's care. This list does not reflect the actual out-of-pocket costs that may be paid by a patient for any particular service, it is not binding, and the actual charges for items and services may vary.
Many factors may influence the actual cost of an item or service, including insurance coverage, rates negotiated with payors, and so on. Government payors, such as Medicare and Medicaid for example, do not pay the chargemaster rates, but rather have their own set rates that hospitals are obligated to accept. Commercial insurance payments are based on contract negotiations with payors and may or may not reflect the standard charges. The cost of treatment also may be impacted by variables involved in a patient's actual care, such as specific equipment or supplies required, the length of time spent in surgery or recovery, additional tests, or any changes in care or unexpected conditions or complications that arise. Moreover, the foregoing of charges for services only includes charges from the hospital. It does not reflect the charges for physicians, such as the surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, pathologist, or other physician specialists or providers who may be involved in providing particular services to a patient. These charges are billed separately.
Notwithstanding the factors that may influence the actual cost of an item or service to the patient, the comparison is meaningful as a starting point and provides "apples to apples" comparison for the same type and level of services provided at other regional hospitals.
Curry General Earns 2018 Outpatient Top Performer Award
GOLD BEACH, OR (August 9, 2018) - Curry General Hospital has been recognized by the Office of Rural Health (ORH) as the Overall 2018 MBQIP Outpatient Top Performer among all 25 Oregon Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for reporting MBQIP (Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project) measures.
ORH uses the following criteria for selection: ●consistent reporting for all quarters ●how many measures the CAHs have reported on ●how many times the CAH came in at or above the State and National 90th percentile ranking on the reported measures
To earn this award, Curry General Hospital was: ●ranked ABOVE the Oregon 90th percentile for 15 of the 16 reported periods in 2017 ●ranked AT or ABOVE the National 90th percentile for 8 of the reported periods ●ranked ABOVE the 90th percentile for BOTH State and National in all 4 quarters for "Median Time from ED Arrival to Provider Contact for ED Patients" ●1 of only 4 CAHs who met a 90th percentile ranking on the above measure, and did so in ALL four quarters!
CEO Ginny Razo is clearly pleased with the measure outcomes, and appreciative of staff's efforts. "Curry Health Network greatly values the efforts of Jen Klausmeier, RN and Tami Youngblood, Trauma & Quality Data Analyst, who gathered and analyzed data, and reported on numerous outpatient measures. Without their dedication, we would not have been recognized for this prestigious award," she said.
Razo also commended the strong efforts of the entire staff which contributed to the measure outcomes ranking at or above State and National medians. "Our community should have confidence in the services provided by our Emergency Department (ED) staff. Thanks to the patient-centered and determined efforts of our ED physicians, Director of Outpatient Services Isaac Hodges, and the entire ED staff, patients were seen by a physician in only 3.5 minutes on average, whereas the State median time is 16 minutes and the National is 19 minutes."
As recipient of the ORH's MBQIP Outpatient Overall Top Performer award, Curry Health Network will receive $5,000 to be used for a quality improvement project of its choosing that will help demonstrate improvements in a MBQIP-related domain or measure, or to begin reporting on a measure previously not reported.
Youngblood and Klausmeier will also share a $700 scholarship to attend the 35th Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference in October when they will be recognized at the awards luncheon for their outstanding efforts.
New cutting-edge molecular laboratory technology at Curry General Hospital
GOLD BEACH, OR (July 26, 2018) - Curry Health Network held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 25 to celebrate the acquisition of cutting-edge molecular laboratory technology that provides remarkably rapid test results with improved accuracy.
"Our clinicians can make much faster and more accurate diagnoses and begin more quickly the appropriate treatment on patients," CEO Ginny Razo said. "While the technology is small in stature, it packs a big punch. Our lab can now perform some tests in a fraction of the time it took before, and can do more in-house testing that was previously sent out to external laboratories." Razo was honored to cut the blue ribbon in the Curry General Hospital laboratory in Gold Beach and was equally pleased to announce the laboratory had completed validation of the new GeneXpert which is now in service.
Prior to the GeneXpert, testing for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, a staph bacterium that is becoming resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat ordinary staph infections) took 18-24 hours, and is now completed in only 2 hours.
"Not only is MRSA testing completed in a fraction of the time, we can test in-house for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). That was a test that was previously sent to external laboratories, but now it is done along with the MRSA testing, right here in Gold Beach - and very quickly," Laboratory Manager Tena Tiruneh said. MSSA is a staph bacteria resistant to a class of antibiotics commonly used to treat most staph infections.
The GeneXpert molecular testing technology is also used in the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile (C-Diff), a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon, and Group A streptococcus. "The test modality preparatory steps of the new diagnostic equipment are minimal compared to the old process, and less prone to other limitations that impacted quality results. The test results for C-Diff and Group A strep are now completed much quicker and more accurately."
"Having this cutting-edge technology available to Curry Health Network's health care providers and other providers in the community is very exciting. Improving patient outcomes is the primary goal of any health system, and this new molecular diagnostic equipment will most certainly benefit our patients," Razo said.
Anyone with questions about laboratory tests performed at Curry Health Network are invited to call Tiruneh at 541.247.3051.
Hospital to Retain Critical Access Status
CMS rescinds termination notice
GOLD BEACH, OR (May 8, 2018)- Curry Health Network's CEO Ginny Razo announced today that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has rescinded their earlier determination that Curry General Hospital's Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status would be terminated because it no longer met location requirements to retain the status.
"I am so pleased to announce that the evidence we submitted to CMS was accepted, and Curry Health Network (CHN) will continue to be designated as a Critical Access Hospital," Razo said. "Maintaining this status allows Curry to continue to receive the financial benefit of cost-based reimbursement for Medicare services."
The letter from CMS received via fax on the afternoon of May 7 stated, "CMS recognizes Curry as a necessary provider and rescinds its termination of Curry's designation as a CAH." It further went on to explain that CHN had provided acceptable evidence that Curry's clinic in Brookings, Curry Medical Center, is a "grandfathered off-campus site" and as such, is exempt from the need to meet the 35-mile location test from other hospitals or off-campus sites.
When Curry General became a CAH in 2004, CMS did not interpret the regulations requiring a 35-mile distance from another hospital to include off-campus, provider-based clinics. In fact, at that time in 2004, Curry operated a clinic in Brookings and that clinic was licensed under the hospital license. In addition, Sutter Coast Hospital's provider-based clinic in Brookings was also in existence when Curry General became a CAH.
A letter received April 3, 2018 from CMS said the CAH status would be terminated in April 2019 because it no longer met the mileage requirements, citing the distance from the Curry clinic to Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City, California, as well as the distance from the Sutter clinic to Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. As Razo said at the time, "It appears CMS is now interpreting those location requirements differently."
Razo had two possible plans of action, each with the same 60-day deadline to respond. If no action was taken, the CAH status would be terminated in 2019, the favorable reimbursement rates would be eliminated, and the financial impact would likely have been immense.
The first plan of action was to provide evidence to CMS to establish that Curry met Necessary Provider (NP) status prior to January 1, 2006 (a date established by CMS). NP status criteria was established by the Office of Rural Health, a responsibility delegated to the agency by the Oregon Health Authority. In 2004, neither Curry nor the Office of Rural Health could anticipate the need to establish NP status, as Curry met all the federal criteria including the distance requirement - and it would have been impossible to predict that CMS would, years later, interpret the location requirements to include provider-based clinics.
The second plan of action was to file an appeal through the federal court system - a plan that may have been costly but is now unnecessary.
Razo was working on both plans simultaneously, and on April 27, submitted evidence to CMS to support it met NP status in 2006. "The evidence showed we met Necessary Provider status in 2004 when Curry was designated a Critical Access Hospital, that it has continued to meet the criteria, and that - even today - still meets that criteria," Razo said.
"Gathering the evidence to support our position was accomplished with assistance from many different persons and many different agencies," Razo said. "Meredith Guardino and others with the Office of Rural Health, Dana Selover of the Oregon Health Authority, Gary Milliman with the City of Brookings, Jim Kolen, Amy and Tracy with the Curry County Assessor's office - all these individuals made themselves immediately available and provided key pieces of evidence. Without it, CMS may not have come to this favorable decision."
CHN Supports Cardiologist
"important fact omitted in newspaper article about Dr. Giri"
Gold Beach, OR (April 23, 2018) - Curry Health Network's CEO, Ginny Razo, is pleased that there is final resolution to the Oregon Medical Board matter related to the Network's Cardiologist, Dr. Satyendra (Seth) Giri, but is disappointed that an important fact was omitted in a recent local newspaper article that made it appear that Dr. Giri is unable to practice medicine.
"That is not accurate. Dr. Giri's medical license is in good standing," she said, referring to a finding by the Oregon Medical Board on April 5.
Razo went on to explain that Dr. Giri, who came to the Network in 2016 from Bay Area, was fully transparent with her, the Medical Executive Committee and the Medical Staff about circumstances from years past. "During the hiring process, Dr. Giri offered a full explanation to our satisfaction."
"The Medical Staff of Curry Health Network (CHN) has the responsibility to vet health care providers prior to granting medical privileges. Dr. Giri underwent a rigorous credentialing process, and the Medical Staff was satisfied with the outcome," she explained.
The types of procedures for which Dr. Giri is prohibited from performing are not procedures performed at CHN. "He did not request, nor was he granted privileges, for interventional cardiology procedures," said Razo. Interventional, or invasive, cardiology procedures include cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and heart valve repair, and CHN does not provide those services.
"CHN continually monitors quality of services and medical care provided, and according to patient satisfaction surveys for Dr. Giri, his patients are highly satisfied with the care he provides. We are pleased that there is final resolution to this issue and remain steadfast in our belief in Dr. Giri and his medical practice of non-interventional cardiology at Curry Health Network," she summarized.
"We hope Dr. Giri will be with CHN for many years to come, providing safe, quality services for the benefit of his patients. He is a valued member of our Medical Staff, and a great benefit to our community," Razo added.
Curry General - Critical Access Hospital Status
a nationwide issue
GOLD BEACH, OR (April 17, 2018) - Curry Health Network's CEO, Ginny Razo, is taking a two-pronged approach in the Network's action plan in response to a letter received April 3, 2018 from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stating CMS has determined Curry General Hospital no longer meets the criteria to retain Critical Access Hospital status, and, if no action is taken, plans to decertify the status in one year.
CAH is a designation that was created in 1997 in response to a number of closures of rural hospitals in the 1980s and early 1990s. CAH designation was designed to reduce financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities. CAH designation allows hospitals to receive cost-based reimbursement for Medicare services.
The current actions of CMS were prompted by a 2013 report from the Office of Inspector General that found most Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) would not meet the location requirements if required to re-enroll in Medicare. They recommended that CMS periodically reassess compliance for this location-related requirement, and CMS is doing so for all CAHs in the U.S. upon the hospital's recertification cycle, every 3-years.
Although there are other requirements to be a designated CAH, the location requirement is to be located more than 35 miles from another hospital. The CMS letter, however, states that because Sutter Coast Hospital's provider-based clinic in Brookings is less than 35 miles from the hospital in Gold Beach, and because the Network's clinic in Brookings is less than 35 miles from Sutter Coast Hospital, that the mileage requirement is not met. "It now appears CMS is interpreting those location requirements differently," Razo said.
It is important to note that when CAH status was granted, a Network clinic in Brookings already existed, was operating, and was licensed under the hospital license. According to CMS, the Sutter clinic was also in existence when Curry General became a CAH.
CMS also allows state authorities to adopt regulations or create a State Rural Health Plan that establishes criteria for Necessary Provider (NP) status for other vulnerable hospitals that did not meet the distance requirements of the federal regulations, allowing them to also be designated as a CAH. The state authority in Oregon that can establish that criteria is the Oregon Health Authority, and that agency delegated that responsibility - in addition to the responsibility to designate the hospitals with NP status as CAHs - to the Office of Rural Health.
In 2004 when Curry General became a CAH, it did not need to be designated as a NP because it met all the federal requirements.
Razo says Curry Health Network will be pursuing two action plans simultaneously, as they each have the same 60-day deadline.
The first approach allowed by CMS is for the hospital to establish that it could have met NP status before January 1, 2006 (a date established by CMS) by providing evidence to that effect. Razo has been working with the Office of Rural Health (ORH) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to gather that evidence. Additionally, ORH has stated the agency will offer a letter stating the hospital met the State's criteria to qualify as a necessary provider before January 1, 2006 and ORH considers the hospital to have been designated as a NP at the time of its CAH certification in 2004. Additionally, OHA has stated they will offer a letter supporting ORH's determination.
Should the evidence Curry Health Network submit to CMS be accepted, the process ends, and the hospital maintains its CAH status with favorable cost-based reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid.
Should the evidence be denied, the Network can appeal through the federal court system. Because the 60-day deadline for submission of evidence is the same for appeal, Razo is also working to present a strong case on appeal. She has been working with the Governor's office and the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems to gain widespread legislative support for Curry Health Network and other CAHs in Oregon and across the U.S. that have been, or will likely be, impacted by CMS's position on this issue.
"This is not a Curry General Hospital issue", said Razo. "This is an issue that can potentially affect numerous rural hospitals throughout the country.
"We are aggressively pursuing both courses of action available to us at this time, and are working with legal counsel who is knowledgeable and has experience with this type of situation in order to protect the hospital's CAH status," she said. "At the same time, we are also working with our external auditors to evaluate the financial impact of a potential CAH status loss, as well as financial impact if we convert our Brookings clinic to a free-standing clinic or Rural Health Clinic. There are other hospitals going through this same situation, or a similar situation right now - or they will be. This can adversely affect access to health care in rural settings nationwide."
Free Advance Care Planning Workshop
April 14 - Join us for a free Advance Care Planning workshop. Make sure your health care choices are known. It's important to have your "legal ducks" in a row. Learn about POLST, advance directive, durable power of attorney, planning for your care, and Medicaid services for the aging & disabled. Discuss real life scenarios - when things go wrong. Give a gift to your family, not the burden of guilt.
Think about it.
Talk about it.
Share it.
This free workshop is co-sponsored by Curry Health Network and Oregon Department of Human Services, and is being held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 14 in the conference room of Curry General Hospital at 94220 4th Street in Gold Beach.
Join Curry Health Network's LCSW, Jeff Turner, and Oregon DHS Aging & People with Disabilities county supervisor, Linda Hunter for this important and informative workshop. Bring your parents. Bring your adult children. Bring your friend or neighbor, or just come to learn and for your own peace of mind.
Advance Care Planning - Learn how to make sure your health care choices are known.
FastHealth Security
(March 26, 2018) - Some community member may have received, or may be receiving, a letter from FastHealth Interactive Healthcare notifying them of a security incident. Curry Health Network has received inquiries from staff and community members regarding the legitimacy of the letter, and would like to share the following information:
●FastHealth is a company with whom Curry Health Network (CHN) contracts to provide the hosting and programming for its web site. They provide these services to many hundreds of hospitals and other healthcare organizations. FastHealth stores the files which comprise the content and data submitted in forms on the CHN web site, on their servers in Alabama.
●FastHealth determined, through a lengthy investigation, that an unauthorized third-party accessed their web server, and may have been able to acquire information from certain databases.
●The database in question contained information submitted on the CHN employment application form, from which, again, information may or may not have been accessed. The information did not include Health Information protected by HIPAA, medical records, patient portal data, online bill pay information, or any other forms on the web site or linked to/from the web site.
●FastHealth is required to notify persons who may have been affected by this unauthorized access to their server, and is in the process of sending letters to those whose information had the potential to be accessed.
●FastHealth is offering one year's identity monitoring services to all persons who receive the letter. This service includes credit monitoring, fraud consultation, and identity theft restoration.
To be clear - this incident is a FastHealth security issue; it is not a Curry Health Network security issue and does not reflect on the security of the CHN data systems. Additionally, the security of the web site does not fall under the purview of the Curry Health Network IT department, but rather to the vendor.
If you have received a letter, or receive a letter in the future, and have questions, comments or concerns, please contact the call center number included in the letter (1-833-215-3730).
Free Stop the Bleed Class
Learn how to "STOP THE BLEED" where bystanders to traumatic injury can become immediate responders and lifesavers. Someone with a severe injury to an artery can bleed to death in 3-5 minutes.
Become trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. You CAN make a difference. 20% of people who have died from traumatic injuries could have survived with quick bleeding control.
You ARE the help until help arrives. Who can benefit from this training? Law enforcement officers, firefighters, school teachers, and YOU!
Join Curry Health Network at 4 p.m. in the Curry General Hospital conference room on Saturday, March 31st for this life-saving training and education.
Let's Talk About Heart Health
Please join Curry Health Network for a free Heart Health educational presentation by Cardiologist Seth Giri, MD, with Hands-Only CPR & AED (debrillator) demonstrations on Tues., Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Chetco Activity Center in Brookings.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. The good news? It is also one of the most preventable.
You'll learn: ●The 7 Myths of Heart Disease ●Prevalence of Heart Disease ●How it can be Prevented ●Who gets it ●How it is treated
Demonstrations ●Hands-only CPR ●AED (defibrillator) use
This event is co-sponsored by Curry Health Network, and the Brookings division of the Curry General Hospital Auxiliary.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to come; refreshments will be served.
We hope to see you there!
Let's Talk About Heart Health
Please join Curry Health Network for a free Heart Health educational presentation by Cardiologist Seth Giri, MD, with Hands-Only CPR & AED (debrillator) demonstrations on Tues., Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Chetco Activity Center in Brookings.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. The good news? It is also one of the most preventable.
You'll learn: ●The 7 Myths of Heart Disease ●Prevalence of Heart Disease ●How it can be Prevented ●Who gets it ●How it is treated
Demonstrations ●Hands-only CPR ●AED (defibrillator) use
This event is co-sponsored by Curry Health Network, and the Brookings division of the Curry General Hospital Auxiliary.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to come; refreshments will be served.
We hope to see you there!
We need your input
Community Health Needs Assessment
Your thoughts and experiences about health in Curry County are important. We want to add your perspectives to our Health Assessment. Before January 23, please take a few moments to complete the online survey.
Curry Health Network and more than a dozen organizations including hospitals, clinics, public health and other non-profits have collaborated to complete a comprehensive community health assessment.
We use this information to increase our understanding of health issues facing our community, to help us better plan our programs and services, and to help us meet requirements.
The survey touches on a variety of subjects that affect our community: health care, education, housing, nutrition, employment and more.
The survey is available here through midnight on January 22, 2018.
Join Dr. Jessica Carlson to Learn About Breast Health
GOLD BEACH, OR (October 4, 2017) - In honor of October's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Curry Health Network and the Curry General Hospital Auxiliary are proud to co-sponsor a free educational presentation to our community members about breast health.
Please join Curry Health Network's General Surgeon, Dr. Jessica Carlson, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 in the conference room of Curry General Hospital at 94220 4th Street in Gold Beach.
Learn about:
●the importance of mammograms and breast cancer screening ●self breast exams ●signs and symptoms of breast cancer ●risk factors for breast cancer ●treatment ●prognosis
About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
In 2017, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
About 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2017. A man's lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
Please join us!
Join Dr. Jessica Carlson to Learn About Breast Health
GOLD BEACH, OR (October 4, 2017) - In honor of October's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Curry Health Network and the Curry General Hospital Auxiliary are proud to co-sponsor a free educational presentation to our community members about breast health.
Please join Curry Health Network's General Surgeon, Dr. Jessica Carlson, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 in the conference room of Curry General Hospital at 94220 4th Street in Gold Beach.
Learn about:
●the importance of mammograms and breast cancer screening ●self breast exams ●signs and symptoms of breast cancer ●risk factors for breast cancer ●treatment ●prognosis
About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
In 2017, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
About 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2017. A man's lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
Please join us!
Curry Medical Center - Normal Services Resumed
BROOKINGS, OR (August 22, 2017) - Curry Medical Center, Brookings - update for services on Tue., 8/22
It is business as usual at Curry Medical Center in Brookings today. We will welcome patients with scheduled appointments for Primary Care and Specialty Care, and Urgent Care will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In response to the Chetco Bar Fire and the evacuation of residents that included providers and other healthcare staff, Curry Health Network (CHN) opened its Hospital Incident Command (HICS) Center to prepare for any impacts it may have from the Chetco Bar Fire.
Given the information CHN had at that time, it was determined that conserving resources and focusing on Urgent Care needs of the community would be a priority. To that end, CHN made the decision to operate a robust Urgent Care Clinic from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with additional Providers and a full compliment of laboratory and diagnostic services. All patients that presented to Curry Medical Center (CMC) were seen, even patients who had appointments with their primary care provider on Monday. The day was successful from a patient safety/patient-centered healthcare perspective.
Today, August 22, 2017, healthcare services at CMC are back to normal with primary care, specialty care, urgent care, lab and x-ray open to see patients. We will continue to monitor the impacts of the Chetco Bar Fire on residents, employees and providers and will adjust operations accordingly.
Brookings - scheduled appts cancelled today
BROOKINGS, OR (August 21, 2017) - Curry Medical Center, Brookings - update for services on Monday, 8/21
●*Urgent Care is open 8-8** Due to fire-related activity, a decision was made last evening to cancel all primary care and specialty care scheduled appointments for today at Curry Medical Center in Brookings. Attempts were made to reach all patients by telephone last evening.
Urgent Care will remain OPEN, with hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
All staff regularly scheduled to work at Curry Medical Center today have been asked to come in; this includes those who would normally be working in Primary Care and Specialty Care. This additional staff, in combination with other providers who have volunteered to be available in urgent care, if needed, will allow a higher volume of patients to be seen.
The emergency department at Curry General Hospital remains open and staffed 24/7.
Brookings Townhall Cancelled
The Curry Health Network CEO's Townhall Meeting scheduled on June 30, 2017 in Brookings has been cancelled
First Patient Welcomed at New Curry General Hospital
GOLD BEACH, OR (May 25, 2017) - Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach welcomed its first patient, Jean Thomsen, at 7 a.m. this morning. Ms. Thomsen and the last patient of the old hospital, Marlies Wessbecher, were each kind enough to consent to sharing their information, having photos taken and giving press interviews.
Seven patients were transported by ambulance from the old hospital to the new hospital, immediately adjacent. There were all personally welcomed by Curry Health Network CEO Ginny Razo.
Board Chairman Ryan Ringer and Medical Staff President Reginald Williams, M.D. were also in attendance to welcome the first patient to the community's new state-of-the-art 62,000 square foot facility.
Orthopaedics Program Grows at Curry Health Network
GOLD BEACH, OR (March 15, 2017) - With the upcoming opening of the new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach coupled with the recent addition of orthopaedic surgeon Cornelius (Connie) L. Britt, M.D., Curry Health Network's CEO Ginny Razo says the Orthopaedics program will be bigger and better than ever.
"We're very excited to have Dr. Britt on board," said Razo. "As a small health network in a rural location, we're lucky to have successfully recruited such an experienced and accomplished board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is just as excited to be here as we are to have him. We know the community will benefit greatly by his addition."
When asked what drew him to Curry Health Network, Dr. Britt said one of the main attractions was the opportunity to work in a brand new hospital. Pausing briefly, he clarified, "The new hospital, the team Ginny has put together, and the opportunity to be part of a Network that truly has the health and well-being of the community members as its primary focus were all big factors."
Dr. Britt is clearly thrilled at the prospect of performing surgeries not available at the Network in recent years, and to do so in what he called the "spectacular and state-of-the-art surgical suites" in the new hospital. According to Razo, the combination of the new surgeon and the new hospital will allow for an expanded orthopaedic program which includes total knee and total hip replacements.
"These procedures allow for less invasive approaches to lower extremity joint replacements," Britt explained. "They're 'muscle-sparing' procedures, and they give patients the ability to ambulate more quickly and to have a much shorter hospital stay - often just one night."
The total knee and total hip replacements will just be two of the procedures available. "Other procedures include rotator cuff repair for shoulders, as well as procedures for shoulder instability. Hand surgeries including carpal tunnel release, trigger finger release, ganglion cyst excision, extensor tendon repair and treatment of hand fractures," said Britt. "And more," Razo added, rattling off a list including wrist, hip, ankle and many other bone fractures, and numerous Arthroscopic surgical procedures for the knee.
"Although I enjoy all orthopaedic surgical procedures, I have a particular fondness for total knee and total hip replacements," said Britt. "Those operations can truly change people's lives for the better."
Dr. Britt has practiced in his specialty for more than 35 years, most recently in private practice in Lander, Wyoming. While he says he will miss many great friendships developed over his 14 years in Wyoming, he will also miss trout fishing in the mountain streams of that area. "I plan to try to make up for that by chasing steelhead and salmon", he said with a chuckle.
"My wife Deborah and I are really looking forward to settling into our new home in Gold Beach, and to have our three grown sons, two daughters-in-law - three, in June, when our youngest son is married - and two grandchildren visit," he said. "The staff has been great, the community has been friendly, and we're really happy to be here."
Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Britt earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia, School of Medicine, completed a rotating internship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, and an orthopaedic surgery program residency at the University of Missouri - Columbia, School of Medicine.
Dr. Britt will see patients at Curry Medical Center in Brookings, and at Curry Medical Practice in Gold Beach. While the Gold Beach clinic currently operates out of a small outbuilding on the hospital campus, it will be relocated to the second floor in the new Curry General. Patients are invited to call 541-412-2000 for an appointment.
Public Invited to Ribbon-Cutting, Guided Tours at New Hospital
Welcome to your New Hospital
GOLD BEACH, OR (March 29, 2017) - This Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. will be the final opportunity for community members to tour the new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the main East entrance at 1 p.m., followed by guided tours throughout the 62,097 square foot, state-of-the-art facility until 4 p.m.
Once the new hospital opens, there will be many areas of the building that, because of privacy laws, the general public will be unable to visit unless they are a patient. Curry Health Network's Board of Directors, CEO Ginny Razo and Medical Staff President Dr. Reginald Williams will welcome the public, and staff will take visitors on tours, showing off the new facility and equipment and talking about services that will be available.
"It's truly an historic occasion," said Razo, "and we hope that everyone can attend - it's their hospital, and I think they'll be very, very pleased." Razo says several events were held during the week of March 20 where specific groups were invited for tours. That included Emergency Service providers, Rotarians, Soroptimists, Auxiliary members, Chamber of Commerce members, and staff with their families.
"We heard a lot of 'wows'", said Razo. "It was a pleasure to welcome these groups to the hospital, and we're all looking forward to Saturday's event."
If needed, overflow parking will be available during the hours of the April 1 event at both the Gold Beach High School and Port of Gold Beach. Shuttle buses will transport visitors from those parking areas to and from the hospital.
While the community has seen the multi-story structure being constructed over time, it's an entirely new experience seeing it from the spacious interior, seeing the new furniture, artwork and medical equipment. Razo used the CT scanner as an example. "The new scanner is the latest technology; 64-slice versus the 16-slice CT in the old hospital," said Razo. "A full body CT scan will now be done so quickly, and with the lowest dose of radiation possible."
The new Curry General was designed with quality care, patient satisfaction and patient privacy in mind. "The registration area offers increased privacy. So does the ER - whereas curtains separated patients in the old 400 square foot Emergency Room, the new ER is ten times larger and has four private exam rooms plus a two-bay trauma suite. There is privacy in the surgical services department, privacy in the blood draw area, privacy in the diagnostic imaging suite. We have private consultation rooms for physicians to speak with patients and their families. Everything was designed for patient privacy," she said.
The larger facility also allows space for increased services. A new Physical Therapy suite will accommodate a greater need for this service with the addition of Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Cornelius (Connie) Britt, and will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for use by both inpatients and outpatients. "Patient privacy was also a consideration in the design of the PT suite," said Razo. "There are three private treatment rooms."
"This is truly the community's hospital," she said, "and one that will meet their needs and last for decades to come." Construction to replace the 65 year-old hospital that no longer meets building code or patient needs was overwhelmingly supported by residents of the Health District in November 2013 when they voted to approve a $10 Million general obligation bond to partially fund the project.
"I could speak for hours about how this hospital was designed to meet the needs of our patients," said Razo, "but I think it is best communicated by inviting the public to see for themselves, and to let the new hospital speak for itself. You won't be able to walk out after the tour without knowing what this new facility will mean to the community, and to the improved and expanded delivery of quality care."
CHN Surgeon appointed to Surgery Advisory Council
GOLD BEACH, OR (December 12, 2016) - Dr. Glenn Levine was one of five surgeons recently appointed to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Advisory Council for Rural Surgery during the annual ACS Clinical Congress in Washington, DC.
The mission of the Advisory Council for Rural Surgery, a committee of the ACS Board of Regents, is to identify, investigate, and rectify the challenges of rural surgical practice. Its members are elected to three-year terms and work to support rural surgeons through recruitment, retention, mentoring, and post-residency education.
There is also a special focus to encourage surgical residency programs to develop rural residency tracks to ensure that surgical residents will be comfortable entering a rural surgical practice following residency.
Glenn Levine, MD is a general surgeon employed by Curry Health Network, and performs surgeries at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach and at Rush Surgery Center in Brookings. He sees patients at Curry Medical Practice and Curry Medical Center, in Gold Beach and Brookings, respectively.
Dr. Levine has been an ACS Fellow since 1996. His areas of interest include trauma care, open and laparoscopic surgery of the alimentary canal and peritoneal cavity, hernia repair, colon cancer prevention and screening, benign ano-rectal disease, and biliary pathology.
Dr. Levin's administrative interests include medical education, surgical mentoring, medical staff credentialing and privileging, and advocacy for the solo rural surgeon working without local professional support.
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
Monthly town halls to be held in Brookings
BROOKINGS, OR (October 26, 2016) - Curry Health Network's CEO, Ginny Razo, is inviting community members to attend monthly town halls in Brookings. The new communication opportunity begins this month with the first town hall scheduled for October 28 at noon in the conference room at Curry Medical Center on 5th Street.
"Part of my responsibility as CEO is to keep employees, staff, physicians and community members informed of the Network's plans including progress on key initiatives and intentions to form affiliations or partnerships," said Razo.
"While Curry Health Network (CHN) employs many methods of communication including public board meetings, our web site (www.CurryHealthNetwork.com), community email newsletters, and regular email updates and meetings with staff, I've found that a more interactive and less formal town hall setting involving community members is very valuable - both to me, and to the community," she added.
Razo has been holding monthly town halls with community members in Gold Beach since she joined the Network in May, 2015. What began with the former CEO as a small monthly meeting with leaders of service clubs such as Rotary and Soroptimists has morphed into a format attended by all interested community members - often to include 30 or more attendees.
Razo now wants to bring that opportunity to Brookings-Harbor area residents.
"The Brookings-Harbor community is very important to Curry Health Network in many ways, and we want to be able to fulfill our mission - healthy communities in which there is efficient, quality health care - with them in mind." Razo paused, then added, "Perhaps even more important than sharing information is the opportunity to listen. Communication is a two-way street. I have a great sense of the wisdom within our community, and I hope to seek that out as much as I can."
The topics for this month's town hall will include agenda items from the Board of Directors meeting to be held earlier in the week, including but not limited to provider recruitment, Obstetrics, the planned Emergency Room in Brookings, and the possibility of rebranding the Network. Razo will also be introducing Dave Gilmore, CHN's new Chief of Ambulatory Services and a Brookings resident.
Monthly town halls to be held in Brookings
BROOKINGS, OR (October 26, 2016) - Curry Health Network's CEO, Ginny Razo, is inviting community members to attend monthly town halls in Brookings. The new communication opportunity begins this month with the first town hall scheduled for October 28 at noon in the conference room at Curry Medical Center on 5th Street.
"Part of my responsibility as CEO is to keep employees, staff, physicians and community members informed of the Network's plans including progress on key initiatives and intentions to form affiliations or partnerships," said Razo.
"While Curry Health Network (CHN) employs many methods of communication including public board meetings, our web site (www.CurryHealthNetwork.com), community email newsletters, and regular email updates and meetings with staff, I've found that a more interactive and less formal town hall setting involving community members is very valuable - both to me, and to the community," she added.
Razo has been holding monthly town halls with community members in Gold Beach since she joined the Network in May, 2015. What began with the former CEO as a small monthly meeting with leaders of service clubs such as Rotary and Soroptimists has morphed into a format attended by all interested community members - often to include 30 or more attendees.
Razo now wants to bring that opportunity to Brookings-Harbor area residents.
"The Brookings-Harbor community is very important to Curry Health Network in many ways, and we want to be able to fulfill our mission - healthy communities in which there is efficient, quality health care - with them in mind." Razo paused, then added, "Perhaps even more important than sharing information is the opportunity to listen. Communication is a two-way street. I have a great sense of the wisdom within our community, and I hope to seek that out as much as I can."
The topics for this month's town hall will include agenda items from the Board of Directors meeting to be held earlier in the week, including but not limited to provider recruitment, Obstetrics, the planned Emergency Room in Brookings, and the possibility of rebranding the Network. Razo will also be introducing Dave Gilmore, CHN's new Chief of Ambulatory Services and a Brookings resident.
Curry Health Network Welcomes New General Surgeon
GOLD BEACH, OR (August 4, 2016) - Curry Health Network announced today that Jessica R. Carlson, M.D. has joined the Network's team of healthcare providers. A General Surgeon, Carlson has joined Dr. Glenn Levine in seeing patients at Curry Medical Practice on the hospital campus in Gold Beach as well as at Curry Medical Center in Brookings.
"We're very pleased to introduce and welcome Dr. Carlson," said CEO Ginny Razo. "She is a wonderful addition to our medical staff and her education and experience will allow Curry Health Network to offer more types of surgeries than were previously available."
The new procedures that Dr. Carlson will offer include breast and reconstructive surgery, upper endoscopy, hand surgery and abdominoplasty. Other procedures she performs include colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, skin cancer and skin lesion removal, burns, simple and complex hernia repairs, colon, gallbladder, thyroid, appendix, and small intestine surgeries. She will perform surgeries at both Curry General Hospital and Rush Surgery Center in Brookings.
Carlson is not new to Oregon. "I grew up in Redmond and spent much of my adult life in Portland," she said. "My family and I would often visit the Oregon coast, including Gold Beach."
Dr. Carlson also obtained a great deal of her education in Oregon. She earned a BSci in Biology during her time at the Honors College at Portland State University, was awarded a research internship in Washington DC and worked at the Naval Medical Research Center and the National Institutes of Health. She also completed a MSci degree in neurophysiology at Portland State University. Carlson then earned her Medical Degree at OHSU.
Razo said that Dr. Carlson's general surgical training at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, NY has prepared her well to practice medicine in Curry County. "The program at Bassett specializes in training doctors to become rural general surgeons and emphasizes broad-based training that includes general surgery and other specialty surgeries."
There is also much to admire about Carlson's personal initiative and background, according to the CEO. "She is a classic high-performer. She was class president all four years at OHSU while getting her medical degree, she was an elected member of the OHSU alumni association committee, she performed research that was published in a national surgical journal and was on several committees - all while attending med school." Razo paused briefly, and then added, "The accomplishments don't stop there. During her residency she was one of ten board members on a national surgical education committee, and she enjoys volunteering."
During her time at Bassett Medical Center, Dr. Carlson was awarded the Golden Stethoscope and Cupola Annual teaching awards due to her contribution to nursing and medical student education.
When asked what she would most like the people of Curry County to know about how she practices medicine, Dr. Carlson answered, "I am passionate about listening to patients, and improving their well-being and quality of life through preventive and surgical medicine."
"Curry Health Network is very fortunate to have successfully recruited such an accomplished surgeon," said Razo, "and Dr. Carlson is just as pleased to join our community as we are to welcome her."
Carlson says this is a wonderful time to become a part of Curry Health Network, "especially with the building of the new hospital, and the entire Network working as a team to bring better healthcare to our county".
"Building a future and laying down roots in Gold Beach is a dream come true," she said. "The community is warm and inviting and I am so excited to be a part of it."
Importance of access to quality healthcare - Port Orford
PORT ORFORD, OR August 1, 2016 - No matter where you live within the geographical District boundaries of Curry Health Network, we understand access to quality health care is very important.
All of us at Curry Health Network (CHN) recognize the uniqueness of the Port Orford community with its natural beauty and the independent, proud and creative people who live there. More importantly, however, we recognize the need for health care services vital to its residents. We are committed to improving and expanding key services, through development of meaningful partnerships and other methods, to benefit the residents of Port Orford.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to explain more about the unique challenges we face in providing those services to our northernmost community members.
In rural areas like Port Orford, providing basic health services depends on the ability to attract Primary Care Providers (PCPs) - MD or DO physicians, or nurse practitioners. While Dr. Pitchford continues - as he has, for many years - to provide health care services at Curry Family Medical in Port Orford, it is very clear based on community need that more access is essential.
Recruiting PCPs can be difficult. It is difficult - and especially so in rural communities. Many issues affect the ability to recruit besides compensation and licensing - including availability of housing, schools and more. It's also important to find a provider who will enjoy living and working in the community, and it's a huge task - but a task we take very seriously. CHN is actively and aggressively recruiting PCPs for Port Orford right now.
We fully support the common vision for Port Orford, including access to good quality, basic health care. We want you to know that Port Orford is on our radar - and a key priority in the annual strategic plan created by our Board of Directors and administrative team.
The goal for Port Orford is simple; to provide better health services than is available today. One way Curry Health Network is working to solve this problem is through a partnership with Coast Community Health Center (CCHC).
To that end, CHN has sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that may allow CCHC access to grant funds to be used in the Port Orford community. We have also entered into a collaborative memorandum of understanding with CCHC whereby CHN will provide all imaging and laboratory services for their patients. This partnership is unique, and even surprising to some, given the competitive nature of health care.
All of us, including the Curry Health District Board of Directors and the team at Coast Community Health Center, agree that the most pressing issue is to serve the long- and short-term health needs of the residents of Port Orford.
I want to personally assure the Port Orford community that we are working hard on your behalf to do what's right. That is making sure you and your family have health care available when you need it.
While these actions are positive and immediate, we recognize they aren't enough. We want you to know we are committed to you. We care, and we know how very important the subject of accessible health care is.
We also welcome your feedback on this and any issue. Click 'contact us' under the 'About Us' link at www.CurryHealthNetwork.com to send us an email.
If you'd like to read more details about our key priorities, and any Board and administrative action at Curry Health Network, click "Board Packets, Agendas and Minutes" under the 'About Us' link at our web site.
GOLD BEACH, OR June 22, 2016 - "Quality" is a broad term that can mean many different things. When we eat out at a restaurant, we might define quality as good and timely service, or delicious food offered at a fair price.
In healthcare, your perception of quality might be influenced by the friendliness of the office staff at your doctor visit, how long you waited, or if your ailment was treated and made you feel better.
I'd like to talk with you about "quality" versus "patient satisfaction" in healthcare, and why it's so important for Curry Health Network (CHN) to focus its efforts on these areas.
"Quality" is tied to national practices about clinical performance. These are often referred to as "quality outcomes" and are evaluated by a continual gathering of common hospital data. Simply put, hospitals throughout the country keep track of these standard measurements in order to improve their operations and see how they compare with other hospitals.
These measures include things like mortality rates, outpatient clinic vaccine rates, smoking cessation rates, patient safety, and hospital-acquired infection rates.
It's important for CHN to measure and compare our quality metrics against high performing hospitals of similar size and service. This will ensure we set high clinical quality targets for the medical staff, providers and employees. Think of it like this: If you were running in a race, you wouldn't compare your performance to the runner just ahead of you; you would compare your performance against the runner in first place. This is a similar concept being embraced at CHN. We want to be as good as the best comparable hospital.
"Patient Satisfaction" is another term often linked to hospital quality, but with some key differences. When hospitals and clinics evaluate patient satisfaction that means they are interested in the overall efficiency and experience of your care. This can include how well you liked your medical provider, how effectively they communicated with you, and if you felt you were treated with kindness and compassion.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is a federal agency responsible for, among other things, paying hospitals for services provided to people with Medicare and Medicaid. This agency, as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is changing the way it pays hospitals. Instead of only paying for the number of services provided, Medicare is also paying hospitals for delivering services of higher quality and higher value. Payments will be tied, in part, to quality and patient satisfaction scores.
In healthcare-speak, this is called a "value-based reimbursement model". To you and me, it means the better we are, the more we get paid.
Curry General Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), which means our reimbursements are different from larger hospitals because of the number of beds we have available, location, and the population of the communities we serve. Right now, small hospitals like ours are not required to report quality and patient satisfaction data to CMS, though we voluntarily do in some areas.
Under the ACA, its expected hospitals like Curry General will be required to demonstrate high clinical quality and patient satisfaction backed by hard data in order to maximize reimbursements available to us from Medicare. This is why our Board of Directors recently adopted a comprehensive quality improvement plan, in order to focus our efforts in these two areas.
A new medical staff quality committee was recently established to ensure physicians and staff have the appropriate tools and training to meet these new targets. Progress on this work will be available to the public on our website this fall.
We've also enlisted a national research firm called National Research Corporation that specializes in healthcare analytics to manage our in- and out-patient satisfaction surveys. In order for us to establish solid and objective comparisons, these surveys include questions that were created by CMS, and are not customized for CHN.
What can you do to help? If you receive a survey about health care you received at CHN, please fill it out and be honest with us about your experiences. We need as many surveys as possible, whether you were seen in a clinic or the hospital. Your feedback is invaluable and will help us to improve.
I'd also like to invite you to join me in the monthly CHN Community Town Hall meetings. These informal sessions are held at noon in the Bethany Lutheran Church on 5th Street in Gold Beach. This is your opportunity to ask questions about actions taken at the Board of Directors meeting the night before, including those related to operations and finance.
Bring your lunch and bring a friend! I welcome you to join in the discussion about local healthcare issues and decisions that affect us all.
Community Update - Brand Discovery Process
GOLD BEACH, OR Sept. 26, 2016 - Branding is one of the most important aspects of any successful business, and one of the least understood. Branding isn't just your logo, website and promotional materials - though these are important communication tools.
Submit your email address here to receive an invitation to take the survey: Sign me up!
In simple terms, branding defines the promise and value of the organization to the consumer. Branding is your unique identity, informing consumers what you care about. It also helps shape the products and services you offer, and is a key success factor for organizations in meeting long-term goals.
Aspects of branding include learning about consumer wants, needs, feelings and impressions of an organization, and why people choose it. Analyzing this type of information is very useful. It helps you see the big picture of how your business is perceived - a snapshot of the trust, recognition, support and value you offer in the minds of your customers.
The Curry Health Network (CHN) Board of Directors recently approved a "discovery process" with an established branding firm named Monigle Associates. The key goal of this work is to gain deep and meaningful data, gathered directly from the source, about perceptions of CHN.
This work is an investment that will provide valuable insights about our opportunities moving forward, based on consumer research tailored specifically about CHN. Together with the board of directors, we'll use this information to consider a multi-phase rebranding process for Curry Health Network.
The Monigle group, a Colorado-based brand solutions company specializing in healthcare, will deliver an organizational assessment based on their research findings from small group personal interviews, and both online and telephone surveys.
You may wonder why CHN would even consider rebranding, given the potential costs and disparity of opinions and inputs. While I don't have all the answers today, my sense is that a rebranding effort has potential to strongly position CHN toward a new vision for the future.
We're in a consumer-driven era of healthcare, with more focus on customers than ever before. Understanding our patients' motivations helps us keep pace with their preferences and expectations - a difference in thinking that educates and unifies us, and helps us focus.
There are many layers to gathering and assessing consumer survey information, and my sense is that the timing is right. We're on the brink of opening our new hospital, and while there are challenges ahead, I believe it's in our best interest to explore ideas to continually improve and innovate.
The CHN board created a bold vision: To Be the Region's Premier Rural Healthcare System. We have the opportunity to transform ourselves from the inside out, and rise to the challenge
Please help us by participating in interviews, online and phone surveys or focus groups if you are randomly requested. Be open with your opinions, including any concerns you may have. CHN will be inviting area residents to the online survey hosted by Monigle Associates, separate from CHN. Monigle will also, as an augment and a control, conduct telephone surveys using an independent, non-CHN database. The information you provide, including your name, is completely confidential.
One final thought: Curry Health Network has a long and strong history of caring for our rural communities. We are very proud of that history. The insights from this project will help us build a bridge from CHN's current reality to our vision, and help us assess how to better connect with our patients and families.
GOLD BEACH, OR June 22, 2016 - "Quality" is a broad term that can mean many different things. When we eat out at a restaurant, we might define quality as good and timely service, or delicious food offered at a fair price.
In healthcare, your perception of quality might be influenced by the friendliness of the office staff at your doctor visit, how long you waited, or if your ailment was treated and made you feel better.
I'd like to talk with you about "quality" versus "patient satisfaction" in healthcare, and why it's so important for Curry Health Network (CHN) to focus its efforts on these areas.
"Quality" is tied to national practices about clinical performance. These are often referred to as "quality outcomes" and are evaluated by a continual gathering of common hospital data. Simply put, hospitals throughout the country keep track of these standard measurements in order to improve their operations and see how they compare with other hospitals.
These measures include things like mortality rates, outpatient clinic vaccine rates, smoking cessation rates, patient safety, and hospital-acquired infection rates.
It's important for CHN to measure and compare our quality metrics against high performing hospitals of similar size and service. This will ensure we set high clinical quality targets for the medical staff, providers and employees. Think of it like this: If you were running in a race, you wouldn't compare your performance to the runner just ahead of you; you would compare your performance against the runner in first place. This is a similar concept being embraced at CHN. We want to be as good as the best comparable hospital.
"Patient Satisfaction" is another term often linked to hospital quality, but with some key differences. When hospitals and clinics evaluate patient satisfaction that means they are interested in the overall efficiency and experience of your care. This can include how well you liked your medical provider, how effectively they communicated with you, and if you felt you were treated with kindness and compassion.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is a federal agency responsible for, among other things, paying hospitals for services provided to people with Medicare and Medicaid. This agency, as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is changing the way it pays hospitals. Instead of only paying for the number of services provided, Medicare is also paying hospitals for delivering services of higher quality and higher value. Payments will be tied, in part, to quality and patient satisfaction scores.
In healthcare-speak, this is called a "value-based reimbursement model". To you and me, it means the better we are, the more we get paid.
Curry General Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), which means our reimbursements are different from larger hospitals because of the number of beds we have available, location, and the population of the communities we serve. Right now, small hospitals like ours are not required to report quality and patient satisfaction data to CMS, though we voluntarily do in some areas.
Under the ACA, its expected hospitals like Curry General will be required to demonstrate high clinical quality and patient satisfaction backed by hard data in order to maximize reimbursements available to us from Medicare. This is why our Board of Directors recently adopted a comprehensive quality improvement plan, in order to focus our efforts in these two areas.
A new medical staff quality committee was recently established to ensure physicians and staff have the appropriate tools and training to meet these new targets. Progress on this work will be available to the public on our website this fall.
We've also enlisted a national research firm called National Research Corporation that specializes in healthcare analytics to manage our in- and out-patient satisfaction surveys. In order for us to establish solid and objective comparisons, these surveys include questions that were created by CMS, and are not customized for CHN.
What can you do to help? If you receive a survey about health care you received at CHN, please fill it out and be honest with us about your experiences. We need as many surveys as possible, whether you were seen in a clinic or the hospital. Your feedback is invaluable and will help us to improve.
I'd also like to invite you to join me in the monthly CHN Community Town Hall meetings. These informal sessions are held at noon in the Bethany Lutheran Church on 5th Street in Gold Beach. This is your opportunity to ask questions about actions taken at the Board of Directors meeting the night before, including those related to operations and finance.
Bring your lunch and bring a friend! I welcome you to join in the discussion about local healthcare issues and decisions that affect us all.
Board Welcomes Rebecca Moore and Ryan Ringer
GOLD BEACH, OREGON (October 9, 2014)
The Curry Health District Board of Directors on September 24 voted unanimously to appoint two life-long community members to fill the vacancies created by the resignations of M. John Spicer and Marlyn Schafer.
A dozen applicants vied for the positions, and the Board narrowed the field to a final five they interviewed September 24. In addition to Moore and Ringer; Bryan Grummon, Ruth Daniels and Jodi Fritts were among the finalists.
"We were very impressed with the depth of talent and the passion for the position that these candidates displayed," said Board Chair Gary Anderson. "This was a very difficult decision. Rebecca and Ryan are very committed to quality healthcare in Curry County."
Born in Gold Beach, Moore is recently retired and working to obtain a Masters degree in Psychology. Rebecca previously worked for Curry Health District for more than 12 years where she had the opportunity to work closely with each department within the Network, affording her extensive knowledge of all operations. Rebecca most recently served as Administrator of Shore Pines, the Network's assisted living facility, and prior to that, she was Regional Operations Manager for Sunwest Management and Director of Business Services at CHD.
Ringer earned a BA in Business Administration from Southern Oregon University where he also minored in Criminology. Ryan has very deep roots in the community, and has been with Gold Beach Lumber Yard since 2002. He currently serves as Vice President of Operations and General Manager of the 4th generation family-owned business where his accomplishments include supervision of the development of two new retail locations, a 400% increase in sales, and the development of in-house GL accounting practices. Ringer's strengths include business budgeting and forecasting.
Curry Health Network Community Update - Finances
Ginny Razo, CEO
GOLD BEACH, OR (May 25, 2016) - Every single person served by Curry Health Network matters and contributes to its financial health.
No matter where you live on the southern coast of Oregon, Curry Health Network (CHN) exists to support the health of the communities it serves. This is the highest priority of our board of directors, physicians, and employees.
CHN is a Network comprised of a not-for-profit Critical Access (CAH) Hospital, clinics, ambulatory surgery center and assisted living facility whose service area reaches more than 22,000 people. Many more are served whom live outside the official District boundaries. Our most important value is offering accessible quality health care for you and your family when you need it.
While property tax dollars generated from assessed home values within the District's geographical boundaries support CHN and its facilities, our daily operating expenses far exceed the 3% of total revenue from these annual collections.
State-of-the-art healthcare is expensive and always evolving. Unlike large health systems that have the financial capacity to take on debt for new equipment and services, CHN must work harder to improve its overall financial health in order to reinvest in needed services and technology.
Here's a snapshot of Curry Health Networkʼs financial indicators, based on services rendered in or outside the District for the fiscal year ended 6/30/15:
●Annual operating budget: $35 Million ●Amount of community tax contribution, District-only: $1.3 Million ●Amount of revenue from services rendered outside District boundary: 47% ●89% of all services rendered were out-patient ●11% of business was in-patient ●% of volume by communities of Brookings (54%), Port Orford (3%) and Gold Beach (28%)
Sustaining Health Care in our Communities
As we move forward in this new era of health care reform, CHN needs strong financial strategies in order to be viable.
Why? To ensure that basic services and technology are available to everyone who lives, works and plays in southern Oregon for many years to come.
We face the very same challenges as any other hospital in the nation, no matter the size. These challenges include recruiting and retaining physicians, medical providers and qualified hospital staff, purchasing and replacing equipment and technology, offering new programs and services and much more.
Access to good healthcare is important. We recognize the need for emergency care in communities such as Brookings. The reason it doesn't exist today is pure economics. The simple truth is CHN didn't have the needed dollars to open an emergency room in that location, with or without a tax measure.
We've made enormous strides in our financial position since then, now with 18 days of cash on hand. This is important because it represents the total funds that are immediately available to us that can be spent as needed without going into debt or arranging other financing.
Our most pressing financial goal is to achieve 30 days cash on hand. The average and optimal days of cash for hospitals similar to CHN and located in Oregon is 69. In order to achieve 30 days cash on hand, CHN will need to continue to build reserves and control expenses, sufficient to earn a margin.
There are other potential threats, too, such as federal mandates of the Affordable Care Act, shifting and lower payments from Medicare and commercial insurance providers, higher overall operating costs, more publicly scrutiny about quality of care and rapidly changing technology.
The landscape of health care is shifting, and Curry Health Network must shift with it.
At CHN, we're not insulated from the impacts of challenging external forces, and we have an opportunity to thrive for many years in the future by proactively addressing the "big picture" health needs of our communities now.
We must strive for the strongest financial position possible, in order to provide life-saving 24/7 services, and have a healthy bottom line.
This will require conservative and disciplined financial management, greater levels of teamwork, a proactive attitude at every level of the organization, and meaningful partnerships. We are working hard every day to manage costs and be more efficient.
I am particularly humbled by the employees of Curry Health Network. They've picked up extra shifts, reduced overtime and supply costs, and work as a close-knit team. Our employees are CHN's most valued asset.
As a result of the cash crisis in November 2015, CHN immediately placed the hospital-funded retirement match dollars, as well as cost-of-living increases, on hold until the organization reaches its goal of 30 days cash on hand. Even with these challenging restrictions, our employees have kept their heads down, and are working tirelessly and with heart-felt dedication.
I am so proud to work with each of them. They want to do right, simply because it benefits all of us.
We've got a long way to go, but things are looking up.
CHN can be financially solid and positioned well for the future with the strong actions we take now. We're developing budgets based on current market trends, with a concentrated effort to put solid systems, policies and procedures in place to effectively manage our finances.
Our financial focus is simple: Build cash reserves. Reduce debt. Generate a margin. Reinvest in services and programs for the communities we serve.
Curry Health Network can absolutely be one of the highest performing health care Networks in the nation for the type of services we offer.
With everyone's commitment and support, we'll reach that goal together.
Curry Medical Center Gets Top Recognition
BROOKINGS, Oregon (May 23, 2016) - Curry Health Network announced today that Curry Medical Center, the Network's clinic in Brookings, Oregon, has been recognized by the Oregon Health Authority as a Tier 3 Patient-Centered Primary Care Home, the highest level awarded by the state.
"It's very satisfying," said Virginia (Ginny) Razo, CEO of Curry Health Network (CHN). "We've worked hard for the last year to improve our processes and the care we provide to our patients," she added. "It is one more feather in our cap that reflects our deep commitment to improving care for our patients." The other feathers Razo alluded to include the recent accreditation by AAAHC of Rush Surgery Center, the Network's ambulatory surgery center in Brookings, and the DNV-GL quality and safety accreditation in 2015 of Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.
The three-tier system of rating primary care practices recognized as Patient-Centered Primary Care Homes (PCPCHs) like Curry Medical Center takes into account six areas of care: accessibility, accountability, comprehensiveness, continuity, coordination of care, and patient- and family-centeredness. The PCPCH model of primary care has the potential to advance the "triple aim" goals of health reform: a healthy population, extraordinary patient care and reasonable costs.
"Becoming recognized as a PCPCH required us to look at everything we do with a discerning eye, and make positive changes in how we provide care," Razo said. "In a nutshell, as a PCPCH Curry Medical Center will offer and coordinate preventative services so people are taken care of proactively."
Danyell Thomson, Director of Clinics offered more details. "Changes to the clinic included increasing the focus on patient outcomes and quality - even simple things such as process improvement in prescription refills and returning calls makes for a better experience for our patients. We're also working toward the future implementation of population management. Other areas were already a part of the clinic's everyday practice such as offering extended hours, access of care, and scoring patient satisfaction."
No financial incentives for PCPCH status is currently offered through the State, but AllCare, a Coordinated Care Organization, is offering a per member/per month incentive bonus which is paid to CHN quarterly. "Anticipated revenue through AllCare may be up to $100,000 per year, although that number will fluctuate based on the number of AllCare members," said Razo. "This additional revenue will help support the additional services people want and need in order to stay healthy."
When asked what happens after achieving Tier 3 PCPCH status, Razo said going through the process creates new opportunities to improve. "In the future, as we operate within the PCPCH guidelines, we look forward to taking every opportunity we can to provide extraordinary care," she said.
Curry Health Network was established in 1983 as an Oregon Special District and exists for healthy communities in which there is efficient, quality health care. The Network is comprised of Curry General Hospital and Curry Medical Practice in Gold Beach, Curry Medical Center and Rush Surgery Center in Brookings, and Curry Family Medical in Port Orford. The Network also owns Shore Pines Assisted Living in Gold Beach.
#
Rush Surgery Center Achieves Accreditation
BROOKINGS, OR (May 16, 2016) - Curry Health Network today announced that the Network's ambulatory surgery center located in Brookings, Oregon has achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation distinguishes Rush Surgery Center from many other outpatient facilities by providing the highest quality of care to its patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation.
Status as an accredited organization means Rush Surgery Center has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care set by AAAHC. More than 6,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; and not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted accreditation.
"We believe our patients deserve the best," stated Virginia Razo, CEO of Curry Health Network. "When you see our certificate of accreditation, you will know that AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our facility and procedures. It means we as an organization care enough about our patients to strive for the highest level of care possible."
Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by AAAHC expert surveyors - physicians, nurses, and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.
"Going through the process challenged us to find better ways to serve our patients, and it is a constant reminder that our responsibility is to strive to continuously improve the quality of care we provide," said Razo. "We are pleased that our ambulatory surgery center has achieved quality accreditation, and has joined Curry General Hospital as an accredited facility." The hospital became safety and quality accredited by DNV-GL in January 2015.
Curry Health Network was established in 1983 as an Oregon Special District and exists for healthy communities in which there is efficient, quality health care. The Network is comprised of Curry General Hospital and Curry Medical Practice in Gold Beach, Curry Medical Center and Rush Surgery Center in Brookings, and Curry Family Medical in Port Orford. The Network also owns Shore Pines Assisted Living in Gold Beach.
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, founded in 1979, is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with more than 6,000 organizations accredited nationwide. AAAHC accredits a variety of organizations including, ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers, endoscopy centers, student health centers, military health care clinics, and large medical and dental practices. AAAHC serves as an advocate for the provision of high-quality health care through the development of nationally recognized standards and through its survey and accreditation programs. AAAHC accreditation is recognized as a symbol of quality by third-party payers, medical organizations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies and the public.
Curry Health Network Community Update
Ginny Razo, CEO
GOLD BEACH, OR (April 27, 2016) - As my one-year anniversary as Chief Executive Officer of Curry Health Network approaches, I'd like to make a bold statement: I believe that Curry Health Network (CHN) can be one of the highest performing rural health networks in the country for the type of services we offer.
The single biggest reason I believe we can deliver on this statement is because of you, the residents of Curry County.
You are good. You are eager. You are dedicated, supportive and committed. But more than that, you are willing. Willing to work together - all of us a community team - to sustain and grow our health care services to meet the needs of the valued residents and visitors of Curry County.
Our health network has seen many challenges over the past year. As with any challenge in life, we shouldn't seek to blame. I am so impressed and proud of the strength and resilience of this community. We can come together, learn from past mistakes and improve.
As we move forward, I believe we have a shared goal - good quality, accessible and affordable health care for everyone we serve.
It starts with clear and open two-way communication. You have my word that for better or worse, we at CHN will be honest and transparent about the health care issues that affect you. We'll use this space each month to talk with you about the hottest local health topics, as we strive to educate and inform.
We'll share updates about the new hospital construction in Gold Beach, facts about health care pricing and finances, and national health topics, too, such as how new rules and mandates will affect all of us - plus much more.
This is my commitment to you for the new Curry Health Network - an idea that says if we work together, we can take strong and positive actions now to ensure our future sustainability.
In May, look for an update from me about CHN finances. It's a hot topic for all of us. I'll break this information down and explain our current state of affairs and challenges, and why these details are important to you.
Please reach out and contact me at any time, virginia.razo@curryhealth.org. I hope you'll join with me and the Curry Health District Board of Directors as we enter a new era of high quality local health care - for you, our patients and families.
Curry Health Network Community Update
Ginny Razo, CEO
GOLD BEACH, OR (April 27, 2016) - As my one-year anniversary as Chief Executive Officer of Curry Health Network approaches, I'd like to make a bold statement: I believe that Curry Health Network (CHN) can be one of the highest performing rural health networks in the country for the type of services we offer.
The single biggest reason I believe we can deliver on this statement is because of you, the residents of Curry County.
You are good. You are eager. You are dedicated, supportive and committed. But more than that, you are willing. Willing to work together - all of us a community team - to sustain and grow our health care services to meet the needs of the valued residents and visitors of Curry County.
Our health network has seen many challenges over the past year. As with any challenge in life, we shouldn't seek to blame. I am so impressed and proud of the strength and resilience of this community. We can come together, learn from past mistakes and improve.
As we move forward, I believe we have a shared goal - good quality, accessible and affordable health care for everyone we serve.
It starts with clear and open two-way communication. You have my word that for better or worse, we at CHN will be honest and transparent about the health care issues that affect you. We'll use this space each month to talk with you about the hottest local health topics, as we strive to educate and inform.
We'll share updates about the new hospital construction in Gold Beach, facts about health care pricing and finances, and national health topics, too, such as how new rules and mandates will affect all of us - plus much more.
This is my commitment to you for the new Curry Health Network - an idea that says if we work together, we can take strong and positive actions now to ensure our future sustainability.
In May, look for an update from me about CHN finances. It's a hot topic for all of us. I'll break this information down and explain our current state of affairs and challenges, and why these details are important to you.
Please reach out and contact me at any time, virginia.razo@curryhealth.org. I hope you'll join with me and the Curry Health District Board of Directors as we enter a new era of high quality local health care - for you, our patients and families.
Building a New General
as seen in the Curry Coastal Pilot, by staff writer Randy Robbins
GOLD BEACH, OR (April 20, 2016) - Nearly a year after the ground-breaking ceremony, construction of the new hospital in Gold Beach is on time and on budget, according to Curry Health Network officials.
Funded in part by a $10 million bond approved by voters in the Curry Health District in November 2013, and a $20.9 million federal loan, the $32 million, 62,000-square-foot facility is slated to complete by the end of the year. It will replace the existing Curry General Hospital, nicknamed "The General," that was built more than 60 years ago.
Despite a wintery [sic]mix of rain and high force winds for six to eight weeks that temporarily slowed construction, Curry Health Network's Facilities Operations Officer David Sanford has hopes that by the new year the hospital will, indeed, be open to care for the community.
Handling construction is The Erdman Company, a national leader in healthcare consulting, facility planning, development and design-build projects, headquartered in Wisconsin.
"We've had tremendous community support and a great partnership with Erdman and now we are looking to be ready to go at the end of calendar year 2016," Sanford said.
Tom Kaczmark, senior project superintendent for Erdman, described some of the logistics in building the five-story structure.
So far, Erdman has installed 737 Geo piers under the building and generator pad, poured 3,272 cubic yards of concrete into footings, grade beams, walls and floors, erected 756 tons of structural steel, wired 73,127 linear feet electrical conduit, and covered it all with 9,292 sheets of 5/8-inch drywall.
Kaczmark said the Gold Beach hospital has the distinction of being the first in the nation designed to withstand a 9.0 earthquake.
"We hope we never have to put it to the test, but we have built the structure to absorb a 14-inch deflection which will allow the building to shift," he said. "The windows are designed to take up to 140 mph winds impact. The Geo piers are buried 25 to 35 feet each."
The webs of steel girders that are the new hospital's framing skeleton are fused and bolted into tons of thick concrete.
Sanford is proud of the work that has been done and points to a hospital with vast improvements over the existing facility.
"When we were planning the facility we knew right away some of the biggest challenges would be wind and coastal severe weather along with being a rural community," he said.
To that end, the new hospital will have four separate examination rooms, two trauma rooms, and the E.R. will have its own nurse's station. It will have 18 patient beds.
The new facility will provide much more space to house patients, Sanford said, with a primary objective of improving quality of care and safety.
"The new hospital will have six private rooms with picture windows overlooking the town and ocean beyond, 10 semi-private rooms, and two labor and delivery rooms," he said. It also will include a clinic, laboratory, radiology, cardiopulmonary, physical therapy and two separate state of the art operating rooms.
"This hospital has been designed and engineered made for the needs of this community," Kaczmark said.
Sanford is looking forward to having the community see the end result.
And, he notes, it will be easy to get to access the new hospital. Parking problems experienced at the existing facility will be a thing of the past, he said.
"We are putting in 118 public parking spaces, those will be primarily where the old hospital sits now," he said. The hospital will have both a helipad and designated emergency entrance. The building also will include two elevators (one for patients and visitors, and one for medical staff and equipment). And climate control will be fully automated.
"In the old hospital we had 23 air conditioning units that ran 24 hours a day," Sanford said. "This hospital will feature two state of the art, built-in climate control units that will evenly heat and cool the entire structure."
Kaczmark said he believes the county will have benefits from the hospital beyond the obvious expansion of services. He thinks it will bring more people to live and work in the area, and to retire. And that the new hospital will act as a recruiting tool to bring high caliber medical personnel to the area.
"If I was a young doctor and I had a choice of places to pursue my medical career, I would look at this area's natural beauty and my ability to perform my duties practicing medicine in a brand new facility like this and I'd be hooked," he said.
Community 'leaves their mark' on new hospital
GOLD BEACH, OR (October 12, 2015) - In response to an invitation to the public to "leave their mark" on the last steel beam to be erected during construction of the new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, nearly 100 people signed the final i-beam during a ceremony held October 8.
Curry Health Network CEO Ginny Razo spoke to the crowd of community and staff members about the progress of the construction, and drew applause to her assertion that the project is on time, and on budget. "This ceremony is an attempt to show appreciation of the support the community has given Curry Health Network in our endeavor to replace a hospital whose physical structure has long outgrown its usefulness," she said. "This is a celebration of the community," she said.
The next steps of construction will include several days of pouring concrete, and the "skin" - exterior walls and roofing - should be completed before the harshest winter weather arrives.
The beam will be installed in the penthouse, or uppermost floor of the 60,200 square foot facility, and will be visible for decades to come.
Curry General Recognized for Care of Stroke Patients
GOLD BEACH, OR September 25, 2015 - Curry General Hospital has been recognized as the top hospital from among all metropolitan and rural facilities within the Providence Telestroke Network for quickly performing potentially life-saving diagnostic scans, a step necessary to determine the appropriate treatment of stroke patients.
The hospital utilizes a Telestroke robot with a secure two-way video system that allows neurologists with the Providence Stroke Center in Portland to be "in the room" with the patient, the patient's family and the local physician. This ensures patients can receive the fastest, most effective treatment locally. The new Emergency Department to be opened in Brookings at Curry Medical Center later this fall will also be equipped with a Telestroke robot.
The hospital in Gold Beach was recognized for having the fastest median "door-to-CT time" of all hospitals participating in the Telestroke program. Door-to-CT time is the amount of time that passes from the instant patients arrive at the emergency department (ED), to the time they receive a computerized tomography (CT) scan. The CT scan combines a series of x-ray images taken from different angles and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images, or slices, of the body.
"With a stroke, faster care can mean a better outcome," said Amber Timm, RN, BSN, and Stroke Coordinator. "Standard of care is for a suspected stroke patient to receive a CT scan within 15 minutes of arrival to the ED, but our hospital averaged only seven minutes."
Lora Lawson, CNO, explained why the door-to-CT time is important. "Results from the CT scan expedite the care and treatment of the stroke patient. That information is made available to the consulting neurologist so a timely and informed decision can be made if the patient is a good candidate for clot-busting medication." In 2012, Curry General was recognized as the top hospital for providing that medication in the least amount of time.
"Cal-Ore, the local Emergency Medical Services provider, should also be recognized," said Timm. "They have improved on processes to ensure early notification is received by the hospital that a potential stroke victim is on the way. That allows us to prepare, and take the patient directly from the ambulance gurney to the CT scanner."
Timm accepted the award on behalf of the hospital at a ceremony held in Portland on Sept. 17.
Curry Family Medical Welcomes Marcus Mayfield, FNP
PORT ORFORD, OR (September 11, 2015) - Curry Health Network today announced that Marcus Mayfield, FNP, has joined the Network's family of healthcare providers. Mayfield will be joining Dr. Thomas Pitchford in practice at Curry Family Medical, located at 525 Madrona in Port Orford, with the expectation he will begin accepting new patients in November.
Mayfield first began his career in health care working as a registered nurse in Gold Beach at Curry General Hospital in 1979. He left to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), and later earned a Masters degree in Nursing, also from OHSU. Mayfield remained in Southern Oregon and retired from the Veterans Administration where he worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner. He most recently practiced in a rural clinic in Eagle Point, Jackson County, Oregon.
When asked about his philosophy on health care, Mayfield stated, "I believe in building personal relationships and getting to know my patients, as well as learning how they fit into their families and community - that is the basis of good health care. I value offering opportunities for change to my patients, rather than demands, and recognize it is my patient who has the final choice."
Mayfield takes the care he provides very seriously, but does not take himself so seriously.
"Life is too short," he said.
"I'm excited to be able to provide quality health care to the good people of Port Orford, and am thrilled to have the opportunity to live and work on the southern Oregon coast where people talk to each other and wave to their neighbors." Mayfield said he enjoys bicycling, running (both on and off-road), and white water rafting. "I would like to adopt a local trail to maintain, but on those days when the weather will keep me indoors, I enjoy baking a variety of bread."
Curry Health Network's CEO, Ginny Razo, was happy to make the announcement of Mayfield's employment. "We have been looking for some time for the right provider to join Curry Family Medical, who will work well with staff, fit seamlessly into the community, and whose addition will eventually lead to increased hours or days of service. We are hopeful we have found that in Marcus, and are pleased he has agreed to join us."
Curry Health District is transparent about expansion, tax rates
courtesy of Curry Coastal Pilot, published September 1, 2015
Curry Health District will continue to be transparent to the public and provide necessary factual information related to all District dealings, including the proposed territory expansion.
Those interested in facts about the proposed territory expansion and associated tax rate projections are encouraged to view historical board meeting minutes at CurryHealthNetwork.com, or watch the video of the Curry County commissioners meeting of Aug. 5, 2015 (available on the vounty's web site). An in-depth conversation regarding the wording of the ballot measure title and body (both of which were reviewed by county and health district legal counsel, as well as being approved by the state) - was discussed in this public meeting, and the verbiage was unanimously approved by the commissioners.
The base rate of 0.7425 cents per $1,000 assessed property value can be stated as definitive - it will not change and was included in the ballot measure verbiage. The rate to cover the debt of the general obligation bond cannot be stated as a definitive amount per $1,000 because assessed property values fluctuate from year to year due to construction, improvements, depreciation, and upturns or downturns in the real estate market - therefore the assessed tax rate will fluctuate. It will never be possible to establish a permanent rate per $1,000 due to this fluctuation.
The ballot measure does say, "If annexation is approved by voters, property owners within the annexed territory would be subject to the District's permanent property tax rate. The permanent tax rate is $0.7425 per $1000 of assessed valuation. The first fiscal year in which this tax rate would be imposed is 2016-2017.
This measure does not increase the tax rate for taxable property located within the district's existing boundary. General obligation bond levies authorized by the district would be applicable to the annexed property."
The last sentence of the measure addresses the general obligation bond indebtedness to the extent that could factually and legally be disclosed with the information available.
There has been recent concern expressed over the District's financial health. Ken Landau, the district's CFO, provides the following data. As of Aug. 20, the district owes approximately $26.7 million. This includes $12.2 million for the Curry Medical Center facility in Brookings. It also includes $10 million of general obligation debt related to the construction of the new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, $2.6 million for Shore Pines Assisted Living and approximately $1.9 million for operational capital equipment leases.
The district will take on additional debt in the next two years related to the new hospital, up to a total amount of $20,961,000 - as provided by the USDA.
In late 2016, the projected indebtedness of the district will be close to $47 million. All debt is related to assets that provide a positive rate of return, or is covered through service operations. The CFO, along with financial advisors and lenders, routinely performs debt capacity analysis that shows the district is well within its debt capacity. A feasibility study was performed by Wipfli, a nationally recognized accounting firm, which showed that the projected debt of the district is within the district's capacity to repay. In fact, current revenue has already surpassed the feasibility study projections. The USDA has very stringent debt guidelines that have been met. Territory expansion is not required for the district to remain solvent. It is a requirement, however, to have the ability to expand Curry Medical Center to accommodate the volume of Emergency Department (ED) visits expected.
The district has consistently stated that additional services could potentially be provided if feasible, and those services may include chemotherapy infusion and other complementary cancer services, dialysis, pain management programs and expanded access to specialists via telemedicine or on-site clinics.
As an organization tasked with fiscal responsibility to district taxpayers, decisions will be made in the best interests of the District for the sole purpose of providing quality health care services - but only after thorough financial analysis and community needs assessment are completed.
District financial projections estimate operation of the Brookings ED could result in an annual operating loss of $500,000. More than $600,000 has already been invested into the remodeling of Curry Medical Center in order to accommodate a small ED, and additional staffing needs will cost an estimated $2.7 million annually.
The Oregon Health Authority on Aug. 13 made permanent the temporary rule allowing a satellite ED to exist in Brookings. This is after many years of continued effort to provide a much-needed service to the residents of the south county.
The amount the district collects in taxes is a small fraction of its revenue. The remainder is generated from operations. The district is a non-profit entity whose purpose is to provide health care services in rural communities in a day and age when other rural hospitals are closing (43 have closed since 2010). In late 2016, when the debt for the hospital will be realized by taxpayers - and if the ballot measures pass and the district is expanded to include the Brookings and Harbor areas - then the tax rate is estimated to be approximately 99 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. This is less than the average tax rate of all other health districts within the state of Oregon that levy taxes.
Once the hospital general obligation bond is repaid, taxpayer contributions will decrease to the permanent base rate of 0.7425 cents/$1,000.
Curry Family Medical Welcomes Marcus Mayfield, FNP
PORT ORFORD, OR (September 11, 2015) - Curry Health Network today announced that Marcus Mayfield, FNP, has joined the Network's family of healthcare providers. Mayfield will be joining Dr. Thomas Pitchford in practice at Curry Family Medical, located at 525 Madrona in Port Orford, with the expectation he will begin accepting new patients in November.
Mayfield first began his career in health care working as a registered nurse in Gold Beach at Curry General Hospital in 1979. He left to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), and later earned a Masters degree in Nursing, also from OHSU. Mayfield remained in Southern Oregon and retired from the Veterans Administration where he worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner. He most recently practiced in a rural clinic in Eagle Point, Jackson County, Oregon.
When asked about his philosophy on health care, Mayfield stated, "I believe in building personal relationships and getting to know my patients, as well as learning how they fit into their families and community - that is the basis of good health care. I value offering opportunities for change to my patients, rather than demands, and recognize it is my patient who has the final choice."
Mayfield takes the care he provides very seriously, but does not take himself so seriously.
"Life is too short," he said.
"I'm excited to be able to provide quality health care to the good people of Port Orford, and am thrilled to have the opportunity to live and work on the southern Oregon coast where people talk to each other and wave to their neighbors." Mayfield said he enjoys bicycling, running (both on and off-road), and white water rafting. "I would like to adopt a local trail to maintain, but on those days when the weather will keep me indoors, I enjoy baking a variety of bread."
Curry Health Network's CEO, Ginny Razo, was happy to make the announcement of Mayfield's employment. "We have been looking for some time for the right provider to join Curry Family Medical, who will work well with staff, fit seamlessly into the community, and whose addition will eventually lead to increased hours or days of service. We are hopeful we have found that in Marcus, and are pleased he has agreed to join us."
Curry Health District is transparent about expansion, tax rates
courtesy of Curry Coastal Pilot, published September 1, 2015
Curry Health District will continue to be transparent to the public and provide necessary factual information related to all District dealings, including the proposed territory expansion.
Those interested in facts about the proposed territory expansion and associated tax rate projections are encouraged to view historical board meeting minutes at CurryHealthNetwork.com, or watch the video of the Curry County commissioners meeting of Aug. 5, 2015 (available on the vounty's web site). An in-depth conversation regarding the wording of the ballot measure title and body (both of which were reviewed by county and health district legal counsel, as well as being approved by the state) - was discussed in this public meeting, and the verbiage was unanimously approved by the commissioners.
The base rate of 0.7425 cents per $1,000 assessed property value can be stated as definitive - it will not change and was included in the ballot measure verbiage. The rate to cover the debt of the general obligation bond cannot be stated as a definitive amount per $1,000 because assessed property values fluctuate from year to year due to construction, improvements, depreciation, and upturns or downturns in the real estate market - therefore the assessed tax rate will fluctuate. It will never be possible to establish a permanent rate per $1,000 due to this fluctuation.
The ballot measure does say, "If annexation is approved by voters, property owners within the annexed territory would be subject to the District's permanent property tax rate. The permanent tax rate is $0.7425 per $1000 of assessed valuation. The first fiscal year in which this tax rate would be imposed is 2016-2017.
This measure does not increase the tax rate for taxable property located within the district's existing boundary. General obligation bond levies authorized by the district would be applicable to the annexed property."
The last sentence of the measure addresses the general obligation bond indebtedness to the extent that could factually and legally be disclosed with the information available.
There has been recent concern expressed over the District's financial health. Ken Landau, the district's CFO, provides the following data. As of Aug. 20, the district owes approximately $26.7 million. This includes $12.2 million for the Curry Medical Center facility in Brookings. It also includes $10 million of general obligation debt related to the construction of the new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, $2.6 million for Shore Pines Assisted Living and approximately $1.9 million for operational capital equipment leases.
The district will take on additional debt in the next two years related to the new hospital, up to a total amount of $20,961,000 - as provided by the USDA.
In late 2016, the projected indebtedness of the district will be close to $47 million. All debt is related to assets that provide a positive rate of return, or is covered through service operations. The CFO, along with financial advisors and lenders, routinely performs debt capacity analysis that shows the district is well within its debt capacity. A feasibility study was performed by Wipfli, a nationally recognized accounting firm, which showed that the projected debt of the district is within the district's capacity to repay. In fact, current revenue has already surpassed the feasibility study projections. The USDA has very stringent debt guidelines that have been met. Territory expansion is not required for the district to remain solvent. It is a requirement, however, to have the ability to expand Curry Medical Center to accommodate the volume of Emergency Department (ED) visits expected.
The district has consistently stated that additional services could potentially be provided if feasible, and those services may include chemotherapy infusion and other complementary cancer services, dialysis, pain management programs and expanded access to specialists via telemedicine or on-site clinics.
As an organization tasked with fiscal responsibility to district taxpayers, decisions will be made in the best interests of the District for the sole purpose of providing quality health care services - but only after thorough financial analysis and community needs assessment are completed.
District financial projections estimate operation of the Brookings ED could result in an annual operating loss of $500,000. More than $600,000 has already been invested into the remodeling of Curry Medical Center in order to accommodate a small ED, and additional staffing needs will cost an estimated $2.7 million annually.
The Oregon Health Authority on Aug. 13 made permanent the temporary rule allowing a satellite ED to exist in Brookings. This is after many years of continued effort to provide a much-needed service to the residents of the south county.
The amount the district collects in taxes is a small fraction of its revenue. The remainder is generated from operations. The district is a non-profit entity whose purpose is to provide health care services in rural communities in a day and age when other rural hospitals are closing (43 have closed since 2010). In late 2016, when the debt for the hospital will be realized by taxpayers - and if the ballot measures pass and the district is expanded to include the Brookings and Harbor areas - then the tax rate is estimated to be approximately 99 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. This is less than the average tax rate of all other health districts within the state of Oregon that levy taxes.
Once the hospital general obligation bond is repaid, taxpayer contributions will decrease to the permanent base rate of 0.7425 cents/$1,000.
District Officials Explain Territory Expansion Plans
Courtesy of Curry County Reporter, as published July 8, 2015
The Curry County Commissioners on July 1 unanimously voted to place two ballot measures on the November election, which, if both pass, would allow expansion of Curry Health District to include the Brookings-Harbor area. One ballot measure would seek voter approval from current District residents to allow expansion; and the other would seek approval from Brookings-Harbor area residents to join the Health District.
Deb Wilson, Vice Chair of Curry Health District's Board of Directors, says the District is excited for the opportunity. "Partnering with residents in the Brookings-Harbor area will provide an opportunity for the Network to be the healthcare provider of choice for the region," she said, but was most enthusiastic about the expected benefits to the communities.
Board Treasurer Ryan Ringer says that while Curry Health Network (CHN) is financially stable; partnering with the residents of south Curry County - roughly from Pistol River to the California border - would afford CHN the ability to expand healthcare services in the region, and reduce the burden on families that travel long distances for some services not currently available.
"Some of the potential services we would be looking to provide, if feasible, include chemotherapy infusion and other complimentary cancer services, dialysis, comprehensive pain management programs, and expanded access to specialists via telemedicine or on-site clinics." Ringer explained that Curry Medical Center in Brookings, soon to include the first free-standing Emergency Department in Oregon, is at or exceeding capacity for space, and a building expansion would likely be needed - sooner rather than later.
While the proposed District expansion has a tax impact, Wilson says the ballot measures aren't all about taxes. "This is about people, our communities, access to quality healthcare, ensuring continuation of services, improving the quality of life - and in some cases, life itself."
Chief Financial Officer Ken Landau explained the current tax rate of existing District taxpayers is approximately $1.43 per $1,000 assessed property value, a rate that includes the general obligation bond approved in November 2013 to build a new hospital to replace the aged Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. "With an expanded District, all taxpayers would share equally the tax levy and be assessed approximately 99 cents per $1,000 assessed property value," he said. "Once the general obligation levy for the new hospital has been repaid in a number of years, the taxes will be reduced approximately 25 cents per $1,000."
According to the Special Districts Association of Oregon, there are currently 27 health districts within the State, and Oregon Department of Revenue statistics reflect that all except two receive a share of local property taxes. Of those districts that impose a tax, in 2014 the highest tax rate was $3.97 per $1,000, and the average was $1.03.
"Healthcare is in an historic transitional time and many rural hospitals across the country are struggling to survive. Since 2010, 43 have closed," said Wilson. "We - Curry Health Network, our District residents and our southern Oregon coastal neighbors - have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen healthcare service offerings to those in our communities and retain local control to charter its future."
USDA Funding Approved for Curry General Hospital
GOLD BEACH, OR May 29, 2015 - Curry Health Network today announced they have received official notification from the USDA that the request for a loan to build a new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach has been approved.
The letter from the USDA, dated May 15, states the federal agency's Finance office has set aside $19,061,000 for the project.
"We have been anticipating the arrival of this letter for weeks," said CEO Virginia "Ginny" Razo. "The USDA has been very supportive throughout the entire process." USDA officials Sam Goldstein, Deanna Quimby and Norm Schoen joined in the hospital's groundbreaking ceremony on May 4. "The USDA and we had been hopeful an official announcement could have been made at that time, but the application process is complex and timing is difficult to predict," said Razo.
CFO Ken Landau says the USDA loan will augment the $10 million general obligation bond District voters overwhelmingly approved in November 2013. "The USDA loan terms are the best we could have hoped for; 40 years at 3.5 percent interest. There were other financing options available, but the USDA terms were the most attractive and met our goal of exercising fiscal responsibility to the District taxpayers while ensuring continuing availability of quality healthcare in our communities."
"Ken has done an exemplary job to obtain this financing," said Razo. Deb Wilson, Vice Chair of the Curry Health District Board of Directors, agrees. "We recognize and appreciate the many hours that Ken Landau has invested throughout the last months. We are very fortunate to have him as part of the Curry Health Network team."
Razo explained the USDA also issued a Letter of Conditions to the District. "The letter of conditions with which we must comply in order to receive funding is standard practice with the USDA, and we have no concerns over our ability to meet them," she said. The USDA does not provide construction financing, but will provide permanent funding for the project when construction is complete. The $10 million general obligation bond will be used for construction financing, and interim financing is out to bid with a number of interested financial institutions including Key Bank and US Bank, among others.
The Network is building the new hospital on the same property as the existing 60+ year old facility. Two modular buildings that served as the hospital's business and finance offices were removed from the west side of the property, and in that same location excavation work preparing for the foundation of the new structure is underway.
"We are very excited, as I know the community must be, to see the work beginning and to watch the ongoing construction process," Razo said. "In a few weeks, we expect that a web cam will be installed at the construction site with the video available to watch online. At the end of the construction process, it may be possible to have an elapsed time video available which will show the entire project - from start to finish - in just a few minutes."
Erdman Company, the Wisconsin-based design/build firm, has designed the new hospital to meet building code requirements for earthquakes, and DOGAMI Chief Scientist Ian Madin said earlier this year in an OPB interview it is first hospital in the United States designed with any consideration for tsunami impact. The structure will be approximately 60,200 square feet on four levels, and will include 18 patient beds, two operating rooms, a clinic, lab, radiology, cardiopulmonary services, and an emergency department with several exam, triage and trauma rooms - all designed with consideration for increased efficiency, patient privacy, safety and quality healthcare.
Brookings Council Supports CHD Expansion
By Jane Stebbins, Curry Pilot
BROOKINGS, OR (May 12, 2015) - The Brookings City Council approved a resolution Monday night agreeing to accept Curry Health District's invitation to join its district and supports putting the annexation question to county voters in November.
The proposed annexation would include the land south of Pistol River, where the current health district boundary ends, to the California border. All registered voters within the county will have the opportunity to vote on the issue, and the annexation will only be finalized if both parts - the in- and out-of-district voters - approve the measure.
"District voters vote, and Brookings and Harbor voters vote as one," said City Manager Gary Milliman. "It's not a city vote and a Harbor vote, but a Brookings-Harbor vote."
The purpose of annexing the southern end of the county to the health district is to establish a tax base to expand the current Brookings Medical Clinic [correction: Curry Medical Center] on Fifth Street to accommodate a full emergency department (ED) - hoped to open in August - and build a second, 25,000-square-foot building for [correction: possible dialysis] dialysis, infusion therapy for cancer patients, an MRI [correction: an MRI is already in the process of being integrated into the existing clinic], surgery ward [correction: the District may consider incorporating Rush Surgery Center, their ambulatory outpatient surgical center, into the expanded CMC - but there are no plans for a surgery ward], two 24-hour hold beds and more clinic offices.
Additionally, the southern end of the county will have a voice on the CHD board. Two people appointed to positions will face election in 2017 [correction: In 2017, three elected board members will be up for re-election]. The five-member board will be elected at-large.
Approval of the annexation would mean taxpayers throughout would pay almost $1 per $1,000 assessed valuation for the increased services [correction: Taxes would be for all District services, not for only the increased services. All District taxpayers would share the tax levy equally].
Currently, residents in the existing health district pay 74 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation to fund the hospital in Gold Beach. They also approved in November a $10 million general obligation bond to replace that hospital; when the bonds are sold, the tax rate is expected to increase to $1.44 per $1,000 valuation.
If the annexation is approved, however, that tax burden would be spread over far more taxpayers, reducing the tax rate to an estimated 95 to 99 cents per $1,000 valuation for all. While the annexation would be effective immediately, taxes wouldn't be collected until November 2016.
"This is a historic moment in time for the Southern Oregon Coast," said new CHD CEO Ginny Razo. "This will improve health care for the entire region. Most rural hospitals are not looking to expand; most are closing their doors."
The property tax would generate $1.2 million for construction of the ED. The larger facility will cost about $8 million to $10 million.
Razo said the urgent care [correction: and primary care] clinic operates at a profit, but EDs typically run at a loss. Officials say it will cost about $1.2 million a year to operate the ED, of which about half will be garnered through an anticipated 6,000 emergency room visits and the other half through property tax revenue.
Both facilities will hire 25 to 30 new people, the ED will be open 24/7 - and it will be the first stand-alone emergency department in the state of Oregon.
According to City Manager Gary Milliman, the first hurdle was getting the Oregon Health Authority to agree to change the administrative rules to allow stand-alone EDs; it recently crafted a temporary rule to permit that as long as the ED is associated with and operated within 35 miles of the sponsoring hospital.
"But for the existence of Curry General Hospital, the ED couldn't exist," he said. "Given the myriad of state and federal regulations relating to hospitals, it would be virtually impossible to secure a permit to license a hospital in Brookings due to its proximity to Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City and Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach."
Emergency personnel are excited to get an ED in the county's most populous city. Currently, the seriously ill or injured in Brookings must be driven by ambulance to either Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach or Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City. If they need more definitive care, they can then be flown from the airport in Crescent City or the hospital in Gold Beach to another hospital.
With the addition of an ED here, however, a seriously ill or injured patient can be stabilized here and transported to the Brookings Airport - saving at least a half-hour of transport time often critical to the patient's outcome.
"I hope the citizens of Brookings-Harbor are as excited as we are," said Councilor Kelly McClain. "This is a big deal. It's a big deal for our quality of life, for property values - for everything."
Councilor Bill Hamilton said he was happy to be getting such services in the community.
"Two times I had to be flown to Medford in the past two years for heart problems," he said. "I'll be a little relieved if this happens. It's not a bowl of cherries getting loaded in that airplane two or three times. This has been a long time coming."
Even a few years ago, it was unlikely city leaders would have greeted hospital officials with enthusiasm for an annexation proposal. But it will be beneficial, hospital and city officials agree, for both to have increased services in the area of the county with about 60 percent of the county's population.
"The goodwill started when you lowered our System Development Charges from 9 percent to 3 percent," said CHD Chief Financial Officer Ken Landau of the building costs to build the clinic. "We've been working with (Mayor) Ron (Hedenskog) and Gary ever since."
"I'm glad Curry Health District recognizes the System Development Charge thing was a goodwill (gesture)," said Councilor Jake Pieper. "I'm glad they started the ball rolling for good will. There was so much negativity, conspiracy theories. ... Hopefully everything will come to fruition."
"I'm so proud to be a part of the healing of the relationship between south and north county," said CHD board member Rebecca Moore. "When we opened the clinic on Alder Street in 2001, this was our dream, and now it is coming to fruition."
Health District to ask Voters to Join
By Jane Stebbins, Curry Pilot staff writer
Curry Health District is reaching out to those in Brookings and Harbor in an attempt to secure its status as the primary medical care provider in Curry County.
Work is already underway to redesign Curry Medical Center in Brookings to accommodate a new emergency department (ED). And this fall, voters in the southern end of the county will get the chance to join the district - and with that membership, get a new 25,000-square-foot facility to house a much-needed dialysis center [correction: possibly a dialysis center], infusion therapy for cancer patients, a stationary MRI, surgery [correction: no surgical facility], outpatient observation beds and additional health-provider offices.
The cost is expected to be between $8 million and $10 million.
"This is an exciting day for us, as you can imagine," Brookings Mayor Ron Hedenskog told the hospital [correction: Health District] board Monday after they agreed to a resolution to pose the annexation question to south county voters. "It's an extraordinary, historic day for us. But it's also the beginning of a lot of work."
The work ahead
While groundbreaking took place Monday evening for a replacement hospital in Gold Beach, plans are to spend $500,000 to remodel the Brookings Urgent Care Center [correction: Curry Medical Center's Urgent Care department] as an ED and another $750,000 to purchase equipment.
The goal is to have the department open by August 1, with 20 to 30 additional employees.
The hospital replacement was prompted by the state fire marshal, who told the hospital district board almost two years ago that he could no longer turn a blind eye to the aging Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.
A Political Action Committee called Save the General [correction: Replace the General] was able to convince 2,149 voters of the importance of rebuilding the hospital; groundbreaking ceremonies that attracted about 200 people were held Monday afternoon.
Currently, the district board is awaiting word from the USDA regarding a $19 million loan to complement the $10 million general obligation bond voters approved last November before work can begin.
The ... other cost
Those expenses, however, must be paid.
If voters agree to the proposed annexation, the district's tax rate of 74 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation would then apply throughout the county. An additional estimated 70-cent per $1,000 assessed valuation will be paid - [correction: currently] only by those in the current district, who voted for it - to fund the general obligation bonds when they are sold, said Chief Financial Officer Ken Landau.
If Brookings joins the district, thus sharing the expense, that 70-cent rate will be reduced to about 25 cents per $1,000 assessed throughout the district, for a total of 95 to 99 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation.
Tax revenue generated from the annexation - estimated to be $1.2 million - would cover the cost of the ED improvements, building the 25,000-square-foot addition and providing other services.
The existing facility in Brookings is 34,500 square feet; the addition would bring it to 59,500 square feet.
"This is an exciting time," said [correction: former] district interim CEO Wayne Hellerstedt, who was in attendance to greet just-hired CEO Ginny Razo. His last day is May 8. "We've been working with OHA (Oregon Health Authority) to get permission to operate a satellite ED in Brookings; it's something that's been on everyone's plate for many years."
Board member Deb Wilson wondered how the face of the five-member board would be changed with the addition of the Brookings-Harbor area.
Two people would be appointed by the Brookings City Council, the resolution reads. State law says those appointees could have input, but not be able to vote until the next board election in 2017. At that point, the seats up for election would be available on an at-large basis, meaning anyone in the county could vie for them. [correction: Brookings City Council would appoint two persons to have voice but no Board vote Board until the 2017 election. At that time, 3 of the 5 Board seats will be up for reelection and would be available on an at-large basis. At this time there are no plans to increase the number of Board Members.]
The district now
Currently, Curry Health District goes as far south as Pistol River. In the 1980s, the district offered the southern end of the county the opportunity to join, Hedenskog recalled, but the offer was rejected.
Animosity grew over the years between the city and district, with the city purportedly not willing to join the district unless a hospital was brought to the county's population base.
Additionally, he said, there was little good health care available - 65 percent of Curry Countians still opt to go to Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City rather than the hospital in Gold Beach. Whether that is because of a perceived difference in health care or merely an easier drive is debatable.
"Why would you contribute taxes to a hospital in Gold Beach that wasn't as good as the one in Crescent City?" Hedenskog said. "They never got it. They said, 'We offered to let you join, and you turned it down.' Uh-duh."
Things have changed - mightily.
According to Hedenskog, it was inevitable the most populous area of the county would eventually get a medical facility - and former health district CEO Bill McMillan knew it, Hedenskog said.
"I believe he was a smart man," he said. "He could see the handwriting on the wall - that eventually we would have a health care facility in Brookings whether (the district) wanted to step in or not."
Instead of allowing Sutter Coast to encroach on its turf, Curry Health Network made overtures to its neighbors to the south.
Hedenskog has come full-circle, too.
"We've been waiting for this a long time," he said. "This could change the game in Brookings. This could be the biggest spark of growth we've had in Brookings. I know not everybody wants to see growth in Brookings - 'It's a cute little town; we wish it'd stay the same,' - but why couldn't we at least fill up the empty houses and storefronts and become strong and viable?"
Hedenskog said the Brookings City Council will vote on a similar resolution at its meeting May 11. The election will be held in either September or November, depending on state deadline requirements.
Hospital Groundbreaking Set for May 4
GOLD BEACH, OR (April 27, 2015) - Curry Health Network is excited to announce they will be breaking ground on the replacement Curry General Hospital, an 18-bed critical access hospital, on Monday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony, open to the public, will be held in Gold Beach at 94220 4th Street, with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall of Bethany Lutheran Church, 94190 5th Street.
Since the early 1950s, the original Curry General Hospital has provided healthcare with genuine caring and compassion to the residents of Gold Beach and surrounding areas, and has recently received patient safety and quality accreditation by DNV-GL. In November, 2013, District voters supported the building effort by passing a ballot measure to approve a $10 Million general obligation bond, providing roughly one-third of the approximate $29 Million total cost.
"The old building has served us well," said Wayne Hellerstedt, Interim CEO, "but its time of usefulness has come and gone. Codes have changed tremendously, and the new design should provide the venue for increased efficiency, patient privacy, safety and quality healthcare."
The new hospital will be approximately 60,200 square feet on four levels, and will include 18 patient beds, two operating rooms, a clinic, laboratory, radiology, cardiopulmonary services, and an emergency department with several exam, triage and trauma rooms. The anticipated opening date is late 2016.
Officials from the Wisconsin-based design/build firm Erdman Company will be attending, as will representatives from the USDA, Curry Health District board members, and the Network's new Chief Executive Officer, Virginia "Ginny" Razo. The event will be emceed by Hellerstedt, whose last day with CHN will be May 8.
"We invite the public to join us for this special occasion," said Hellerstedt.
ED Approved at CMC in Brookings
BROOKINGS, OR (March 24, 2015) - A breakthrough in securing State approval for an Emergency Department at Curry Health Network's clinic in Brookings was announced today by Brookings Mayor Ron Hedenskog and Curry Health District Board Chair Gary Anderson.
The Oregon Health Authority today issued a Temporary Rule prescribing the conditions under which Curry Health Network (CHN) can secure a State permit to operate a satellite Emergency Department (ED) at Curry Medical Center in Brookings, CHN's 34,500 square foot facility that opened in 2011 on 5th Street. The temporary Rule will remain in effect for 180 days while the State processes the enactment of a similar Permanent Rule.
"Having an ED at Curry Medical Center in Brookings is absolutely essential for the health, safety and wellbeing of our community," said Mayor Hedenskog. "A succession of local officials has been pursuing this for years, and we are now on the brink of achieving this goal."
"This long-anticipated announcement from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is one we are excited to receive. Providing this vital service to Brookings and southern Curry County is a goal which we have jointly been working toward with Brookings City officials for quite some time," said Anderson. Providing emergency services to Brookings is in alignment with CHN's mission, "healthy communities in which there is efficient, quality health care."
"This means we can immediately proceed with plans to develop an ED at Curry Medical Center (CMC) in Brookings," said Wayne Hellerstedt, CHN's Chief Executive Officer. "The clinic already has many of the components necessary for an ED, yet there are a number of issues to be addressed including funding, facility improvements, licensing for pharmacy and other services, and employing additional staff."
"We need to construct a physical separation between the existing Urgent Care unit and the new ED," Hellerstedt said. "It will take us about 150 days to get the new ED up and running."
Brookings is the largest city in Oregon without a hospital. The EDs closest to the Brookings-Harbor communities are in Gold Beach and Crescent City, California. In addition to providing primary and specialty care by appointment, CMC in Brookings also provides Urgent Care daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Urgent Care facilities, however, do not have the same capacity to treat the seriously injured or ill patients that EDs are equipped to handle.
The ED at CMC would be open daily, 24 hours per day, and would be staffed by physicians and other health care professionals capable of providing emergency medical treatment. The ED would be a provider-based satellite of the hospital ED, an extension of Curry General Hospital.
Some physical improvements and equipment will be needed at CMC to provide for the long-term emergency treatment to be offered at the facility. A triage system will be established to route patients to either Urgent Care or the ED.
"We will now begin working on developing a closer relationship between the Brookings and Harbor communities and Curry Health District to determine how to fund the construction and operation of the ED at Curry Medical Center," Hellerstedt said. "We are hopeful that the communities can quickly come together on this issue."
While fewer critical patients requiring hospital admission will continue to be transported via ground ambulance, Cal-Ore Life Flight has indicated that once the ED is operational, air ambulance transport of critically ill and injured patients can take place from the Brookings Airport to higher-level trauma centers in Medford, Coos Bay, or elsewhere. "Without an ED, those patients had to be transferred by ground ambulance to the nearest hospital where an emergency physician had to ensure they were stable enough to fly before transferring to a higher-level trauma center," said Anderson. "This will save lives."
"We now need to figure out the local structure for sustaining a quality healthcare system for all of us in Curry County," Hedenskog said. "We need to consider bringing the City and the unincorporated community of Harbor into the Curry Health District. We need to look at how much money is needed, how much the property tax rate needs to be, and how policy decisions on health care are made for our community going forward."
"We have a golden opportunity to take a leap forward in improving medical care in the Brookings-Harbor community," said Hellerstedt.
The City and CHN jointly retained a Portland-based law firm, Davis, Wright and Tremaine, to assist them with securing Oregon Health Authority approval for the ER. John DiLorenzo, who is affiliated with that firm, worked closely with City and CHN leaders.
"John DiLorenzo did a great job putting us in touch with the right people in State government to get this process moving, and was tenacious in pressing for a favorable solution," Hedenskog said. "Former Governor Kitzhaber and Senior Policy Advisory, Sean Kolmer, were pivotal in getting us to this point."
Hedenskog said that Brookings City Manager Gary Milliman, CHN CEO Wayne Hellerstedt and former CEO Andrew Bair also played major roles in moving the issue forward. "They have worked tirelessly and aggressively on behalf of this community," Hedenskog added.
Milliman also recognized the cooperation of Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Justice representatives in coming to an agreement with the City and CHN on the final wording of the Rule.
"This is an important project for the health and safety of the residents of our community," Milliman said. "But it's also important to the community's economic future. A major hindrance in our efforts to spur economic growth has been the lack of medical care, and specifically emergency medical care. This project will resolve that challenge."
Curry Health Network Names Bets Byrtus Employee of the Year
GOLD BEACH, OR (April 15, 2015) - Curry Health Network proudly names Bets Byrtus as the 2014 recipient of the Employee of the Year Award. Byrtus is the Administrative Coordinator and an integral part of the daily operations of Curry Medical Center in Brookings. She was selected for this prestigious award from among employees of all the Network's facilities in Gold Beach, Port Orford and Brookings who had been awarded Employee of the Month honors.
"Bets touches each and every department of Curry Medical Center on a daily basis and brings with her a smile, a kind word and a wide scope of knowledge," said Clinic Manager Danyell Thomson. Her co-workers agree, as evidenced by comments on the nomination forms submitted on her behalf; comments that include "She goes above and beyond to help", "She does whatever she can, always with a smile on her face", and "Bets is a great team player with a great attitude". One nomination summed up her contributions in four words, "Bets is the best."
Byrtus was originally hired as the part-time Director of the grant-supported Curry Breast Health Program in 1994. The following year she took on added duties in the Finance Department and became a full-time employee. With the exception of a one-year hiatus, Byrtus has been working at Curry Health Network in a variety of positions since that time.
During the award ceremony held April 10 when about 40 co-workers joined Interim CEO Wayne Hellerstedt in offering thanks and congratulations, Byrtus said a few words. "When I was younger in the 1960s, people who were 65 just automatically retired. I thought that was pretty wonderful because I thought I could get their job. In my late 30s I had a fabulous job, and my boss had an even better job and was getting near 65 so I thought she should retire so I could have her job," Byrtus joked. "Well, that didn't happen, and here I am now at age 70 and Curry Health Network is letting me stay."
"I love coming to work every day and consider my job a hobby - the fact that I can't grow flowers or quilt may have something to do with it," she quipped. "There are a lot of people here that do fabulous work, and work really hard but don't get recognized. They just aren't out there and as visible. They may like me just because I deliver the paperclips!" Byrtus said, all joking aside, she is very appreciative of the award and honored to work with her talented and dedicated co-workers.
"It's people like Bets who make Curry Health Network such a great place to work," said Hellerstedt.
Curry Health Network Participates in Senior Health Fair
GOLD BEACH, OR (April 21, 2015) - As part of Curry Health Network's commitment to supporting healthy communities, registered nurses from Curry General Hospital volunteered to participate in the Senior Health Fair on April 9 at Seaview Senior Living in Brookings.
Jeanette Wheeler, RN, Nursing Educator and Nursing Manager of the hospital's Emergency and Med-Surg Departments, and Judy Backhouse, RN and Lead OB nurse, gave residents and community members Personal Medication Record cards and discussed the importance of keeping accurate records of home medications and supplementations.
"It is essential that everyone keeps a personal medication record with them at all times so it can be available if a visit to an emergency room is necessary, and also to take to any appointment with a primary care provider," said Backhouse. She explained that records should not only be kept of prescription medications, but supplementations as well. "Supplementations can have a negative effect on prescription medications," Backhouse noted. The nurses also discussed the importance of drinking plenty of water. "As we age, we may not feel as thirsty and not drink as much water as we should, and many medications can cause constipation. We should all be sure to inform our healthcare providers if we are not drinking as much water as may be required, because that may require a change in medication management."
Wheeler said the Seaview residents were most excited about the news of the approval for a new Emergency Department at Curry Medical Center in Brookings. "The feedback about the availability of emergency services in their community was overwhelmingly positive," she added. Brochures introducing the healthcare providers of Curry Health Network and outlining the myriad of services available were also shared with residents and others attending the health fair.
At the invitation of the facility's Director, Wheeler and Backhouse will be speaking at the facility's monthly community meetings and providing education for their staff. "We're pleased to be offered the opportunity to contribute to the health and well-being of community members, and are looking forward to returning," Wheeler said.
CHN Announces New CEO Virginia Razo
GOLD BEACH, OR (March 31, 2015) - Curry Health Network today announced Virginia "Ginny" Razo will be joining the organization on May 4 as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Interim CEO Wayne Hellerstedt.
Razo most recently served as Interim CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System in Truckee, Calif., one of the most prestigious critical access hospital systems in the United States. Prior to being Interim CEO, she was Chief Operating Officer for seven years and Chief of Ancillary Services for five years at Tahoe Forest.
Razo holds a Doctor of Science (DSc) in Healthcare Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Ala., and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.
"It is an honor and a privilege to be joining Curry Health Network (CHN) and to serve the coastal communities of southern Oregon with a team of dedicated staff and medical providers," said Razo. "While my husband Richard and I were visiting Gold Beach, the sense of community pride and excitement about the future of CHN was palpable. Our family is so excited to be joining the community and organization in May."
"Ginny understands small hospitals and rural communities and will be an excellent fit for Curry Health Network and our communities," said Hellerstedt.
"More than 30 applicants vied for the position," said Gary Anderson, Board Chair of Curry Health District. "There were many highly qualified individuals interested, and after a comprehensive selection process lasting several months, the Board unanimously selected Ginny as the best candidate."
"Ground-breaking for a replacement Curry General Hospital is expected within the next few weeks, and Curry Medical Center in Brookings is in the process of adding emergency medical care within the next several months," said Hellerstedt. "Ginny has the knowledge, expertise, background and energy level necessary to see Curry Health Network through this critical time, and in the future throughout our continued growth," he continued.
Curry Health Network is comprised of Curry General Hospital, Curry Medical Practice and Shore Pines Assisted Living in Gold Beach; Curry Family Medical in Port Orford; and Curry Medical Center, Rush Surgery Center and Brookings Psychiatry in Brookings.
CHN Participates in School Wellness Program
GOLD BEACH, OR (February 23, 2015) - Even before Central Curry School District learned they would be the recipient of a 2014 OEA Choice Trust Wellness Grant, the Board of Directors of Curry Health District agreed to partner with them in their endeavor to improve the health and well-being of employees and schoolchildren, and in building a culture of health that promotes healthy living to prevent or manage risk factors and chronic diseases.
According to the OAE Choice Trust web site, during the first year of a five-year grant period, up to $25,000 will be received, with a maximum of $75,000 for employee wellness programs that will be implemented within five years. Grantees are required to provide a minimum of 50% in matching funds, either through in-kind contributions or outside funding partners. Curry Health Network's contribution of staff and health screenings goes toward the matching fund requirement.
Phase I of the "Central Curry Cool Waves to Wellness" grant process is geared to the health of teachers and other school employees, and then Phase II will move to include health and wellness of the schoolchildren. Curry Health Network will also participate in Phase II, as well as follow-ups with the participants of Phase I.
Curry Health District board chairperson Gary Anderson said the board agreed to provide staff and health screenings in late October, and administration was also fully supportive of the Network's contribution and recognized the importance to the schools and our community. "Curry Health Network whole-heartedly endorses this worthy program, and is pleased to be able to contribute to the continuing and improved health of our local teachers and school children," he said.
Registered nurses Jeanette Wheeler and Judy Backhouse, Phlebotomists Milo Mann, Brandi Barrigar and Terri Steele; and Michael Steele, Medical Laboratory Scientist and Curry Health Network Laboratory Manager were on hand at Riley Creek Elementary the morning of February 23 to take blood pressure readings and draw blood of more than 40 school employees. Blood screenings that will be performed include a hemogram (white cell, red cell, and platelet count with hemoglobin and hematocrit evaluation), a lipid profile (LDL, HDL and triglyceride), and a blood glucose level.
"These excellent baseline tests help people 'see' the health of their body from the inside," said Steele. "Hopefully this will make them aware and cognizant of their health and help them make healthy food and exercise choices." All data will be charted demographically and used to educate the participants as well as compare with later follow-up tests. Curry Health Network is providing documentation and handouts that explain the tests and the value of having routine health screenings.
"Engagement with the community through health fairs and screenings is the best way to make the community aware and actively participate in their own health management," said Steele. "My staff and I were happy to be a part of helping Curry County and its citizens live happier, healthier and longer lives."
"Teachers are in a great position to act as positive role models for students, and more and more schools, parents, students and communities realize the strong links between health and education. I applaud the steps toward improved health taken by the teachers and other school employees - it shows leadership and commitment that students can see is real," said Rebecca Moore, Health District Board Member whose two youngest children attend Riley Creek. "Students will be watching the teachers set a good example of the importance of health, and health leads to improved learning. I'm very proud to be part of Curry Health Network and its commitment to improved community involvement."
Grant volunteer Aga Kemp said the grant is only the beginning of an amazing journey for school staff and children toward improved health and wellness. "The support of our community partners is an integral part of its success and I am so grateful for the generous contributions, support, vision and professionalism Curry Health Network has provided us every step of the way."
More Accolades for Curry General: Trauma Center Designation
GOLD BEACH, OR (February 18, 2015) - Curry General Hospital was recently granted recertification of its designation as a Level IV trauma center, another accolade received close on the heels of the news that the milestone achievement of quality-based accreditation by DNV-GL Healthcare was reached.
In a letter dated February 4, 2015 announcing the recertification, Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division Director Dana Selover wrote, "Curry General Hospital has shown remarkable progress in the past 12 months," and granted a two-year extension of the Level IV designation.
"I am very proud of the accomplishments of our organization, and congratulate the staff and providers on this significant continued achievement," Curry Health Network CEO Wayne Hellerstedt said. "Our Trauma Medical Director Dr. Glenn Levine, Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Michael Niedens, and Trauma Nurse Coordinator Meghan Brace have done an exceptional job of ensuring continued quality trauma patient care through performance and quality improvement programs," he continued.
Chief Nursing Officer Lora Lawson also spoke highly of Brace and the emergency department nursing staff. "Megan is doing an amazing job as Trauma Coordinator, managing the performance improvement and data collection. I'm very proud of the accomplishment of each of our emergency department nurses who have completed intensive training through Trauma Nursing Core Certification." The TNCC training empowers nurses with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and hands-on training to provide expert care for trauma patients.
"Optimal standards of care of the trauma patient have been adopted as the minimal acceptable standards," Hellerstedt said, explaining that as a Level IV Trauma Center, the hospital provides resuscitation and stabilization prior to transferring a severely injured adult or pediatric patient to a higher-level trauma system hospital. Resuscitation and stabilization may involve surgical intervention. Trauma trained nursing personnel are immediately available to initiate life-saving maneuvers, and physicians trained in Advanced Trauma Life Support are present upon patient arrival to the hospital. Ancillary personnel are also in-house or promptly available 24 hours per day. Level IV trauma centers have all of the appropriate equipment and diagnostic capabilities to stabilize the severely injured patient.
"It is very apparent that the recent achievements are a reflection of the continued commitment to excellence by our entire Network including our point of service staff, nurses, providers, administration and the Board of Directors," Hellerstedt said.
Curry General Hospital Earns Accreditation
GOLD BEACH, OR (February 5, 2015) - Curry Health Network announces the successful completion of its new accreditation process for Curry General Hospital from DNV GL-Healthcare, the first accreditation earned in the 60+ year history of the only hospital in Curry County.
By earning accreditation, Curry General Hospital has demonstrated it meets or exceeds patient safety standards (Conditions of Participation, or CoP) set forth by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DNV GL's accreditation program is the only one to integrate the ISO 9001 Quality Management System with the Medicare CoP.
"This recognition is a sign of our commitment not only to providing the best care for our patients, but also our dedication to continually improving how we provide that care," said Wayne Hellerstedt, CEO. "The ability to integrate ISO 9001 quality standards with our clinical and financial processes is a major step forward. We're joining the ranks of other larger healthcare entities with DNV accreditation."
Curry General has three years from the date of accreditation to achieve compliance with ISO 9001, the world's most trusted quality management system used by performance-driven organizations to advance their quality and sustainability objectives.
"This accreditation allows Curry General Hospital to follow the best practices for patient care while at the same time encouraging new ideas," said Pamela Brown, Director of Risk Management and Quality Assurance. "While the process of receiving this recognition was rigorous, it is also exciting because the program allows us to tap into the knowledge of our hospital staff to continue to evaluate and to assess our approach as we develop best practices."
The hospital underwent rigorous, unannounced on-site surveys and surveyors evaluated compliance with hospital standards related to several areas including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management. DNV surveyors also conducted on-site observations and interviews.
The hospital was granted accreditation January 27, and surveyors will visit the hospital on regular annual intervals to help ensure a level of constant readiness and to monitor the hospital's progress including preparation for ISO 9001 certification.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Chairman Gary Anderson offered congratulations and thanks to the entire hospital staff for their hard work, commitment and dedication to the process of achieving DNV accreditation and providing quality care and safety for their patients - an achievement he described as a "major milestone" for the hospital, and for Curry Health Network.
GOLD BEACH, OR (January 28, 2015) - The Curry Health District Board of Directors has been working with nationally renowned board governance expert Bill Charney of Charney Associates, and board Chair Gary Anderson is now seeing the future of the Board and the Health District in a whole new light - optimistically and with confidence.
The Board on Tuesday, Jan. 20 finished their final day of three days of education begun in late October, and completed their development of the Board Governing Policies Manual, a 39-page document that defines the board process, management parameters, and board-management delegation.
The manual provides clear, proactive policies developed to guide District Board officers, members and committees, as well as the Chief Executive Officer and staff.
According to Curry Health Network CEO Wayne Hellerstedt, all five board members welcomed and embraced the governance education. However, Vice Chair Deb Wilson also gives a good portion of the credit for what she described as the current strength and cohesiveness of the Board to the addition of the two new board members sworn in last fall, Ryan Ringer and Rebecca Moore.
"Ryan and Rebecca really bring a lot to the table. With Ryan's business management and financial background, and Rebecca's knowledge gained through many years working for the Network, we couldn't have two better members. They each have young families. They are lifelong residents who understand the community needs, and they are very passionate about quality healthcare." Wilson said.
Anderson agrees. "The Board is functioning amazingly well together, and is working and communicating better with Administration," he said. "We as board members have diverse backgrounds and ages, and individual strengths and perspectives - yet together we just really 'fit'".
"The new governance system makes so much sense and we can already see the benefits," he said. "It is going to help the Board, it is going to help Administration, and ultimately it will benefit the community."
Bill Charney praised the Board's level of commitment and active participation in the process to improve the governance policies and procedures. "I like my work," he said, "but love it when folks really want to do right - not just go through the motions. This board has shown every indication that they'll implement the new strategies they learned to address the complex issues that all boards face." He paused, and then added, "I have every reason to believe that what was once an adequate board will continue to develop into a collaborative and exceptional board."
As impressed as Charney was with the Board, Moore was equally impressed with the governance education. "We all know and understand our roles and authority, we've set guidelines and boundaries, and what is even more exciting is that we're all now able to focus on the true purpose of the District."
According to the governing policies, that purpose is defined as "Healthy communities in which there is efficient, quality health care with results optimizing use of available resources".
The Governing Body of the District also revised their Bylaws during the Charney workshop and has committed to ongoing board development through continued education and training. The Board Governing Policies Manual and the Bylaws are available on the Network's web site.
Curry Medical Center Sets Patient Volume Records
GOLD BEACH, OR (January 16, 2015) - Since opening in 2011, patient volumes at Curry Medical Center on 5th Street in Brookings have continued to increase, breaking records on a regular basis. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, even more area residents - previously uninsured - are now seeking primary care providers. On average, the clinic and urgent care facility now see 2,171 patients per month, a 45% increase since 2011.
To combat the 25% increase in patient registrations within the last year alone, the number of providers offering services at Curry Health Network's southernmost facility has more than doubled to include seven primary care providers.
Two new providers also represent the addition of new services now available to area residents, says Danyell Thomson, Clinic Manager of the largest multi-specialty clinic in Curry County. "We're pleased to have brought on board Dr. Christopher Amsden, a specialist in Pain Management, and Pediatrician Dr. Raymond Harris."
Even with the addition of more providers, Curry Medical Center is facing a challenge to keep up with the ever-increasing volume of new patients. "Many of our new providers are already at full capacity," said Thomson.
"We've been working hard to streamline our processes to get new patients in the door, including asking patients to complete a new patient information packet prior to their visit. That data is entered into the EMR (electronic medical records) system and allows the healthcare provider to focus solely on the patient and not the computer," she explained.
Thomson has heard feedback indicating the perception of some patients is that the packets are used to deny patients access to clinic services or providers, but says nothing is further from the truth. "Those packets are designed to improve patient experience and quality care, and to match patients with the provider who best suits their needs. We processed more than 2,000 packets last year and were able to establish care with our providers for over 95% of those new patients."
A newly created position at the clinic is dedicated to assisting patients with establishing care. "The Patient Intake Coordinator will assign patients with providers and remain an available resource to help them navigate through the medical system," said Thomson. "We're doing everything we can to make the process of finding a healthcare provider easier for our community members, and we'll continue to make changes as necessary to ensure the process continues to be effective."
Wayne Hellerstedt, CEO of Curry Health Network, says the need for new healthcare providers is not unique to the Network's clinic in Brookings. "Efforts continue to recruit additional primary care providers for Curry Medical Practice in Gold Beach as well as for Curry Family Medical in Port Orford," Hellerstedt said. The Network is not alone. According to the Robert Graham Center, in 2012 the number of primary care providers in Oregon numbered 5,187. They project a shortfall of 1,174 by the year 2030 - not including 133 needed solely for the Affordable Care Act.
"Recruiting in rural areas also poses a unique challenge," Hellerstedt said, "and that may trickle down and contribute to increased difficulty in obtaining care." Health professionals are highly concentrated in urban locations, with only 10 percent of physicians working in rural locations, while one-fourth of the population resides in rural areas. "Of course the southern Oregon coast has so much to offer that is attractive to providers, and the addition of the new Curry General Hospital will also help in our recruitment efforts," he added.
Thomson remains optimistic about the improvements being made at Curry Medical Center, even with the challenges they are facing. "I'm very excited, and confident that the changes we're making will improve the patient experience," she said. "We're going to continue to strive to reach our mission to provide healthcare of the highest quality with genuine caring and compassion."
Rush Surgery Center Unveils Website Relaunch
BROOKINGS, OR (January 5, 2015) - Dr. John Rush, Physician Relations and Provider Contracting Manager of Curry Health Network's outpatient surgical facility, Rush Surgery Center, today announced that RushSurgeryCenter.com has introduced a re-vamped and re-energized website. The online venue is targeted to reach the residents of Curry County and Northern California by mixing educational and functional content related to healthcare providers and ambulatory surgical services offered at the Brookings facility.
By incorporating more information about the specialty services offered that are typically less likely to be performed in hospitals, Rush Surgery Center (RSC) and its new website is designed to help community members better understand how the surgery center compliments the hospital and Curry Health Network. Because an increasing number of insurance companies are directing patients to lower-cost outpatient facilities like Rush Surgery Center, this affords the Network an opportunity to serve those patients wishing to obtain quality care with local convenience and competitive pricing.
In addition, the new "Referrals & Consults" page offers an easy method for physicians who wish to refer their patients to the RSC providers for any of the ambulatory surgical procedures such as Colonoscopy, Cataract and other eye surgeries, Cosmetic surgery, and Pain Management procedures.
Patients will also find a wealth of information about the providers who perform procedures at RSC, as well as available procedures and pricing, where facility fees are typically less than 50% of hospital fees.
"The digital arena is becoming increasingly important for healthcare education, and as a gateway to assist new patients in obtaining services," said Dr. Rush. "We are proud to present new content and a new look to RushSurgeryCenter.com."
Local Convenience, Competitive Pricing, Quality Care
Rush Surgery Center
541.813.1835
www.RushSurgeryCenter.com
Dropping Interest Rates May Benefit Hospital
GOLD BEACH, OREGON - December 16, 2014
by Jane Stebbins, Curry Coastal Pilot staff writer
Curry Health Network officials continue to work closely with the USDA to obtain a $10 million loan [correction: $18,361,000] to build a new hospital in Gold Beach.
The process is taking longer than originally expected, but hospital officials hope to get final approval by the end of February or mid-March.
"We've had to jump through a few more hoops, and we're expecting a final list of questions from the USDA later this week, but everything looks good," said health network interim CEO Wayne Hellerstedt.
He said the USDA is finishing up its review of the network's feasibility study.
"There's always a chance (the loan request) will not be approved, but we've answered a lot of their questions and I'm confident it will be," Hellerstedt said.
Sam Goldstein of the USDA's Portland office said getting the loan in 2015, as opposed to this year, might be a good thing for Curry Health Network.
Next quarter, he explained, interest rates are expected to drop, which could save the hospital district a lot of money over the life of the loan.
"I don't even know if they know that," Goldstein said of the anticipated news. "They're thinking the rates will be around 4 percent."
Curry Health Network has applied for the loan to pay for about half [correction: one-third] of a new hospital planned to be built on the site of the existing facility.
After years of warning the hospital district that the building no longer meets various codes, the state told the board it would shut the facility down in two [correction: three] years if it wasn't brought up to standards or rebuilt.
That prompted hospital officials to put on a ballot last spring [correction: in November 2013] a $10 million general obligation bond question to build a new building, which voters approved.
Given the time constraints, the network's board quickly applied for the USDA loan and hired a design-build firm that has addressed issues ranging from the community's needs to concerns about the new hospital's location in a tsunami zone. [correction: Per current regulation based on SB 379 maps, Oregon Building Code does not prohibit construction in the current site location, an area outside the current tsunami inundation zone.]
USDA officials will meet with hospital officials this week to determine what final details they need from the financial feasibility draft, said Goldstein, who is the community programs director for rural development in USDA's Portland office.
"We have reviewed the market study and the feasibility study, and we'll prepare the response this week," he said. "We'll talk with them about what they need, or what clarification is needed, and get the feasibility report finalized. Then it'll be sent to the national office."
He paused.
"It still could be a little bit," he said. "These things always take a little longer than you'd like them to."
Goldstein declined to say what concerns the agency might have with the application, other than to say they involve some at both the financial end and the proposed facility itself.
"It's fairly complicated," he said. "There's still some things we need to know. It's not a simple credit application. If we were funding a GO (general obligation) bond, it wouldn't be hard because that's not very risky. But we have a local limit of $3 million. It's definitely above our local authority."
If all goes smoothly, the hospital will conduct the revisions, then a third-party public auditor will review the financial assumptions and draft an opinion of the feasibility study's validity. The Portland branch of the USDA would finalize the underwriting before it's sent to the national offices.
If for some reason the funding were denied, former Curry Health Network CEO Andrew Bair said other grant and local options are available.
"We're looking forward to hopefully getting it done," Goldstein said. "We're very interested in seeing the project progress. It'd be a really cool asset for the community."
Hellersted said he hopes to receive approval from the USDA's Portland office by the end of January, and approval from the Washington D.C. office by the end of February or March.
original article title: Loan delay may benefit hospital
Curry Health Network hires interim CEO
GOLD BEACH, OREGON - November 8, 2014
by Jane Stebbins, Curry Coastal Pilot staff writer
From his office in Gold Beach, all Wayne Hellerstedt sees is potential.
The Curry Health Network Interim CEO started work Oct. 27 after Andrew Bair left to take a job in Florida and be near family.
The two had worked together in Washington, and when Bair came to Curry County, he asked Hellerstedt - who after 33 years as a CEO in the healthcare realm now works as a consultant - to facilitate a strategic plan.
A new hospital needed to be built.
An emergency room was being demanded of citizens in Brookings.
Port Orford needed additional providers.
Hospital officials wanted the facility to obtain full accreditation.
"This organization is right on the cusp of explosive growth if all these pieces come together," Hellerstedt said. "Another reason is to help provide stability over the time it'll take to find a new, full-time CEO. It's an exciting time to be with Curry Health Network."
The backstory
Hellerstedt hails from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, where he earned his master's degree in 1991 and began his career of management in healthcare settings.
Most recently, he worked at the Helen Newberry Joy Hospital and Healthcare Center in Newberry, Michigan, where he completed the negotiations for a $2.4 Million hospital bond and a $3.0 Million bond for two major renovation projects - a skill that could benefit Curry Health Network as it proceeds with its own hospital construction.
In capital improvements, Hellerstedt was responsible for a $4 Million project involving outpatient and long-term care units and developed a $3 Million, 25,000 square-foot dialysis center - also a much-clamored for amenity in aging Curry County.
Hellerstedt will stay here until late winter, at which point it is anticipated the Curry Health District board will have hired a permanent CEO.
The board is down to seven applicants from a field of a couple dozen that, in Hellerstedt's mind, shows how the area and hospital can attract quality medical care professionals. That wasn't as easy when visiting applicants set their eyes on the dilapidated facility that serves a community of almost 25,000 people.
"The difference is, you've got building plans (for the new hospital) that are excellent," Hellerstedt said. "For a hospital CEO coming into a situation where you can make such a huge difference in the community - that's what we, as CEO's, look for.
"The new hospital will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization as a whole, there will be much more privacy for patients, and that will immensely help in the recruitment of providers. It will help with economic development in Gold Beach and Brookings - there are so many positive things about this building that make it an exciting time to be here right now.
"For me as a short-timer, it's exciting," he continued. "For a newcomer coming in on a full-time basis, this is the kind of stuff we love to be involved in."
Changes in time
He admits that, while he's "still trying to figure out his email and the way to the cafeteria," he feels he has it a little easier than Bair did when he first came on scene two years ago, particularly in any CEO's attempt to get additional healthcare services at the south end of the county.
"I've witnessed a major change in the attitude (in Gold Beach) with regard to Brookings," he said about the time between his last visit here and now. "It seems as though people are trying to work together for the good of the county compared to a couple years ago. I applaud everyone involved because it's important for both communities to work together."
The board, too, should start to be more functional, as a board education program was implemented recently to help all involved understand their role in the hospital machinations.
"It's helped define the roles and responsibilities of the board and administration and the operations of the organization," Hellerstedt said. "I think it went extremely well. They're becoming very much more functional. That educational program is coalescing the board into a solid working unit."
He also likes that qualms in the community about building the hospital in a tsunami zone are beginning to fade.
"From what I've seen, and in discussions with the architects, they are working hard to engineer it to meet standards," Hellerstedt said. "Whatever they build here is going to be 1,000 times safer than what is currently here.
"And do you wait 10 to 15 years to replace it when it falls apart or until you have substantially more dollars to put into it? It'll be so much safer and have the ability to provide so much better care, it's worth putting up now."
All that potential is enough to tempt someone to stay, he admits.
"I'm pleased to be here," Hellerstedt said. "I feel good about the board and the leadership team. Moving forward, I look forward to doing what I can until a new long-term CEO can be brought in."
GOLD BEACH, OREGON - October 24, 2014 Curry County Reporter, Sean Hall
Curry Health Network Holds Town Hall Meeting
On Wednesday October 8, at 5 p.m., Curry Health Network held a town hall in the Gold Beach City Council Room to discuss the construction of the replacement hospital.
Curry Health Network CEO Andrew Bair introduced Erdman representatives Steve Wolters and Todd Wambach to discuss the construction of the hospital.
Erdman is the Wisconsin based company that is planning and designing the new hospital; Wambach is a architect working for the firm and Wolters is a senior vice president of the agency.
Currently the hospital is still in a design phase, although they have completed the schematics and the design of the hospital, some of the permits are still being worked out -- and the hospital is being reviewed by the Department of Health [correction: Oregon Health Authority].
Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2015, potentially around March, and is scheduled to be completed sometime in a years time -- March of 2016.
The total floor space for the design of the hospital will be 60,200 square feet, there will be 18 patient beds in private rooms, 2 operating rooms, the emergency department will include 3 exam rooms, 1 triage, and 2 bay trauma rooms, an imaging department, an infusion therapy center, a clinic consisting of 10 exam rooms and and a shared minor procedure room, a dedicated helipad, and on-site parking for 100 cars.
The facility will be 4 stories tall and is being designed to keep essential equipment off the ground floor to protect against the potential for flooding. Patients will also be kept in the top sections of the building for similar reasons, although Erdman has hinted that part of the decision would be aesthetic and that the view should be "amazing".
The next steps in the process will be the continuation of the permitting and review process, the continued design for the foundation (initial testing has determined that there is nothing but sand for more than 100 feet below the planned foundation), the advancement of construction and engineering documents and contracts, continued testing of the subcontractor market, and the ongoing collaboration with the USDA to secure funding for the hospital construction.
Curry County residents inside the health district (which does not include Brookings/Harbor area residents) are providing the Health District 10 million dollars for the project, and the rest of the cost is projected to come from a loan. Curry Health District has expressed confidence that the loan will come through, but they have inferred that there are other options and lenders available to them if their initial plan for funding does work out.
"There are other methodologies of funding if the USDA loan doesn't follow through," said Bair. "The USDA loan is just the best type."
Bair will have departed the Health District long before this, though (October is Bair's last month with CHD). A new interim or a full time CEO should be lined up to take over and help oversee the construction in the coming months ahead.
In mid December, the District should know whether they have secured the loan or not. Until then, it is just a matter of patience as the preliminary work is continued which should lead up to the hospital breaking ground (weather permitting) this winter/spring.
Firm unveils hospital floor plans
GOLD BEACH, OREGON - Oct. 10, 2014
By Jane Stebbins, Curry Pilot staff writer
A design team outlined to Gold Beach residents Wednesday night the floor plans of the new hospital they are in charge of building in that city.
The new building, almost double the size of the existing facility, will feature four stories at the west end of the property, an array of new technology the current hospital lacks, a dedicated helipad and space for 100 vehicles.
The existing hospital is more than a half-century old, offers little privacy to patients, is outdated and out of code.
"Its time of usefulness has come and gone," said Steve Wolters, senior vice president of the Wisconsin-based Erdman Health Care Real Estate Solutions. "Codes have changed tremendously. Every space in the hospital you have today does not meet code."
He added that the goal in constructing a new hospital has a "Triple Aim" of providing patient access, quality healthcare and safety for a lower cost, in hopes of "portraying confidence and stability".
The district asked voters to approve a $10 million general obligation bond to build a new one; those funds are hoped to be matched [correction: augmented] with a USDA loan.
According to Sam Goldstein, community programs director with the Oregon office of the USDA, the cost to replace the hospital now hovers around $29 million. The sale of Curry Health Network's Shore Pines, an assisted living facility in Gold Beach, could help the hospital's bottom line to obtain better loan terms. The board has been deliberating its sale in recent weeks.
The new, four-story hospital will be 60,200 square feet, feature 18 hospital beds, two operating rooms, five emergency rooms - three being exam rooms, one for triage and a two-bay trauma room - an array of imaging equipment, a clinic with 10 exam rooms and a cancer treatment floor.
It does not, however, feature the much-needed dialysis facility, Bair admitted.
"I think I've given up the right to speak to that because it is an unfinished (discussion)," he said. "It is not in this building (plan). There might be other opportunities in the future, but not this time."
He said he realizes the anguish dialysis patients experience every week, as they drive five hours round trip - to Coos Bay, Medford or Eureka - for a four-hour treatment, often three times a week.
Bair said the district would need a service whose cost would offset the expenses of a dialysis center, which are often paid for by Medicare and not fully funded.
"A year and a half ago, I thought that would move ahead," Bair said. "Then Medicare reimbursements were cut by 10 percent and that changed the dynamic of the conversation."
The district is not giving up, he said, adding that DaVita, a Medford dialysis provider, might be interested in a co-venture in which the district provides the capital dollars for a center and they would lease and operate it.
The hospital is institutional in appearance, with a wide, wooden-looking band around the third floor and heavy canopies over the entrances. Architectural details are few, to cut down on costs.
"This is not a Cadillac hospital folks," said Gold Beach City Administrator Jodi Fritts. "We're getting a Chevy, and we're glad to have it."
Cascadia's fault
Site plan discussion was segued by Al Davis, an engineer who expressed his concern about earthquakes and tsunamis, which had been briefly discussed in a meeting last May.
Reports available last fall that utilize better technology now depict a higher tsunami inundation line than the old analyses. Those have yet to be adopted by the state, and Erdman is using current state and city codes to design the complex.
"That (new) data is not codified (in state building codes), nor is anyone ignoring it," Wolters said. "The board took it into consideration. How much money do you put into a building? How much do you go beyond what you need? What's the risk?"
"Our environmental review process is complete, and a finding of 'no significant impact' has been issued (by the USDA)," Goldstein said. "They have to make some decisions as to what kind of preventive measures they're going to take. We can't say 'no' if they're following the rules. We have to use the information that's published and available at the time."
Hospital plans put vital mechanical equipment in elevated locations and patients on the upper floors - "Patients are incapable of self-preservation, so we put them as high as we can," Wolters said. Rooms where people don't spend much time - and assuredly not at night, he said - include the cafeteria, administration and kitchen, and will be in the lowest level of the building.
Putting patients in the top floors and getting ventilation and electricity systems at higher elevations increase the chances of survival during an earthquake and tsunami.
"All these issues have been talked about for a long time," Wolters said. "No one was dismissing the potential of a tsunami. No one is taking this lightly. At the end of the day, a lot of decisions have to be made.
"You can spend a lot of time and money to build for a (certain) velocity of water coming at you," he added. "But (how much) money do you spend for something that may or may not happen? It's a trade-off."
Gold Beach Administrator Jodi Fritts agreed.
"Risk assessment? Yeah, we thought about it," she said. "There's a lot of data out there - a lot of data the city, hospital and these gentlemen have (processed)."
On shaky ground
The district board is also under deadline: The state fire marshal and the Department of Health have told the district there are "issues with that building" they will no longer allow to be grandfathered and ignored.
Geological reports did not bode as well as hoped, either, and changes have been made to plans for the foundation because of them.
Erdman opted to build on the west end of the property where the soil is better - although even there, they've dug to 105 feet and found only sand.
"In the beginning, we expected to get a little different material," said Erdman architect Todd Wambach. "It was a surprise to everyone. It's not great stuff; let's put it that way."
In an earthquake, sand is the most vulnerable of soils. The many facets in a grain of sand create "contact stresses" that hold the grains together. If there is enough force in an earthquake, they break. That liquefaction of the soil structure causes the ground to lose all its strength, potentially bringing a building down.
In light of those geotechnical reports, Erdman officials have changed the design of the hospital's foundation.
When presented with the new earthquake and tsunami information this spring, the board decided to thank the state for providing it, and said "they'd consider it" in their deliberations.
Next steps
Erdman officials will continue to work on engineering construction documents, permits and lining up subcontractors for an anticipated ground-breaking next spring. The building is slated to be completed by the end of 2015, with the first patients arriving in the spring of 2016.
Bair said he anticipates hearing from the USDA about the "conditional loan note guarantee" - essentially the loan the district needs to pay for the balance of the cost - in mid-December.
"We feel it's first in the queue because we've been engaged with them for quite some time," Wolters said.
Bair said that, while "there is nothing to make us believe we're not going to get that funding ... there are other funding mechanisms that can get this done."
"This is a big investment for the community," Goldstein said. "A facility in a rural area, especially with an elderly community, is very important."
Free Mammo Screenings, Oct. is Mammogramarama!
GOLD BEACH, OREGON (October 4, 2014)
Curry Health Network, your partner in breast health, is offering free Mammography screenings during Oct. 2014.
The most common risk factors for breast cancer are being female and growing older, although it knows no boundaries - be it age, gender, socio-economic status or geographic location.
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
Early detection saves lives.
Curry Health Network is committed to early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. During National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, 2014, we are offering a free screening mammography, and a 25% discount on a diagnostic mammography.
Patient Scheduling
You may make an appointment for your screening mammography in Gold Beach at Curry General Hospital by calling 541.247.3117. For those who live in or near Brookings, call 541.412.2050 for an appointment at Curry Medical Center.
Physician orders are not required for a screening.
DHS Survey: Zero Deficiencies at Curry Family Medical
GOLD BEACH, Oregon (October 9, 2014)
Recently Curry Health Network's clinic in Port Orford was surveyed by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS).
Last surveyed by DHS in 2009, the September 30 extensive survey found no deficiencies (zero - zip - nada - nothing) at Curry Family Medical. The surveyors commented that since their last visit they have noted a marked improvement. They were very impressed with the clinic and the entire staff, whom they described as highly engaged.
"This is a remarkable accomplishment of which Curry Family Medical, and Curry Health Network, can be proud. It's a fine example of adhering to the Network's mission to provide healthcare of the highest quality with genuine caring and compassion," said the Network CEO Andrew Bair.
The results of this survey are due in a large part to the staff Barbara Glicksberg, Tami Jones, Lori Galloway; medical staff Dr. Pitchford and FNP Mattie Mattlin; and Manager Marilyn Cain.
Free Mammogram Screenings Offered in Curry Health Network's 2nd Annual Mammogramarama!
GOLD BEACH & BROOKINGS, OR (October 1, 2015) - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as part of Curry Health Network's commitment to healthy communities with efficient, quality health care, we are offering free mammogram screenings to men and women during the entire month-long Mammogramarama event.
Last year, 240 people received free mammograms at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach or Curry Medical Center in Brookings. This year we are hoping to double the number of people who will take this important step to better health. Call today to schedule your free "Mammogramarama" mammogram screening!
Early detection saves lives.
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.
1 in 1,000 men will be diagnosed during their lifetime (approximately 2,360 men will be diagnosed this year, and an estimated 430 men will die of breast cancer this year).
Breast cancer in men and women has similar survival rates. Depending upon what stage the cancer is in when detected, the five-year survival rate varies from 99% (earliest stages) to 24% (cancer has spread to other parts of the body). These estimates are based on data from thousands of people with this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ.
Doctors orders to receive a screening mammogram are NOT required. For those whom it is most convenient to receive your free mammo in Gold Beach, call 541.247.3117. For those whom it is most convenient to receive your free mammo in Brookings, call 541.412.2050.
"Stuff the Bus" a Resounding Success
Curry Health Network cares about kids!
GOLD BEACH, OR (August 19, 2014) - Have you seen our official Curry Health Network pencil? If you were in Brookings on August 8 by the big yellow school bus parked near the entrance of Fred Meyer, you couldn't miss our very own Community Relations Admiral, Moira Fossum, dressed to the nines as a # 2 pencil when she represented Curry Health Network, one of the major sponsors of the 8th annual "Stuff the Bus" campaign.
Moira was on hand to lead the Marine Corp Volunteers as they collected school supplies, greeted the public and handed out Curry Health Network promotional materials.
Danyell Thomson, Clinic Manager at Curry Medical Center, lended voice to a radio spot (click here to listen) announcing the Network's participation. As she wisely said, we realize that the future success of our community depends on healthy, well educated children, and we want to do everything we can to encourage our young people and help them realize that good health leads to better learning.
Danyell also talked about the school sports physicals which were offered August 13 and 14 by the providers of Curry Medical Center for $10 each. All proceeds of the physicals were then donated to school sports programs - another successful endeavor which resulted in a $630 donation for the community children.
Danyell shared the exciting news that we are welcoming a pediatrician to our family of healthcare providers in October, Dr. Raymond Harris.
Stuff the Bus, a community effort to gather educational materials for local students, was a resounding success with a huge amount of school supply donations, plus $2,400 in monetary donations.
Thank you to Moira (our official pencil) and Danyell for their contribution to the success of "Stuff the Bus", and also to the CMC healthcare providers and staff who generously donated their time to make sure our youngsters are in tip-top shape and able to participate in their chosen sport!
Hospital Receives USDA Eligibility Notice
Still many steps to be taken before final approval is given
GOLD BEACH, OR (August 1, 2014) - The Curry Health District Board of Directors and Administration continue to advance the plan for the design and construction of the new replacement Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. The USDA continues to be helpful, and CEO Andrew Bair, CFO Ken Landau, and Steve Wolters of Erdman are working well with their officials.
On the recommendation of the USDA to engage the services of a Project Manager, we have brought on board Shiels Obletz Johnson (SOJ) of Portland to assist throughout the application process. Tor Flatebo, a local PE, remains our Owner's Representative.
July 16, the Erdman group met via virtual "go-to-meetings" with clusters of departmental managers to further fine tune the layout for optimum efficiency.
Wolters was on site July 25 to meet with the Board, Administration and Steve Cruzen of SOJ to go over the most recent budget figures including the cost of the foundation. Not surprisingly and based upon the poor soil conditions discovered in the geological technical survey completed by the Galli Group, foundational costs are higher than the earliest estimate of $1 Million.
On July 28, we received an official eligibility notice from the USDA stating the agency has determined that our project is eligible for funding. This is a very important and positive milestone. There are still many steps to be taken before the final approval is given, and funding is not anticipated until within the next fiscal year of the USDA, which begins October 1. We still anticipate a 2016 completion date.
July 29, Erdman, the Board, Administration and the Steering Committee met to make some important decisions. The board opted to pursue design Option 1 - a 60,000 square foot, four level (top floor is a 9,000 square foot maintenance equipment "penthouse") structure with 18 patient beds, two OR rooms, an ER (3 exam rooms, 1 triage, 2-bay trauma room), Imaging/Radiology, Laboratory, inpatient Pharmacy, and a Clinic with 12 exam rooms. We are initially planning for mobile MRI services, with a conference center that can be converted to a future fixed MRI. The site location and building design allows for future expansion.
GOLD BEACH, OR (August, 15, 2014) - Activity continues at a rapid pace in the process to build the new Curry General Hospital.
There are bi-weekly telephone conferences being held with the USDA, Erdman Company (our design/build firm), the Project Manager from SOJ, and Curry Health Network CEO Andrew Bair and CFO Ken Landau.
The USDA has arranged for a representative from their California office to complete the review of the environmental survey, welcome news since it was thought possible there was potential for delay due to the fact that the Oregon representative who was originally to review the survey accepted a position elsewhere within their agency.
On July 29 an updated project budget and latest financials were submitted to Wipfli, the company which prepared the original feasibility study - a financial forecasting study. They are making good progress on the update necessary to account for the ending of a new fiscal year for the Network, and expect it will be completed in a timely fashion.
The Senior Project Construction Manager from Erdman was in Gold Beach this week, reviewing the site in terms of excavation requirements.
The Erdman team will be here the week of August 25 to meet with department managers and Administration to start detailed room layout including placement of cabinetry, furniture, equipment, etc.
The Board will hold its regularly monthly meeting on August 27 at 4 p.m., and Erdman will provide an update.
Schematic Design Documents were sent to the USDA this week, and we will meet in early September with the OHA Health Facilities Consultant in the Facilities Planning and Safety Department.
Progress continues!
Draft Floor Plans
PLEASE NOTE: Images are draft floor plans of the new hospital - still a work in progress and subject to change. Click on"any of the images to see an enlarged version. "Up" is "West" in the draft plans.
He's baaaaack!
July 22, 2014
General Surgeon Luther Ward, MD returns
You know his face .....
You've missed his infectious grin .....
and great bedside manner .....
and compassion for his patients .....
combined with his incredible skill.
Curry Health Network is pleased to welcome back our esteemed General Surgeon Dr. Luther Ward, returning in August from his Harvard Global Fellowship in Haiti.
Dr. Ward has been helping establish a residency program at the "Hospital Haiti," a facility with 300 beds, six operating rooms and a full-time emergency room. The facility was built from the wreckage caused by the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake that leveled much of the impoverished island nation.
He will see patients at the Network's clinics in Gold Beach and Brookings - Curry Medical Practice and Curry Medical Center, and perform surgery at Curry General Hospital.
Dr. Ward will be seeing patients August 4 through August 29 only, so schedule an appointment now by calling 541.247.3510.
Join us in welcoming baaaaaaack! Dr. Ward.
He's baaaaack!
July 22, 2014
General Surgeon Luther Ward, MD returns
You know his face .....
You've missed his infectious grin .....
and great bedside manner .....
and compassion for his patients .....
combined with his incredible skill.
Curry Health Network is pleased to welcome back our esteemed General Surgeon Dr. Luther Ward, returning in August from his Harvard Global Fellowship in Haiti.
Dr. Ward has been helping establish a residency program at the "Hospital Haiti," a facility with 300 beds, six operating rooms and a full-time emergency room. The facility was built from the wreckage caused by the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake that leveled much of the impoverished island nation.
He will see patients at the Network's clinics in Gold Beach and Brookings - Curry Medical Practice and Curry Medical Center, and perform surgery at Curry General Hospital.
Dr. Ward will be seeing patients August 4 through August 29 only, so schedule an appointment now by calling 541.247.3510.
Join us in welcoming baaaaaaack! Dr. Ward.
Introducing Orthopedic Surgeon William Rand, MD
July 22, 2014
When it comes to orthopedics, you want personal care that gets you back in action. Now you can get that care at Curry Health Network.
Introducing Orthopedic Surgeon William Rand, MD
Dr. William Rand received his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine, completed residencies in General Surgery and Orthopedics, then a clinical fellowship in Spinal Surgery.
With decades of experience, we are pleased to have Dr. Rand available to perform Orthopedic Surgery at Curry General Hospital.
Dr. Rand will begin seeing patients July 29 at Curry Medical Center in Brookings, and at Curry Medical Practice on the Curry General Hospital campus in Gold Beach.
Get back in action! Call 541.247.3510 for an appointment.
Introducing Orthopedic Surgeon William Rand, MD
July 22, 2014
When it comes to orthopedics, you want personal care that gets you back in action. Now you can get that care at Curry Health Network.
Introducing Orthopedic Surgeon William Rand, MD
Dr. William Rand received his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine, completed residencies in General Surgery and Orthopedics, then a clinical fellowship in Spinal Surgery.
With decades of experience, we are pleased to have Dr. Rand available to perform Orthopedic Surgery at Curry General Hospital.
Dr. Rand will begin seeing patients July 29 at Curry Medical Center in Brookings, and at Curry Medical Practice on the Curry General Hospital campus in Gold Beach.
Get back in action! Call 541.247.3510 for an appointment.
New Hospital Progress Continues
GOLD BEACH, Oregon (July 15, 2014)
Since the Curry Health District voters on November 5, 2013 approved a $10 Million bond measure for the construction of a replacement Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, much has been accomplished. This spring when the timeline was set for the hospital project, it was an admittedly aggressive timeline but one which the District thought possible.
At a meeting between State USDA representatives, Curry Health District Board Chairman, CEO and CFO held July 7 in Salem, the District learned that while the USDA remains very supportive of the hospital plan in Gold Beach, the District had likely run out of time for obtaining an official commitment of USDA funding in their current fiscal year.
According to CEO Andrew Bair, Administration has been working very hard on the aggressive plan to obtain the commitment this fiscal year. "The environmental site assessment alone required correspondence with 14 different agencies, and while the length of time to complete is not atypical, it is lengthy. Our geotechnical and feasibility studies took longer than expected, and compounded by the tardy geotech study is engineering work to determine the cost of building on this site." The District plans to construct the new hospital just west of the current structure.
"We still do not know the projected cost of our foundation," said Bair, "although we should know by the end of this month." Soil samples at the site suggest the project will require deep foundations and slope stabilization, and the additional engineering work is needed to make a cost determination.
"Much work has been done, and as expediently as possible - yet the USDA just needed a little more information and a little more time," stated Bair.
Ken Landau, the District's Chief Financial Officer, says one of the USDA's key persons who was to review the environmental study has accepted another position within the agency, a move that may well have contributed to their decision that the window of opportunity for this fiscal year has likely closed.
"Based on the USDA instruction guide, there are a number of items that need to be completed by the State office prior to the District's next steps. We have provided all the reports and information to the USDA possible at this juncture - the next steps must be done by the USDA, mostly in the form of review," Landau said. The instruction guide is comprised of a list of 160 reports, studies, audits and documents needed; and the application process is lengthy, complicated and arduous.
Bair has been fielding the same question again and again - what does this mean? "We may still get funding, just not now. The next fiscal year for the USDA begins in October," he added. "While the USDA will never guarantee funding before the actual commitment, they remain - as they have always been - very supportive of the project. We also believe we are qualified for alternative funding, however that option would take time as well and involve another feasibility study."
He paused to consider the progress made in such a short period. "Remember," he said, "we just passed our ballot measure in November. Since then we have completed a market analysis study, financial feasibility study, geotechnical study, environmental site assessment and a land title survey. Ken has put forth a tremendous amount of energy into providing the USDA with all the financial information they require. We've hired an investment banking firm to assist with marketing the GO bond. We've selected a design-build firm and are deep into the planning stages of our new hospital, although there is still detailed design work to complete before we break ground."
Bair continued, "We had been pushing for an October ground-breaking that is not likely - however not completely impossible. We will know more after the next few Board meetings. We remain focused on building the new Curry General Hospital, and are committed to continue moving forward until our community ultimately has the appropriate modern and efficient facility necessary to provide them, for decades to come, the quality healthcare they need and deserve."
Illustrations: These architectural renderings are options presented to the Board of Directors by the Erdman team in late June. Please note that these are still very much preliminary conceptual drawings, and that the design layout refinement is an ongoing process.
Echodardiography now available at Curry General Hospital
GOLD BEACH, Oregon (April 6, 2014)
The Curry Health Foundation and Curry Health Network wishes to thank Southern Oregon Cardiology of Medford for their generous donation of $10,000 to the foundation, funds earmarked as a contribution toward the purchase price of an Echocardiography machine for the patients of Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.
Curry Health Network is providing the balance of the cost of the Echocardiograph, an instrument that uses high-pitched sound waves to create moving pictures of the heart.
The test - also called a heart ultrasound or "Echo" - is noninvasive and painless for the patient, and shows the size and shape of the heart in addition to how well the chambers and valves are working. Echo can detect possible blood clots, fluid buildup, and problems with the aorta. A trained Sonographer administers the test and the resulting information is transmitted to the cardiologists in Medford to be read.
"The Echocardiograph is a necessary cardiac diagnostic tool for our Emergency Department and Hospitalist physicians," said Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network. "We're appreciative of Southern Oregon Cardiology's contribution, and pleased to have this service available to our patients."
Erdman to build new Curry General Hospital
GOLD BEACH, Oregon (April 7, 2014)
The Board of Directors for Curry Health District has selected by unanimous vote the Erdman Company, a Wisconsin-based national leader in healthcare consulting, facility planning, development and design-build, to build the new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.
Erdman Company has been designing and building healthcare facilities for 63 years, which, coincidentally is the age of the hospital they will be replacing. They have completed more than 4,600 healthcare projects, and in the last decade alone developed and constructed more than 550 healthcare facility projects with a value of more than $2.4 Billion.
"We're very excited to be working with Erdman on this project," said Curry Health Network CEO Andrew Bair. "Their team is knowledgeable and has vast experience focusing solely on healthcare facility planning, design and construction."
"We expect with Erdman that the community will have a healing environment that promotes greater well-being for our patients, and a hospital that is also operationally efficient," Bair added.
Erdman's record reflects that 99.5% of their projects are completed ahead of schedule, 98% are completed below budget, and their average change order rate is 1.42% - far below the industry average.
The Erdman team is onsite this week and has been meeting with the Board, Administration, and a Steering Committee as well as departmental managers.
Community Invitation to Town Hall Visioning Meetings
The community is invited and encouraged to attend upcoming visioning town hall meetings to offer input and ask questions about the new hospital. Meetings will be held in both Gold Beach and Port Orford. The first meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 at the Gold Beach City Hall; and another at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 at the Port Orford City Hall.
PLEASE NOTE: These conceptual drawings by Erdman may or may not resemble the completed hospital. Decisions about site placement, number of floors, size, etc. have yet to be finalized. These are simply preliminary conceptual drawings.
Curry General Hospital "Open for Delivery"
GOLD BEACH, Oregon (April 3, 2014)
Labor and Delivery services at Curry General Hospital resumed on March 1, and on March 5 the first baby - a healthy boy - was born in the new program, followed by a second baby boy delivered March 28.
"This is a needed service we are committed to provide to the community," said Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network. "We're pleased that mothers and families once again have the opportunity to have their babies in a safe, caring environment near home without the need to travel long distances."
Preston James Carpenter
Obstetric Services temporarily ceased in May 2013 when several nurses retired or resigned in close succession, leaving the hospital with no staff prepared to care for laboring women.
When the program was halted, administration immediately made plans to resume as quickly as possible, and the goal of a January 1 reopening was set. Peace Health in Eugene was to assist with specialized OB nurse training, but that plan never came to fruition after their offer fell through. Although Chief Nursing Officer Lora Maxwell quickly reached out to Providence-Medford for the needed training, the result was a program far behind schedule.
"Our nurses have been training in the OB unit at Providence to gain needed proficiency," said Maxwell. "This relationship will continue in the future."
Dr. John Jackson came aboard earlier this year to head up the new OB Services program as OB Medical Director, working alongside Dr. William Fitts. Nurse midwives Alice Taylor and Shilo McKenzie continue as members of the medical staff and have full privileges at Curry General, including delivering babies. The midwives are fully supportive of Drs. Jackson and Fitts, and Curry General Hospital.
With the newly trained nurses and the available doctor/midwife options, Curry Health Network's OB Services are "open for delivery" to provide the quality care that you and your baby need in a specialized and safe environment.
Voters Okay New Hospital
November 6, 2013
The General will be replaced.
About 65 percent of voters in the Curry Health Network's special district voted in favor of a $10 million bond to construct a new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach and improve the Port Orford clinic.
"It's so great for the community," said Deb Wilson, a board member for Curry Health Network, who joined other supporters of the measure at a Gold Beach restaurant Tuesday night.
"With a new facility, we will be able to bring in health care professionals and new services," Wilson said.
Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network, said that hospital personnel will start interviewing architect firms in the coming weeks and he hopes to break ground on construction in spring or summer of 2014.
"I'm grateful for the efforts of the many people who put so much energy in making this occur," Bair said. "It will be beneficial to the community for generations to come."
The bond is for 74 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in the special district, which stretches from Pistol River north to Elk River. It does not include Brookings. In addition to the hospital and the Port Orford clinic, the Curry Health Network also operates the Curry Medical Center in Brookings.
The 60-year-old Curry General Hospital does not comply with fire and safety codes, and could have been shut down in 2016.
The hospital's emergency room [correction: operating room] was closed for two months this summer because of fire and safety code concerns.
The new hospital will be built on the same lot as the current facility, which will remain open until the new one is completed.
District officials hope to match that money from the bond with $10 million from a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to construct a $20 million facility.
"It's better than we expected," said Dale Thomas, co-chairman of the Friends of Curry General Hospital PAC. "We knew we had to win big in Gold Beach."
PLEASE NOTE: The reference to a USDA grant is an inaccuracy in the newspaper article. This misinformation is not attributable to Andrew Bair, Dale Thomas, or Curry Health District. The District is seeking financing, not a grant, from the USDA or other sources.
Curry Medical Center Urgent Care overwhelmed with Emergencies
BROOKINGS, Oregon (March 4, 2014) - Twelve of the 38 patients seen at Curry Medical Center's Urgent Care on February 20 were medical emergencies that required ambulance transport to a hospital. This situation at Urgent Care is becoming more frequent, and the resulting problems are two-fold.
Urgent Care is a same-day clinic that can handle a variety of conditions that need to be treated right away, but are not emergencies. For patients seeking Urgent Care, that creates a long wait while staff works with life-threatening medical emergencies that should have been seen at an ER.
A hospital Emergency Department is designed to provide fast, life-or-limb-saving care. Knowing the difference between Urgent Care and Emergency Care and where to seek treatment could save your life.
Brookings is the largest community in the state of Oregon without emergency services. State law prohibits having an emergency department in the absence of a hospital, and although Curry Health Network is working with city and county officials to raise awareness at the state level to remedy the situation, in the meanwhile Curry Medical Center's Urgent Care is the closest thing to a true emergency room.
It is not, however, an Emergency Department, nor are the available services and level of care provided equal to that of Curry General Hospital's emergency department, 25 miles north of Brookings. The hospital ED is staffed 24/7 with on-site board-certified physicians, and has earned a designation as a Level IV Trauma Center.
Just a few of the conditions that are medical emergencies that should be treated at a hospital Emergency Department include persistent chest pain, especially if it radiates to your arm or jaw or is accompanied by sweating, vomiting or shortness of breath; persistent shortness of breath or wheezing; severe pain, particularly in the abdomen or starting halfway down the back; loss of balance or fainting; difficulty speaking, altered mental status or confusion; weakness or paralysis; severe heart palpitations; sudden, severe headache; sudden testicular pain and swelling; newborn baby with a fever; intestinal bleeding; falls with injury while taking blood thinning medications; loss of vision; head or eye injuries; obviously broken bones or dislocated joints; bleeding that won't stop or a large open wound; vaginal bleeding with pregnancy; serious burns; seizures without a previous diagnosis of epilepsy.
It is vitally important to know the difference between urgent care and emergency care, and to know where to go to receive that care.
New Hospital Update: Architect teams return for final interview
Gold Beach, Oregon (February 25, 2014)
Four contractor-architect teams selected as finalists to build the new Curry General Hospital will be returning in March for final presentations and in-depth interviews.
In January, the Curry Health District Board of Directors held pre-interviews with eight teams who were vying to build the replacement facility in Gold Beach, and received on January 29 their formal responses to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
Earlier this month, the Board reviewed the responses to the RFQs, scored them according to pre-defined and weighted criteria, and selected four groups as finalists to return for more in-depth presentations and interviews.
Since that time and under the guidance of the USDA, expectations, more defined selection criteria and issues to be addressed at the final meetings have been developed. The USDA is one potential source of financing for the balance of the estimated $20 Million needed to replace the hospital, a 63-year old structure. In November, the District voters agreed to fund a $10 Million geo-bond for hospital construction.
The teams, during their final presentations, have been asked to present preliminary conceptual drawings for a facility that meets the community's needs using an estimated budget of $18 Million without equipment. Construction is expected to be completed in 2016.
Erdman, Cushing Terrell Architects & Engineers with Andersen Construction, Ankrom-Moisan Architects with Skanska Construction, and Aspen Street Architecture will make their presentations to the Board on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 11 and 12, at The Bridge Restaurant. One of the four finalist teams will then, at a later date, be selected to build our community's hospital. The interviews will begin at 1 p.m. each day, and the public is invited to attend, although due to time constraints public participation, if allowed, will be limited.
Once the contractor-architect team is selected, the Board has expressed a desire for the team to participate during a moderated brainstorming session to capture community input, as well as investigating the feasibility of giving site tours prior to ground-breaking. In an effort to keep the public informed, it is likely that intermittent public sessions throughout the project will be held.
In other hospital-related news, efforts continue in the process to issue requests for proposals for required surveys including site, geological and environmental.
Gold Beach, Oregon (January 16, 2014)
Contractors, architects vie to build new hospital
This week the Curry Health District Board of Directors and senior leadership team met with eight groups vying to build the new Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. More than 65% of District residents in November voted to pass the ballot measure to replace the hospital, and since then there has been a whirlwind of activity.
Having traveled from California, Colorado, Washington, or within the state of Oregon, the firms began the day with a tour of the 63-year old hospital, led by Curry Health Network's CEO, Andrew Bair.
The groups, either Design/Build firms, or Architect and Contractor teams, or Architects, were allotted thirty minutes to give a presentation to the Board which was followed by a brief question and answer period. One question most often asked of the firms was their history of working with local subcontractors and local labor. The firms also answered questions about their experience with Critical Access Hospitals, coastal weather conditions, protection against obsolete working environments, cost containment, and keeping the current hospital functional during the construction phase.
Design/Build firms presenting included Neenan Archistructure, Belay, and Erdman. Architect and Contractor teams included Cushing Terrell Architect & Engineers with Andersen Construction, PKA Architects with Perlo Construction, TVA Architects with Adroit Construction, and Ankrom-Moisan Architecture with Skanska Construction. Aspen Street Architecture, a firm specializing in modular hospital design, rounded out the lineup.
"This was a pre-interview," said Bair, "and only the first step of the process to select a qualified firm who can meet our community's need for continuing and expanded healthcare services with a new facility that will accommodate today's modern technology - and last for decades." Bair continued, "All of these firms have a proven track history, and that includes speed to market which is vitally important."
The teams will be submitting by January 29 their formal responses to the RFQ (Request for Qualifications) which will include much more information than they were able to present in their brief thirty minutes. The Board of Directors will then meet on February 3 to carefully review the RFQs and select finalists to be invited back for a more in-depth interview.
Board Member Deb Wilson said, "It was really a diverse group, and each had their own unique presentation style that gave us insight into their project management philosophy and methodology, experience and background. They were all very qualified to do the project, so the Board will have an incredibly tough decision to select the finalists, and then ultimately the team who will build our new hospital."
Board member DeAnna Craig agreed. "All of them were very interesting, but some distinguished themselves with the ideas they presented. It will be very hard to choose."
The Health District expects that a final decision will be made by mid-February.
Feasibility study, Request for Qualifications
December 25, 2013
There are many steps required in the design and construction of a new hospital, and the passing of the November 5 ballot measure to replace Curry General Hospital was only the first of many.
The Board of Directors, governing body for Curry Health District, recently agreed to contract with an audit firm to perform a feasibility study that results in a forecasting model of a five-year budget. Lenders, bondholders and the USDA - as part of the financing application process - require the study. District taxpayers voted in support of a $10 million levy, and the District will be obtaining the other estimated $10 million from other sources.
Ken Landau, Chief Financial Officer, received proposals from four different firms, but the Board elected to go with Wipfli, LLC. Wiipfli has a proven track record of success with the USDA, and is a national firm Landau has worked with in the past. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in 12 weeks.
Administration and the Board of Directors have also been considering different project management methodologies including Design/Build, Design/Bid/Build, and Contract Manager at Risk - each having unique varying degrees of benefits associated with the particular methodology.
Board member Deb Wilson says there might be benefit in going with a Design/Build firm who specializes in healthcare facilities, has a proven record of accomplishment, understands our market, and can complete the project quickly. "The expertise of such a firm may result in lower overall costs," said Wilson.
To best ensure having a new hospital which meets the needs of the community and today's medical technology, and to make wise use of the taxpayers' investment, Andrew Bair, CEO, has this week issued a "generic" Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The RFQ will allow firms using all different methodologies to respond to the request. "It will be up to them to convince us why their firm and their methodology are best for us," said Bair.
All responding firms will be invited to attend a workshop on January 14 where they will meet with the Board, be walked through the scope of the new hospital project, and have any questions about the RFQ answered. The workshop is a preliminary event, and the deadline for firms to submit their responses and qualifications will be January 29.
December 18, 2013
Healthcare provider to join Curry Family Medical
Curry Health Network has signed a Letter of Intent with a new healthcare provider to offer services at Curry Family Medical, the network's clinic in Port Orford.
In late September, the Board of Directors for Curry Health District approved plans for service improvements at the clinic. They resolved to work toward providing expanded hours of operation, a travel stipend for residents who travel to the Curry General Hospital campus for services, free school sports physicals, appointment scheduling with clinic staff instead of an off-site scheduling department, and unscheduled appointments. The travel stipend, physicals and appointment scheduling goals have already been met.
The addition of Mattie Mattlin, FNP-C, is also in alignment with those goals. Mattlin is expected to join the staff later in 2014, and has expressed a desire to work Saturdays and evening hours. Currently the clinic is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and since the recent retirement of Sandra Johnson, Dr. Tom Pitchford has been the clinic's sole provider.
Mattlin is board-certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and earned her Masters of Science (MS) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from San Francisco State University. She began her health care career as a candy-striper volunteer, and then became a Certified Nursing Assistant, a Licensed Vocational Nurse, a Registered Nurse, and a Physician Assistant before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychobiology/Sociology from the University of California, then her Masters degree.
Mattlin has extensive experience in geriatrics, holistic medicine and family practice. She plans on living in, or near, the community of Port Orford.
November 26, 2013
Details of new Gold Beach hospital emerge
With the success of the ballot measure now behind them, the Curry Health Network board of directors is now focusing on the next steps for Curry General Hospital, as well as expanding services in Brookings.
During its meeting Monday, the board of directors heard a presentation about what the new Curry General Hospital could look like, discussed the next steps in beginning work on the new hospital and authorized $17,000 to explore expanding services in Brookings. It also moved to issue requests for quotation [sic: qualifications] for an architecture and design firm and a feasibility study.
Michael Curtis of the Neenan Group from Colorado, presented preliminary estimations on what a new Curry General Hospital could look like.
Curtis showed how a 34,000-square-foot hospital could be built on the west side of the current hospital building. While nothing is certain, including the architecture firm Curry Health Network plans to hire, the preliminary drawings showed a hospital with 12 inpatient beds and one [sic: two] operating room[s].
Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network, said at the moment the board was in the "planning to plan" stages of the hospital, meaning that specifics are still very far from being decided.
Curry General currently has 24 inpatient beds, but averages only 5.5 occupied beds per day, with 11 beds being the maximum overnight occupancy number in the past year, Bair said.
While acknowledging a potential risk from tsunamis for any hospital being built on the General's current site, Bair said it is legal to build the hospital there because it is outside of an inundation zone from a 1995 map that dictates where buildings in Oregon can be legally built.
Bair said that besides that tsunami risk, constructing elsewhere in the town opens up the building to other risks, such as flood, landslides and erosion.
"Do you see any place in Gold Beach that is safe?" Bair asked the board when he showed the board maps of tsunami zones and potential landslide areas.
Additional funds needed
An additional $10 million also needs to be secured by the health network for the projected $20 million project. The loan would be paid back with revenue over the next 30 years. Ken Landau, chief financial officer for Curry Health Network, said there were three options for funding the additional $10 million: a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan, a loan from private investors or a Department of Housing and Urban Development loan. Landau said each loan option had its own advantages and disadvantages and he would be considering all three.
New hospital could capture market better
Curtis presented the board data about where the hospital could gain revenue by expanding services in Brookings and attempting to capture money that is currently going outside of the hospital district by potential patients seeking treatment elsewhere than network facilities.
Currently, 66 percent of network revenue comes from residents in Brookings, which is located outside of the hospital's tax district. But 84 percent of Brookings residents receive inpatient care from hospitals other than Curry General, mostly at Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City.
"A preponderance of inpatient care in Brookings is going to Sutter Coast," Curtis said.
Curry General only performs about 20 percent of surgeries on residents from Sixes south to the California border. Curtis said with the new hospital, Curry General could potentially capture more of its market and improve its revenue.
Under the time line Curtis presented, construction could begin in October 2014 and the new Curry General could be occupied by January 2016. Bair said these were estimates and the hospital is still in the early planning stages.
The $17,000 will go to investigating expanding services in Brookings. Brookings is unable to have its own hospital because of current regulations preventing another one from being established within 30 [sic: 35] miles of a critical access hospital, a designation that allows rural hospitals to receive more funding from Medicare. The $17,000 would pay for an investigation whether state law allows beds from the Gold Beach facility to be transferred to Brookings, which would allow Brookings to have emergency room services.
In other business the hospital board heard about:
•Turnover at the hospital, especially among the nursing staff. The hospital has established action committees to address employee and turnover problems. Curry Health Network has a 26- percent turnover rate.
•Bair said he was looking to start advisory committees in Port Orford and Gold Beach to garner feedback and input from the community about community needs for the hospital.
by Don Iler, courtesy of Curry Coastal Pilot
October 29, 2013
Helicopter lands at Curry General Hospital ER
Underscoring need for hospital and life flights from Gold Beach
By Don Iller
A helicopter in the parking lot?
Yes, if you were in Gold Beach Monday afternoon and saw a helicopter landing in the parking lot of Curry General Hospital, you saw right.
Within 40 minutes of receiving a call, a Mercy Flight helicopter from Medford landed and a patient in critical condition was transferred to the helicopter within 10 minutes. The transfer was a "hot load", a transfer without an aircraft shutting off its engines.
Lora Maxwell, Chief Nursing Officer at Curry General Hospital, said it was the first helicopter landing the hospital has had in three years. Law enforcement officials blocked off the streets in order to make sure no one used the sidewalks and got caught up in the rotors.
Maxwell said they were fortunate that staff had a meeting a week prior with law enforcement about what they would do in such a situation.
After the patient was loaded into the helicopter, the helicopter made it to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford in 20 minutes. While unable to give the patient's name, diagnosis or condition because of medical privacy laws, Maxwell said the quick transfer of the patient went well.
Cheryl McDermott, executive assistant to CEO Andrew Bair, said that if the new hospital bond measures passes, architects are looking at putting in a helipad with the new hospital building.
Helicopters can be limited in their use by weather, however.
"With a new hospital and good weather, it's something we'd like to see more of," McDermott said.
Replace aging Gold Beach hospital . . .
November 5, 2013
On November 5, voters will decide whether or not to build a new hospital in Gold Beach, improve the Port Orford clinic, and increase health care services in Curry County. Outdated facilities can't accommodate modern medical technology and advances in medicine. This bond would secure an additional $10 million in a low-interest loan to build a new $20 million hospital in Gold Beach.
Why Now?
Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach is more than 60 years old. It's expensive to maintain and cannot accommodate new wiring and duct work. It barely meets Medicare and state licensure standards. In fact, the current waiver for compliance with modern fire codes expires in mid-2016, and will likely not be renewed. If the hospital is not in compliance, it could be forced to close. Construction of a new hospital on the existing Curry General Hospital campus will take approximately 12-15 months, which would require design and development to begin in the Spring of 2014 to complete the hospital by the end of 2015.
●Function efficiently ●Support current medical technology ●Be patient-centered ●Attract and retain quality physicians and staff ●Meet current codes ●Provide essential healthcare services, so people choose to live and work in Curry County ●Reduce need to travel to distant medical facilities ●Improve local economy. Workers who don't live in the local area may spend an estimated $1 Million on lodging and meals during the hospital's construction.
What are the hospital's deficiencies?
●Not enough exam and treatment rooms ●Exam and treatment rooms are too small to incorporate newer technology ●Need an additional operating room ●Dated technology in operating room ●Limited space and patient privacy in Emergency Department ●Poor work flows create inconveniences for patients and unnecessary costs ●Congested areas reduce patient privacy
$10 million bond measure
●Increase property taxes 74¢/$1,000 of valuation ●Double the $10 million in bond funds through low interest matching loans ●Hospital Levy Calculator
Additional information
●The District has included a provision to issue an annual credit up to $150 per year, per property, for five years. ●The credit may be applied to co-payments and deductibles for District services. For those without insurance, the credit can be applied to the entire bill. ●Other terms and conditions apply.
October 22, 2013
Curry Health Network adds Speech, Occupational Therapy services
Curry Health Network recently announced the addition of speech and occupational therapy now available at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, and at Curry Medical Center in Brookings.
"With services tailored to individual needs of both inpatients and outpatients, our partnership with Synertx allows us to offer innovative programs with a professional speech-language pathologist that address difficulties with speech, language and swallowing disorders," said Curry Health Network CEO Andrew Bair. "We've also added occupational therapy rehabilitation to our growing list of available services.
"Both speech and occupational therapies are also important components of our Swing Bed program in Gold Beach," he added.
Swing Bed is a program covered by Medicare that is an alternative to prolonged acute hospitalization or short term nursing facility placement for post-acute extended care. The swing bed program at Curry General Hospital provides skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapy services. "There are no facilities in Gold Beach that provide our swing bed therapies that allow patients to get the care they need right near home, and near their friends and family," Bair said.
Occupational therapy provides experience and practice with actual tasks to enable patients to participate to the fullest extent possible in activities in their daily living environment.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy may be of benefit to those with work-related injuries including lower back problems; limitations following a stroke or heart attack; arthritis, MS, or other serious chronic conditions; broken bones or other injuries or accidents; burns, spinal cord injuries, or amputations; vision or cognitive problems that threaten the ability to drive; and more.
The new therapy services are available by appointment at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, and at the Network's clinic in Brookings, Curry Medical Center. Referring physicians and patients may call 541-247-3134 for an appointment at either location.
"We're very happy to offer these vital health care services to our community," said Bair. August 27, 2013
You've got questions, We've got answers!
By Andrew Bair, CEO, Curry Health Network
What is this about a new hospital in Gold Beach?
Curry Health Network is looking to replace the Gold Beach, Curry General Hospital and improve the Port Orford Clinic by placing a tax of $10M on the November ballot. This $10M will allow for low interest matching loans to complete a new modern facility at the same site. Placement of the new hospital would allow continued healthcare at the existing facility during construction. Learn more about Ballot Measure 8-74 to replace Curry General Hospital and improve the Port Orford clinic.
What's changed in Gold Beach?
Over the last few years Curry General Hospital has improved our Emergency Care model. We currently have Board Certified physicians on our campus 24 hours a day for our Emergency room. This differs from the previous method of calling physicians from off campus to cover the emergency department. We feel our community gets the same high quality of care here as they would anywhere.
What's this about a Brookings Hospital?
Curry Health Network has agreed to complete a Certificate of Need to determine if Brookings can qualify for a new hospital. The Certificate of Need process takes about one year. If the Certificate of Need is approved by the Federal Government, Curry Health Network will ask the people of South Curry County how they will fund a Brookings hospital on the Curry Medical Center campus. We feel the Curry Medical Center (5th Street Clinic) already has much of the components of a hospital, so the project is half completed already.
Does Brookings really need a hospital?
On average, 2 to 4 ambulances a day are called to Curry Medical Center on 5th Street to transport a patient to an emergency room. In 2012, 79 people presented to the Curry Medical Center Urgent Care with chest pain. These citizens required transportation to the nearest ER - either Gold Beach or Crescent City - via ambulance. Numbers for 2013 are on track to eclipse last year's numbers. It is clear that emergency services are needed in Brookings. Current Oregon law requires a hospital status to support an emergency room. This means there must be inpatient beds.
When would we have these hospitals?
The Gold Beach hospital cannot be started until we receive money from the bond ballot measure. Without passing a bond measure, it would not be possible to access a low interest loan to fund the Gold Beach hospital project. We are ready as soon as we get that funding to start the 2 ½ to 4 year project of the new Curry General Hospital. The funding efforts for the Brookings hospital won't be explored until we know we have federal approval through the Certificate of Need process. This creates a longer timeline for any Brookings facility, if approved.
Can Curry County support two hospitals?
We believe two separate traditionally run hospitals would dilute the market, making it difficult to financially sustain either facility. However, a single entity running two campuses would be sustainable. One idea is to reduce the 22 bed hospital in Gold Beach to a 10-15 bed hospital. We believe reducing our bed capacity in Gold Beach would improve a case for a Brookings facility. Cost savings could be achieved through having one administration, one billing department, one IT department and so on. As a part of the Certificate of Need, a business model must be developed to demonstrate the need for such a venture.
What does Port Orford get out of any of this?
We feel the Southern Oregon coast would be attractive to many qualified physicians; however our Gold Beach facility is a barrier to recruitment. With a new hospital comes opportunity to recruit more specialty physicians. Port Orford would be put on a schedule for some of these specialists to rotate through the Curry Family Medical Clinic.
As we get an Orthopedic Surgeon and other specialists, the expectation would be that they rotate through Port Orford on a monthly basis. Learn more about other planned improvements.
What's happening with OB?
This spring Curry General Hospital made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our OB service. One of the reasons was that our method of care at Curry was to use a small group of specialized nurses to provide care. When those nurse left through retirement or other reasons, they were difficult to replace. All of our nurses will now be going through a rural nurse certification course as well as OB nurses training, so when we bring our OB service back we will never have to close. In addition to the Nursing changes, after the beginning of 2014, we will welcome Dr. John Jackson who will play an integral part of the re-opening of the Labor and Delivery Service at Curry General Hospital. Dr. Jackson's specialties include Family Practice and Obstetrics.
How's the new hospitalist program going?
In early September hospitalists started seeing patients in Curry General Hospital. These physicians only practice medicine in the hospital, and our patients now have access to physicians 24-hours per day, seven days a week. While most hospitalists work 12-hour shifts, our hospitalists work seven to ten day shifts and live on our campus the entire time.
Because we're able to provide constant medical surveillance and care in the hospital, fewer people will leave our county for care.
Community physicians appreciate this program because it assures them that their clinic time will not be interrupted, which is also a value to their patients. It will also be a major recruiting tool as we seek new physicians to serve our community.
Do the Tax Payers in Gold Beach and Port Orford pay for Curry Medical Center in Brookings?
No. We received funding for the Curry Medical Center project by going to the public market through private investors. After all expenses were paid, the clinic added more than $700,000 to the District's bottom line last year. This has been of benefit to Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.
What about a dialysis center?
We have felt there is a real need for a local Dialysis Center. We have been in contact with the two major national Dialysis companies, Fresenius and DaVita. Fresenius has indicated they are not currently interested in this area. We are yet awaiting DaVita. In addition we will be looking at hospital based models. We feel strongly that if this vital service is feasible, then it is in our charge to provide dialysis.
October 10, 2013
Curry General Hospital tops State in stroke care
GOLD BEACH, OR - If you or someone you know has a stroke, faster care can mean a better outcome. In 2012 Curry General Hospital was the top hospital in the State of Oregon for providing clot-busting medication for stroke victims. Of all 58 Oregon hospitals, large and small, Curry General Hospital was the quickest on average for providing this life saving treatment.
Though there was not adequate information available to assess how the hospital compared this past year, Curry General was second in the State for how rapidly CT scans (Computed Tomography) were performed for patients with stroke symptoms.
This quick response is supported by telemedicine care through Providence Brain and Spine Institute of Portland. Through a secure two-way video system robot known as "Telestroke", stroke neurologists are virtually at the patient's bedside working with the Curry General Hospital emergency department physician and ER team to provide high quality care.
"This is remarkable care for such a small facility," said Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network.
October 16, 2013
Proponents of hospital bond argue their case
by Don Iler, Pilot staff writer
"The General" is running out of time. At least that is the message from supporters of the Nov. 5 bond measure to construct a new hospital in Gold Beach.
"We have a three-year waiver until the summer of 2016," said Dale Thomas, co-chairman of the Friends of Curry General Hospital PAC. "We will not meet codes once the grandfather clause expires."
Thomas said that if the hospital is not replaced, it is highly likely the state will shut it down because the 60-year-old facility is not up to code. And with repairing the current facility not financially feasible, it is more effective to build a new hospital on the site of the current one, keeping the old one open as a new hospital is built.
Residents within the hospital district [correction: health district], which stretches from Pistol River to Port Orford, will vote on a hospital bond measure. Curry County residents living outside the district don't have a say.
"If the bond measure doesn't pass, a lot of things will go away," said Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network, which oversees Curry General Hospital, and clinics in Brookings and Port Orford.
"This hospital here is out of compliance with a lot of building codes. We know the state's fire marshal and health inspector will be back in three years and we don't want to have it closed," he said.
Curry General Hospital already had to shut down its operating room for two months over the summer because it was out of compliance with the state.
The closure which Bair said cost the hospital $600,000 in lost revenue.
The special district that will be voting stretches from Pistol River north to Elk River. People south of Pistol River, including Brookings, will not be voting on the ballot question.
The tax measure will raise district property taxes 74 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Bair said he expects the measure to raise approximately $10 million, which will be matched with federal funds to build a $20 million facility. Funds would also be used to make improvements at Curry Health Network's clinic in Port Orford, increasing the number of hours it would be open, specialists who visit it, walk-in visits, and free sports physicals. Bond money would not be spent on anything except building the new hospital or improving Port Orford's clinic.
If the measure passes, construction would start on the new hospital in spring of 2014, with a move to the new facility by the spring of 2016, just before state inspectors could potentially shut the hospital down.
"It's among the last critical access hospitals in the state of Oregon to be replaced," Thomas said.
Curry General Hospital is the largest employer in Gold Beach and if the hospital closed, not only would the jobs leave, the number of students in schools would drop and the cost and travel time to reach medical services would increase.
Without a hospital in Gold Beach, residents there would lose the so-called "golden hour," with those suffering traumatic injuries or heart attacks unable to reach medical services within the optimal 60 minutes when life saving measures are the most effective.
Thomas said that the hospital would be able to attract more health professionals to a new facility, and it would help the hospital attract and retain residents there. He also said a new facility could help generate more services and profits, which could allow the hospital to potentially have services such as dialysis, which many in the community have requested.
Without the new hospital, the Curry Health Network-run Brookings clinic would also have no chance at getting an emergency room or hospital beds of its own, Thomas said.
Competing with other tax measures
Bair said the board decided to put the tax measure on the ballot this year because it felt it could not wait. It is thought that having numerous competing tax measures on the ballot decreases the likelihood that any of them will pass. The county is attempting to pass tax measure 8-73, which will fund law enforcement services at the county and prevent it from going into bankruptcy. Port Orford is also being asked to vote on another tax levy to fund its police department.
"I don't have the luxury of waiting," Bair said. "I had some good people ask us to wait, but with the recent health department visit, I don't know if we have the time."
Voters could receive their ballots as early as this Saturday or next week.
A public forum about the hospital tax measure will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, at the Gold Beach City Hall.
October 16, 2013
Health District levy wins support of Gold Beach City Council
by Sean Hall, Curry County Reporter
The Gold Beach City Council met on Monday October 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council chamber room in City Hall.
In attendance were Mayor Karl Popoff, City Administrator Jodi Fritts, and Council members Larry Brennan, Brice Gregory, Tamie Kaufman, and Melinda McVey. Absent from the meeting was Councilman Doug Brand.
The meeting quickly came to order after roll was called and the pledge of allegiance was recited.
Miscellaneous items - There were several miscellaneous items addressed toward the end of the meeting, but the bulk of the meeting consisted of a presentation by Andrew Bair and Dale Thomas concerning the Hospital Bond Measure which is upcoming on the fall ballot - as well as the County-wide Law Enforcement Levy (also on the ballot) - which was presented to those in attendance by County Commissioner David Brock Smith.
New member - The Council also gained a member during the proceedings when High School student Lyndsey Dixon was voted on as the student body liaison for the City Council for 2013-2014. This will be Dixon's second stint as a liaison to the board - having done so once two years ago.
A presentation by Curry Health District - For several weeks now members of the public action committee for the Health District have been speaking to nearly any interested party in regard to the bond measure residents of the health district (an area that stretches from Pistol River to Elk River and does not include Brookings) will be voting on in the fall.
"We aren't asking for all of it from the community," said Bair, referencing the $10 million the Bond measure would match to federal sources in order to build the $20 million hospital.
"This is not a political issue, this is a community issue," Bair continued. "If there is no emergency room (here in Gold Beach), you will get into an ambulance and you will go to Bandon or Crescent City.
According to Bair and Thomas, since June the hospital has lost revenue and resources dealing with safety issues and regulations. For several months, parts of the hospital were closed owing to an order from the fire marshal who determined that parts of the hospital are outdated and pose a serious threat to safety.
"If we wait until May - it pushes the hospital timeline past the date the fire marshal can (officially) close the hospital," said Thomas. The average hospital life is 40 years, Curry General is 60 years old ... We can go forward and put a firewall through the middle of the hospital, but revamping the old structure costs almost as much as building a new one - but you lose some of the efficiences (and benefits) of a new structure when you do that."
"The hospital is the city's largest employer," said Bair. "We need an orthopedic surgeon." And the public action committee thinks that a new hospital would serve as a vehicle for the recruitment and retention of medical talent.
Part of the presentation concerned Port Orford and Brookings as well. Bair made it clear that no tax dollars have been used - or ever would be used - to build facilities in Brookings, and that the Brookings clinic pays for itself as it makes a profit.
"Brookings is sitting between two critical access hospitals with 35 mile boundaries," said Thomas. "Brookings is not going to get their own hospital.
Curry Health District would like to see medical services expanded in Brookings however, which would potentially include a satellite emergency room facility, but "Brookings would have to decide whether they would pay for it," said Thomas - which would be after successfully wrangling their way through any number of regulatory hoops.
"We think there is an additional $70 million in the area for medical services (that we aren't yet capturing)," said Bair. "A new hospital would bring in more patients, and it would allow for more services.
Curry Health District also plans on using the bond measure to increase operating hours and available services in Port Orford. Tax dollars in Port Orford already [inaccurate: should be "almost"] cover the losses from Curry Medical Center [inaccurate: should be "Curry Family Medical", the Port Orford clinic] - and aside from potentially making specialists available in Port Orford on a weekly rotation, the Health District would like to offer extended physicals [inaccurate: should be "free school sports physicals"], and x-ray services - as well as a $25 travel voucher for qualifying residents who live in the Health District who need to the hospital in Gold Beach [inaccurate: vouchers are for residents of the Port Orford zip code who travel to Gold Beach to receive health care services on the Curry General Hospital campus].
After the presentation, the council gave limited comment.
"I support this measure 100 percent," said Brennan.
"It is a shame that this had to coincide with the other measures," mused Popoff. But he indicated his support for the measure, as well as "all three measures," and offered his thanks to Bair, and particularly to Thomas and Dr. John Rush, whom he has viewed as "instrumental" in the Bond measure - as well as many other things.
Curry County Commissioner David Brock Smith, and the levy - After the hospital presentation, Commissioner Smith stepped up and presented the new county newsletter to the council as well as a resolution asking for the Council's support on the County-wide Law Enforcement levy.
"I don't think anyone here would argue that we don't need a new hospital," said Smith as he stepped up to give his presentation.
This year, newsletters are going to be going out to prospective voters, including a relatively personalized tabulation to each property holder in the county, laying clear how new property taxes would directly effect [sic: affect] them.
"We were able to merge data to give a personalized breakdown of how new taxes would effect [sic: affect] you (as well as the county)," said Smith.
The newsletter will contain information - including a pie chart breaking down how taxes are distributed by district - including schools, port, library, health, city, county, and fire districts. Of note is the relatively small slice of the pie that county services takes from the tax fund whole.
Listed as well are the services funded by the county government, and an illustration of the deficit the county government is currently running - a $3.2 million deficit that has rendered this tax levy - or failing that, state legislation already drafted to deal with this shortfall should Curry county residents not address it - necessary.
"$3.2 million is needed for current levels of services," said Smith. "It basically keeps the doors open and lights on for the County."
"Even with $1 million from O & C funds, we are still faced with a $2.2 million shortfall," said Smith.
"If the levy does indeed pass, we have three years of operation. What happens after three years?" asked Mayor Popoff?
"We are in a unique position," said Smith. "We (Defazzio, Wyden, Itzen and Brown) are in a unique position. We have never been as primed for a permanent fix in regards [sic: regard] to O & C land (and other projects) as now ...
"The three year bridge will give us until July 2017." (By which time it is hoped more permanent solutions will have been in the works to address the budget shortfall in Curry County).
"The alternative is HB 3453," Smith continued, which would be the State solution to county-wide fiscal distress. If the County is in danger of losing what is deemed essential services, it can step in with the go-ahead from the board of commissioners and impose an income tax without the vote of the county electorate.
"We get three more shots at this," said Smith. "I think I can tell you that it can't be less than this. The State's solution will be more expensive ...
"It isn't something that I like, but we got to keep the jail open and law enforcement funded."
"A 12 percent increase to income tax would be a lot worse than this levy," said Brennan.
- After addressing these special orders of business, the council moved on the handful of items left on their agenda. This included a second reading of the alley vacation ordinance, as well as a discussion and determination on City policy regarding derelict and potentially dangerous property.
Specifically, the council decided that the property on 94270 Button Lane was a potential danger to the community, as well as unsightly.
There was unanimous approval that the council would take action regarding it.
The council also unanimously agreed to look into their policies regarding vacant property deemed to be a nuisance, giving every indication that this policy - as well as the building situation on Button Lane - would be looked into in the coming months.
"It is a shame we had to wait this long to do something about this," commented Popoff before the vote came in deeming the building dangerous and that the City would take action regarding it.
The Council also shortly discussed the possibility of shelter being provided to children at set bus stops. Specifically, Brand requested the agenda item to be discussed in his absence regarding a set location where a shelter could be provided for waiting children - and although his fellow councilors found the idea nice - they decided that providing shelter in one area would engender the idea of providing it elsewhere in the spirit of equal treatment - and as there are a large number of bus stops within the city jurisdiction, such an idea would be untenable in practice.
McVey suggested that a "group of parents (or similarly concerned citizens) should get together, provide the funding, and (spearhead) this project."
More levy discussion - Afterward, the council once more began to talk about the law enforcement levy as well as the bond measure.
Smith brought forward a resolution of support for the measure toward the end of the meeting, which lead to discussion but garnered unanimous support from the Council - who voted to support the resolution.
"I think quite frankly that we should support this," said Popoff. "I do not want the State to come in and dictate to us. We need to take control of this (ourselves)." If the law enforcement services failed in the County, "criminals would be ticketed and released in Gold Beach (as the county would find itself unable to hold on to anything but the most violent of offenders)."
As the discussion moved on - it became increasingly more broad.
"I'll support the Law Enforcement levy when Port Orford supports the hospital bond measure," said McVey - also adding later that she is "in favor of all three (ballot measures)."
"If we do this one, we should do them all," said Kaufman.
September 25, 2013
Surgical department grows at Curry General Hospital
GOLD BEACH, Oregon - As many know, Curry General Hospital's general surgeon for the last three years, Luther Ward, MD, has taken a leave of absence for one year for a Harvard Fellowship that includes work in Haiti. Even though Dr. Ward will be returning in late spring of 2014, Curry Health Network has brought on board Dr. Glenn Levine.
Dr. Levine is a board certified General Surgeon with decades of experience who earned his medical degree from State University of New York and completed his internship and residency at University of South Alabama Medical Center. Dr. Levine performs surgical procedures at Curry General Hospital; and sees patients at clinics in both Curry Medical Practice in the Curry General Hospital annex, and at Curry Medical Center in Brookings.
When Dr. Ward returns, there will be two general surgeons serving our community.
In addition to a new general surgeon, Dr. Steven Johnson, a board-certified Urologist, will be joining Curry Health Network in October to work in conjunction with Dr. Harm Kraai. Dr. Johnson comes to the area from Twin Falls, Idaho; earned his medical degree from Northwestern University - The Feinberg School of Medicine, completed an internship in surgery at the Bexar County Teaching Hospital through the University of Texas, and completed residencies in general surgery and urology at University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine.
After the beginning of 2014, Curry Health Network will welcome Family Practice physician Dr. John Jackson who will play an integral part of the re-opening of the Labor and Delivery Service at Curry General Hospital. Dr. Jackson's specialties include Family Practice and Obstetrics; and he will be working with OB/GYN Dr. William Fitts and Nurse Midwives Shilo McKenzie and Alice Taylor. Dr. Jackson earned his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; completed a rotating internship at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York, a residency in family medicine at the Chicago Osteopathic Hospital, and a fellowship in Surgical Obstetrics at Family Medicine Spokane in Washington State.
Ear, Nose and Throat specialist Dr. Steven Shimotakahara continues to provide services in Gold Beach, while Dr. Reg Williams will utilize the surgery suite at Curry General Hospital for surgical procedures. Curry Health Network continues to recruit for an Orthopedic Surgeon and Podiatrist.
"We're happy to welcome Drs. Levine, Johnson and Jackson to the Curry Health Network family of healthcare providers," said CEO Andrew Bair. "We continue to look for ways to offer expanded services to our community."
October 3, 2013
Curry General Hospital committed to provide OB services
GOLD BEACH, OR - Hospital Administration has been working diligently to bring OB services back to Curry General Hospital, and remain optimistic that babies will again be born in Gold Beach after the first of the coming year in 2014. Labor and delivery services temporarily ceased this summer, and plans to restart services as soon as possible were made immediately thereafter.
"This is a service we are committed to provide to the community. The addition of Dr. John Jackson is the final provider component we've been seeking," said Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network. "Dr. Jackson will play an integral part of the re-opening of the Labor and Delivery Service at Curry General." Dr. Jackson's specialties include Family Practice and Obstetrics, and he will be working with OB/GYN Dr. William Fitts and Nurse Midwives Shilo McKenzie and Alice Taylor.
"Another component is the specialized OB training that our nurses will be receiving, and Chief Nursing Officer Lora Maxwell has done a great job in finding the best program available for our staff, and continues to work with Providence to set it up," said Bair.
Dr. Jackson earned his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; completed a rotating internship at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York, a residency in family medicine at the Chicago Osteopathic Hospital, and a fellowship in Surgical Obstetrics at Family Medicine Spokane in Washington State.
"Dr. Jackson will be a great addition to the medical staff of Curry General Hospital, and he is very excited to be moving to the community," Bair said.
October 4, 2013
Port Orford clinic to receive improved services
PORT ORFORD, OR - The Board of Directors for Curry Health District has unanimously approved plans for service improvements at Curry Family Medical, the Network's clinic that serves the residents of Port Orford.
At the meeting held September 25 in the conference room of the Port Orford Library, the Board resolved to work toward providing expanded hours of operation to, at a minimum, include Fridays. For some time the clinic has been open Monday through Thursday only.
Urgent Care services for walk-ins and unscheduled appointments are also planned; and as of September 30, a travel stipend in the form of a $25 gas card is available to any District citizen who resides in the 97465 zip code who travels to the Curry General Hospital campus in Gold Beach to receive health care services.
In addition, the telephone tree system will be changed so that Port Orford residents calling the clinic will be speaking with the staff of Curry Family Medical instead of an offsite centralized scheduling department, allowing for more personalized service with immediate appointment scheduling.
School sports physicals, with an appointment, are also being offered to Port Orford children at no charge; plus arrangements have been made to allow the clinic staff to consult with the board-certified Emergency Room physicians at Curry General.
September 23, 2013
Curry General Hospital offers new hospitalist program
GOLD BEACH, OR - Curry General Hospital is pleased to announce a new hospitalist program which began September 9, 2013. Many larger hospitals throughout the country are taking the hospitalist approach to patient care. Hospitalists are highly-qualified physicians who focus on each patient's care while in the hospital, from time of admission to time of discharge. They do not replace the patient's primary care physician, but work in close consultation with them to provide case management for the patient. A medical doctor will now be available on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide inpatient hospitalist care for patients at Curry General Hospital. The hospitalist will provide complete care for the patients of physicians on staff who have chosen to use the hospitalist service, and for patients who currently do not have a primary care physician.
Hospitalists will admit patients, order diagnostic tests and lab work, plan treatment, consult with specialists and discharge patients from the hospital. After discharge, a summary of each patient's hospitalization record will be sent to his/her primary care physician or surgeon, and the patient will follow-up with their own physician at his/her office.
"While many large facilities use hospitalists, we feel ours is uniquely better than most," said Curry Health Network CEO, Andrew Bair. Rather than our hospitalists working 12-hour shifts like most hospitalists, the hospitalist at Curry General Hospital will work a 7 to 10-day shift. The reason they can work this unusual shift is because the volume in our hospital is lower than metropolitan hospitals. "There are fewer hand offs of care between physicians, which will improve our quality of care," Bair said. In addition to being on site 24/7, the hospitalists at Curry General in Gold Beach will carry a cell phone for staff, patients and families of patients to call anytime. "It's a wonderful service we're very excited to bring to the community," said Bair.
September 18, 2013
ER services improved at Curry General Hospital
GOLD BEACH, OR - It has been Curry General Hospital's policy to have an Emergency Room Physician on campus 24 hours a day for the past two and one-half years. It was not that long ago when physicians that were not on campus staffed the hospital's emergency room in Gold Beach; often responding from their homes, office or elsewhere locally while on call. While this is a practice used by many other small communities, Curry Health Network instituted a change in policy in response to public frustration and perception of slow response times to the ER by the on-call physician. Now the highly qualified emergency physicians are on-site, 24/7.
In May of this year, the hospital brought on board Dr. Paul Tice as Emergency Room Medical Director. Dr. Tice, board certified in Emergency Medicine with 37 years experience, earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and completed an Internship at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. In 2012, he was honored with both the Patients' Choice Award and Compassionate Doctor Recognition awards. Dr. Tice has initiated a new Peer Review program that ensures promotion of the highest quality of medical care as well as patient safety.
RN Will Chambers, the hospital's Surgical Services and Emergency Department Manager, says Dr. Tice has worked hard to refine their purpose, increased trauma education and improved trauma service, and promotes continual education of the staff.
"We're always ready to meet your emergency care needs," said Chambers, "and we're focusing on providing excellent care and patient satisfaction by reducing patient wait times, improving efficiency of care, and enhancing our patients' experience. We're running a better show."
"It isn't enough to just meet patient expectations of service - our goal is to exceed those expectations and under Dr. Tice's direction the emergency team is continuously working on improvements to care," said Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network.
Curry General Hospital's emergency department has earned a designation as a Level IV Trauma Center with 24-hour Trauma Surgeon availability. Trauma hospitals are distinguished from other facilities in that they have in-house or promptly available surgeons, anesthetists, physicians, nurses, lab and X-ray and other ancillary services, and resuscitation life-support equipment on a 24-hour-a-day basis, dedicated to the care of trauma patients.
July 9, 2013
District sends $10 million hospital bond to the voters
Curry Health Network will ask voters in its district this November to approve a $10 million general obligation bond to pay for a new hospital.
The exact location of a new facility has yet to be determined, officials said. [Omission:, although it will be on the Gold Beach campus.]
If the bond question is approved, the district will be eligible for a matching, low-interest USDA loan - and hopes to open the doors to a new facility in four to five years.
A $10 million, 30-year general obligation bond would cost property owners in the district 74 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation, said Director Andrew Bair. Additionally, each tax-paying property owner in the district would receive a $150 voucher each year for five years good for services in the network.
"We're trying to get creative and cushion the blow," Bair said. "The general obligation bond is only half of it. This is a big deal. We have a lot of work to do."
For starters, the $20 million figure is a rough estimate, Bair said. But it's comparable to costs of similar facilities built throughout the United States.
The need to replace the hospital is apparent: the 60-year-old facility is small, not patient-friendly and lacks some medical amenities a new one would feature.
Among the details to be worked out include whether a new facility can be built at the same location, as most of Ellensburg Avenue lies in the tsunami inundation zone. Curry General Hospital is located almost a block off the highway on Fourth Street.
"There's lots of people who say it can't be built (on its current site)," Bair said. "But we think we can. If the Cascadia tsunami hits, we've got more issues than the location of a hospital. There's a lot of anxiety around that, but if you take the effect of the 'Big One,' it pretty much decimates everything."
Regardless of location, officials also have to determine need - both current and future - of the services offered, and not just for patients. Bair noted that the physical state of the hospital is critical to attracting new physicians to the area, as well.
"People come here for an interview, and they come into the existing facility and are disappointed with what we have to work with," he said. "It's critical for attracting the kind of health care providers we need. We have several retiring in the next five to 10 years; we need to attract others to carry on."
Without a new facility, Bair isn't sure about the future of medical services in the area.
"Then we really have to think about what we're going to do here as far as having an emergency room and inpatient services," he said. "It's time. It's essential for the economics of this town to have a good facility."
He said he realized asking voters for a property tax increase at a time when the nation's economic outlook is creeping along at a snail's pace - and when the county itself might ask again for a property tax increase for public safety services - will be a challenge.
"You hate to put people on that spot," he said. "We have to help them prioritize, talk about what an obligation bond looks like, how not having one might be an impediment. We've got to take a look at this. We can't go forward building a new hospital without any idea of funding."
Bair said hospital officials plan to meet with county commissioners about coordinating a possible general obligation bond question and the timing of other possible ballot issues.
"Everybody's got their hand out," he said. "We're asking for people to tax themselves like they haven't before."
Bair said the community is lucky to have had the old wooden hospital last this long.
"It's a ... different kind of place. But it's lasted about as long as it can. It could last another half-decade, but after that, all bets are off. The clock's ticking on this building."
Brookings could soon be home to an emergency room and hospital, due to a loophole found in Oregon law prohibiting two hospitals from being within 30 miles of one another.
Mayor Ron Hedenskog announced the news to county commissioners during their work session Tuesday. It comes after discussions he had with Curry Health Network executive director Andrew Bair, who has been working on health care access concerns of residents in the south end of the county.
"I said years ago we need a hospital in Brookings, and I got chided by the city leaders when I brought this up," Hedenskog said. "I said I'd never bring it up again. Well, those leaders are gone, so I'm bringing it up again."
State law says two hospitals cannot operate within a 30-mile radius of each other. But the sentence continues to read, "or 15 miles in mountainous regions."
Hospital officials believe Curry Health Network just might meet that criteria.
Brookings is halfway - about 25 miles - between Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach to the north and Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City to the south.
And if that doesn't pass muster, health district officials have learned that Curry General Hospital can divide its 24-bed hospital and ER into two campuses under the terms of its state certification.
Hedenskog assured county commissioners that the needs of residents at the northern end of the county would not be abandoned just because Brookings has the largest population base in the county. Also, the proposed $10 million general obligation bond Curry Health Network officials is pursuing will only go toward construction of a new hospital in Gold Beach, he said.
"Andrew Bair said Curry Health Network is ready to (elevate the status of) this facility (Curry Medical Center) to an emergency room and some hospital beds," Hedenskog said. "He said the state will allow splitting the facility, making two campuses out of it. That's good news for us."
Incentives
Monday, the Brookings City Council voted to reduce the percentage rate - from 9 percent to 6 percent - on a loan the health district has with the city when it built the Fifth Street urgent care facility. The health district owes about $500,000 in System Development Charges, fees charged for sewer and water infrastructure to new development.
"Hospitals don't discharge ordinary household waste," Hedenskog said, adding that SDC numbers are calculated using national standards. "We don't just pluck these numbers out of the air."
The original percentage rate was so high because city officials try to discourage developers from borrowing from the city, and instead urge them to pursue loans from the private sector, which offers lower borrowing rates.
Former CEO Bill McMillan asked the Brookings City Council years ago for a break in those interest rates and was flatly denied.
The decreased loan rate, Hedenskog said, is a "goodwill gesture," and hopefully will encourage hospital officials to continue with their plans for Brookings.
Another incentive city councilors might consider is using Urban Renewal Agency funds to pay for future SCDs if hospital officials pursue the idea by, say, obtaining a building permit for an emergency room.
Additionally, the city could work with the county to extend the Brookings Airport runway to accommodate Medivac planes. New commercial development there could not only help out the health district's bottom line, but help pay for the runway extension.
"The city and county need to come to an agreement about the management of the airport," Hedenskog said later this week. "We need to secure a cooperative agreement to make improvements to the airport."
Commissioner David Itzen said Cal-Ore Life Flight owner Dan Brattain can fly his medical airplane out of Brookings Airport 66 percent of the time. But a longer runway - Brookings' is 2,880 feet long and needs to be at least 3,000 feet long - could accommodate larger planes in adverse weather.
That improved situation would also make the county - the airport's owner - eligible for Federal Aviation Administration grants for further improvements.
Patients aren't flying anywhere, however, without either a hospital or emergency room, as they can only be transported to a larger medical facility after a doctor ensures they are stable enough to fly and then releases them to the care of the aircraft's medical personnel.
Controversy
The idea doesn't come without a few complications, however.
"What about (Brookings) being in the (health) district," Commissioner Susan Brown queried.
"We have not been invited," Hedenskog replied. "It probably wouldn't happen without an invitation - and it probably wouldn't happen without controversy."
Brookings is not in the Curry Health Network district, which extends from the north end of the county to just south of Pistol River. Brookings was never included.
"Gold Beach was a big city back then," Hedenskog said. "Brookings was a one-dog town. And Harbor didn't even exist."
Animosities still simmer, he added.
"There were probably some reasons why Curry Health Network doesn't want us in, and there are probably some reasons why the south end wouldn't want to be in," Hedenskog said.
Commissioner David Brock Smith pointed out that north county residents sometimes resent that Brookings residents don't pay taxes toward the district, yet benefit from having the clinic in town.
Hedenskog said that Brookings' leaders have no intention of "taking away" health facility access from Gold Beach area, and any contract negotiated to build an ER and hospital campus in Brookings would reflect that.
As it is, Curry Health Network receives the bulk of its revenue from Brookings residents - and a good portion of those also travel to Crescent City for health care. A hospital in town could give the district and city an added economic boost.
Hedenskog joked that he is encouraged, however, because he asked his wife if she'd be willing to pay, say 35 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation to be included in the health district and she replied in the affirmative. "There's my sounding board right there," he said.
Actual tax costs are currently 74 cents per $1,000 valuation, but it's possible that with a larger population in the pool, that rate could be decreased.
The timing couldn't be better, either, Itzen noted.
Sutter Coast Hospital is in the midst of contentious reorganization plans and could end up reducing its scope to comprise 24 hospital beds and limited emergency room hours as a critical care facility - a designation usually reserved for smaller hospitals in rural areas. That hospital is required to maintain six hospital beds for Pelican Bay Prison inmates and two for obstetrics.
Doctors and hospital officials are aggressively fighting the reorganization and redesignation.
"That's a tremendous decrease for that area," Hedenskog said. "If you're in Brookings or Harbor and in dire need of a hospital at 2, 3 in the morning, good luck. It's 30 miles to the north, 30 miles to the south. There's nothing in Brookings."
Hedenskog hopes to hold a medical "summit" involving all involved, including officials from the cities, county, health district and Cal-Ore Life Flight in upcoming months.
Curry Health Network CEO Andrew Bair is trying to make his dreams into reality.
They include attracting physicians to its hospital in Gold Beach and clinics in Port Orford and Brookings, obtaining prestigious certifications, getting a sleep study center, IV therapy unit and chemotherapy unit - and the much-clamored-for dialysis center.
He plans to speak to a group of local dialysis patients this weekend about their frustrations in obtaining treatment, which include long drives to other counties to do so. A small but vocal group is aggravated by alleged promises by past directors at the health network to bring such services to the area, and it hopes Bair will be their savior.
In the district's new strategic plan, Bair would ideally like to have a dialysis center open somewhere in the county by June 2014.
He said the new plan was needed to guide future operations of the health network.
"It gives us direction," he said. "We're excited about having true direction. With each goal is a subset of action items and the people on the executive team are being held accountable for getting it done."
Dialysis center officials in Medford have said they need at least 25 patients to make a center financially feasible for them.
"The chatter is that we have a population of dialysis patients in Brookings, and not too far across the California border is a mirror group of people," Bair said. "It may be a community big enough to support this service."
As a registered nurse, he understands their plight.
"They live from appointment to appointment," Bair said. "They travel a treacherous, winding road of 100 miles plus - that's awful. You might expect that if you live in the middle of nowhere, and I don't know that we are. I'd be excited to bring that service here. It's going to take a group effort, but I hope and pray that something can happen."
He has no idea where a chemo or dialysis center would be located - except that it has to be closer than Medford, Coos Bay or Eureka.
Please note corrections in below article, within [ ].
The Curry Health Network board voted unanimously [Correction: vote was 3 aye, 1 nay, 1 abstaining] Monday afternoon to place on the November ballot a measure asking voters in the district for a $10 million bond to build a new hospital in Gold Beach and make improvements to its facilities in Port Orford.
The measure would result in a property tax increase of 76 cents [Correction: 74 cents] per $1,000 assessed valuation over a period of 20 [correction: 30] years. The district generally extends from Pistol River north to Elk River and east to Agness.
The decision came after about an hour of discussion regarding the chances of the measure's success, as there will be competing property tax questions on this fall's ballot.
"Without a hospital, we will lose the retirement people," said finance committee member Brian [Correction: Bryan] Grummon. "We will lose the young people. The keystone function in a community is having a hospital."
The hospital board needs the money to replace a building that doesn't meet code - and hasn't for years, if not decades. Additionally, it would like to make improvements at its Port Orford clinic.
The bond would be used to secure a matching, low-interest loan from the federal government.
"Our plan is to replace the facility - period," said CEO Andrew Bair. "We got the strategic plan done in the past five months, and part of that strategic plan is to replace the facility for this campus."
He said the effort to get the measure on the ballot is not rushed as it might seem, as past boards have argued its merits for about 15 years. Additionally, he has received confirmation from county planning officials that a new building built at the same location would be safe from a tsunami.
Competition
Two other ballot measures will be competing with the hospital's question in November. And County Commissioner David Brock Smith has oft noted that the more tax questions a voter faces, the more likely they are to vote against all of them.
Curry County commissioners will put on the Nov. 5 ballot a measure asking all county residents for a property tax increase of $1.35 per $1,000 assessed valuation to fund public safety. The current county tax rate is 59 cents, the second-lowest in the state. Without an increase, county officials say, the county will be out of funds next spring and likely have to rely on the state - funded by a tax on those who have a taxable income - to take over critical operations.
The City of Port Orford plans to ask its voters to renew the tax - and then some - that pays for its police services, to $1.90 per $1,000 assessed valuation. The current five-year assessment sunsets next year.
Something, the hospital board members agreed, will have to give.
"The people in Port Orford aren't going to vote for $1.90 and $1.35," said board member Marlyn Schafer during discussions on the advantages of a November or May 2014 ballot question. "I don't like to be held hostage by other taxing districts. If none pass, they'll all be back in May."
The 60-year-old hospital is crumbling and is one winter storm away from losing a roof or other major component, Bair said. Its poor condition has also deterred efforts to attract new doctors to the area.
"We cannot afford to keep throwing money into lost causes," Grummon said. "I feel bad it's turned into a confrontation between other county functions trying to raise money, but we don't have a choice. We have to have a hospital. Otherwise, we won't have a community. We won't have anything."
He encouraged the board to consider pursuing smaller loans or grants more amenable to tax-averse voters to pay for the replacement of the hospital in stages.
The board enthusiastically agreed it shouldn't be a problem to pay back the bond - possibly even earlier than expected - and turn a profit with a new facility.
"With a new hospital, we'll get more doctors - which we definitely need," Schaefer said. "To me, it's a no-brainer. We absolutely have to do this."
"There is no reason we can't make the cash to service our debt," Grummon said. "If we don't address this, we'll have catastrophic things happen (to the building)."
Port Orford
Another hurdle the health network faces is how to gain the support of residents in Port Orford who have said they don't trust the board.
The last time a hospital bond went to the vote, in 1998, only 33 percent of voters Port Orford cast votes in its favor. And that was in good economic times.
"We certainly have lost a bit of relational capital with the people of Port Orford," Bair admitted. "This is the environment in which we work - an environment we, in part, created. We have made business decisions with Port Orford that have hurt our relationship."
One of those involved a woman suffering from abdominal pain. In the three days she had to wait to see a physician, her appendix burst. Patient numbers there have gone from "somewhere in the 30s to the teens," Bair said.
It's a challenge many businesses face, said Grummon, who has experience in management and employee relations.
"You talk to employees [Inaccurate: statement was regarding Port Orford residents], and they've been lied to by management in the past; they have zero trust," Grummon said. "No amount of talking is going to convince them otherwise.
You have to start walking the walk. You don't say anything you can't follow up on or intend to do. No lying, cheating or stealing. Listen to them, understand them. You can't make a plan down here (Gold Beach) and go up there. They have to have an active role in any decisions."
The district, under Bair's leadership, has provided the city with a nurse practitioner who is on call 24 hours a day and an emergency room staff. [Inaccurate: the Board discussed this as a service for possible future implementation.]
"In every small town, every mistake you make and every mistake they think you make, you're accountable," said board chair John Spicer.
Brookings' part
Another bone of contention is that the hospital district does not include Brookings - whose residents therefore don't pay taxes toward the district - but the hospital network has built on Fifth Street an urgent care facility to accommodate patients who provide 60 percent of the district's revenue, Bair said.
Based on assessed values of properties, if Brookings were to join the district, the proposed hospital district tax could be lowered to 24 cents per $1,000 over a 20-year period, noted Chief Operations Officer Ken Landau. [Inaccurate - this unverified number was on a document provided by Commissioner Smith and was erroneously attributed to CFO/COO Landau.]
Talks regarding splitting the Gold Beach hospital's 25-bed license [CHD is licensed for 24 beds] to provide for two campuses are separate issues - and a needs assessment for an emergency room and hospital beds in Brookings will take about a year, Bair said.
"What I'm hearing (in the community) is that people don't want to spend a dime in Brookings until we deal with the hospital here," Bair said.
"They're motivated to have a hospital," said board member Gary Anderson. "We need to make an offer to Brookings to join our district, form one of their own or have a bake sale. In Port Orford, they don't like supporting a district they don't use that much when Brookings has one that is used, but they don't pay into the tax base."
The group said they realize educating the public is going to be key in the months leading to the ballot.
"We could lose," said board member Deb Wilson, via conference call. "But it puts the word out to people; it educates people. We're going to upset people no matter where we're at, what we do."
Yet the board seemed to think their measure might stand a better chance than others the voters will face in November.
"We're trying to revitalize the whole community," Landau said. "Throughout the country, health care and jobs trump everything. That's what we're offering."
GOLD BEACH, OR - When Curry Health District was established in 1983, the purpose of the District was expressed in six goals: Service - to grow services to match the various communities we serve: Quality - to meet or exceed all National Quality standards; Financial - to produce sustainable growth; People - to assure a positive experience for all who interact with Curry Health District; Facilities - to insure our facilities are safe, accessible, attractive and support our work; Growth - to expand services throughout Curry County.
It is exactly these six goals which the Board of Directors considered before voting - first on June 26 and again on August 28 - to move forward with placement of a $10 Million levy on the November 5th ballot to replace the 60-year old Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, and to improve services at Curry Family Medical clinic in Port Orford.
"The hospital's current and deteriorating condition makes it difficult if not impossible to meet Medicare and state licensure standards," said Curry Health Network CEO, Andrew Bair. "Of other great concern is the fact that the facility can no longer be grand-fathered into old Oregon Fire Code." The hospital has requested a three-year waiver from the State Fire Marshall, but in 2016 they will be required to meet current fire code. "That will mean major reconstruction that might include building a fire wall right down the center of the hospital."
Board member Marlyn Schafer said "If we don't do this now, we won't have an emergency room or a hospital in 2016."
According to the District's CFO, Ken Landau, the current costs of repairs, maintenance, and loss of services already exceed the debt service of the proposed levy - for example, a recent two-month closure of the operating room was necessary for repair and replacement of the ceiling and resulted in more than $600,000 in lost revenue.
The levy would add 74 cents per $1,000 property valuation for members of the District, which is bounded in the north by Elk River north of Port Orford, south by Pistol River, and includes Agness. Only members of the District will have an opportunity to vote on this measure, and only District property owners will be affected by the levy.
"A replacement facility is estimated to cost $20 Million," said Landau, "and the remaining balance would come from Federal, State, and/or other sources. That remaining balance of $10 Million is not taxable," he said.
According to the District, a new facility will attract and retain quality providers and medical staff, improve efficiency with a modern and functional layout, increase the number of exam and treatment rooms, have larger and multiple operating rooms to accommodate today's technology, provide for seamless patient flow from clinics to outpatient departments, have single occupancy rooms allowing for privacy and infection prevention, and will include family-friendly OB rooms with state-of-the-art Obstetric facilities.
"Deciding how best to serve our community's healthcare needs today, and in the coming decades, was a complex decision," said Bair. "Investing in a modern facility to replace our aged and deteriorating facility to allow for expanded and enhanced services is the only way to keep pace with current and future health care demands, and to attract and retain quality providers and medical staff." According to the CEO, the Board did not take the decision lightly, and was mindful of the other tax measures on the ballot. "Each has valid reasons," Bair said. "Curry Health District supports whatever creates a revitalized community."
"We have compassionate and dedicated staff here at Curry General Hospital, and we want to provide a facility for the community that reflects the high quality of service we offer," said Bair. August 27, 2013
Letter from Curry Health Network CEO Andrew P. Bair
to James Auborn, Mayor; City of Port Orford
Dear Mayor Auborn,
Thank you for your time spent sharing your views regarding healthcare services in North Curry County and the upcoming ballot. I very much appreciated the cordial tone of the meeting.
I understand that the District Board's decision to move forward with the bond levy on the November ballot must be very disappointing to you and the Port Orford City Council, but I know you understand the complexity of the issue and must also be aware that this decision was not taken without thorough and comprehensive consideration of all factors.
One of those factors was our conversation last week. There was extensive discussion on the very points you made in the letter addressed to me in last week's newspaper.
There are myriad additional aspects to this decision. Curry General Hospital has improved its services by adding Emergency Room physicians that are on campus 24 hours a day. In September we will be adding hospitalist services that will provide for the immediate needs of our inpatients. Even with these improvements of service, we are at risk because it is becoming increasingly more difficult to comply with modern state structural codes for hospitals. We feel it is time to move to a new facility without delay. Hesitation will only serve to increase cost of maintaining our aged facility while postponing our ability to recruit the services we need to provide for the community.
When interviewing to bring new specialty physicians to the community, we are not taken seriously. In competition with hospitals throughout the nation for limited qualified medical staff - even though some are intrigued by the natural beauty of the area, they are repelled by our older hospital.
I have been confronted with several myths regarding Curry Health Network since my arrival in November. One prevalent myth is that Curry Medical Center in Brookings is operated by tax funds of the Healthcare District taxpayers in Gold beach and Port Orford. The Curry Medical Center in Brookings was funded through the public market rather than tax dollars. The clinic in Brookings contributed over $700,000 to the District after paying for the expenses of running that facility. It is not well known, however, that taxes collected from Port Orford taxpayers just about cover the operational expenses of Curry Family Medical in Port Orford - yet we plan on improving our services with the addition of specialty care.
When we receive the new tax revenue from the District voters of Port Orford and Gold Beach, all of those dollars will be put to use within the District, with the sole purpose of serving Port Orford and Gold Beach. We will be in position to access a low interest loan to, at a minimum, match our $10M bond. None of this money will go to Brookings.
We have agreed to go through a year-long process of Certificate of Need for Brookings to determine if the federal government will allow a hospital facility in Brookings. We should have a conclusion to that process in about 12 months. We see this as an entirely unrelated issue.
Our Board believes there is good reason to allow the voters to make this decision. After considerable thought and discussion, the Board felt we had no choice but to move forward. There are several tax measures on the ballot; each has valid reasons. Curry Health District supports whatever creates a revitalized community. This must not become an open debate whether we need healthcare or law enforcement. It is clear we need both, and there is a cost.
Most Sincerely,
Andrew P. Bair, CEO
Curry Health Network
August 23, 2013
Hospital hears plans for replacement
The Neenan Achistructure Co. will present next week its plans to help Curry Health Network - from start to finish - with its hoped-for Gold Beach Hospital replacement and determine the need for an emergency room in its Brookings clinic.
The health district plans to put on the Nov. 5 ballot a measure asking for a $10 million general obligation bond to replace the new [Correction: existing] hospital in Gold Beach. If approved, voters would see a property tax increase of 76 cents [Correction: 74 cents] per $1,000 assessed valuation over a period of 30 years. And the $10 million would assist to secure federal funds to replace the aged building, said health district CEO Andrew Bair.
Revenue generated from the tax would only be spent on the Gold Beach hospital and to make improvements to its Port Orford clinic, Bair stated. Any improvements made to the facility in Brookings - notably establishing an emergency room and obtaining licensure for hospital beds - is a separate issue that will likely take a year to obtain federal approval.
"This group is expert in taking care of this," Bair said. "They do everything from developing business models and demonstrating need, walk you through certificates of need, and from there, their architectural firm coordinates everything from beginning to end."
The Fort Collins, Colo.-based firm creates business models, develops feasibility studies and guides hospital and commercial building officials through the complexities of "budgets, brainstorming and builds," according to their website.
Any proposed idea would go out to bid.
"This would add layers to our administrative time," Bair said. "We're going to go forward with someone. But this group has done this dozens and dozens of times. They come highly recommended."
The proposal
The Neenan Company, in conjunction with Portland Maine-based healthcare consulting firm Stroudwater Associates and the Dougherty Mortgage, proposes to lead multiple-day investigative and educational planning sessions with hospital board members, staff and community leaders to develop ways to increase market share, expand the network's medical services, identify financing methods and sources and improve long-term financial performance.
According to its proposal, it will gather information regarding population, resident age, incomes, insurance status and what hospital services are needed within the community. Eventually, the firm would conceive of a conceptual site plan of a new hospital in Gold Beach, its costs and construction timelines and outline plans for improvements needed at the Port Orford clinic.
The study is estimated to cost about $100,000, and money has been put aside over the years for it, Bair said.
"It's big money," he said. "But that's the cost of full-time experts going through the application of a certificate of need."
While studies are conducted, the Neenan Company proposes to forge ahead with Brookings' certificate of need, as well, as that process is likely to take about a year.
"But we can't build a Brookings facility until the federal government says that's OK," Bair said. "We need to move forward with it even before know the outcome of the certificate of need. We feel strongly that the federal government will allow us to add beds there, but we're being cautious."
Gold Beach's hospital
The hospital board last week reiterated its stance that, without a hospital, a community cannot fare well - particularly in an isolated region like Curry County where so many residents are older and have specific medical needs.
The current facility in Gold Beach has various shortcomings, ranging from crumbling parts of the structure, a weak roof and a layout that's not conducive to patient privacy. Many of these issues Bair has tried to tackle since he was hired last spring.
"It is certain this facility is tired and cannot survive another decade; it's pretty worn," he said in June. "And when I got to town, we found the annex to be more worn out than the hospital."
His first goal was to update the hospital district's strategic plan, from which all other plans are derived. Other goals include attracting physicians to the Gold Beach facility and clinic in Port Orford, obtaining prestigious certifications, and getting sleep study, IV therapy and chemotherapy and dialysis centers operating.
Securing physicians is made more difficult when the prospective hires see the physical condition of the hospital.
"Obstetricians, an orthopedic surgeon, a pediatrician, an internal medicine specialist - these are the things you expect when you come to a community the size of Curry County," Bair said in June. "You expect to find those things and they're strangely absent. What kind of red carpet do we roll out to our physician recruits when they come to town?"
He's also walking the fine line of politics, notably involving the possibility of getting Brookings to join the hospital district. The district runs from Sixes River north of Port Orford south to Pistol River and east to the county line.
Patients from Brookings provide more than 60 percent of the district's revenue, Bair said, so they're not an unimportant group. But others who pay taxes into the district don't like that residents at the south end of the town benefit from a clinic and access to the Gold Beach hospital without being part of the network.
That debate will wait, he said, until they get the hospital replaced, the Port Orford clinic refurbished and new physicians are brought into the network.
"There's going to be a lot of activity over the next few months," Bair said. "We'll just see where it takes us."
At the same time, those living with chronic pain often feel desperate for some relief. That’s where Curry Health Network’s Pain Management Services come in. Board-certified pain management specialist Christopher Amsden, MD, approaches care differently to help address pain from a variety of angles, as well as to give patients the confidence to try again.
CEO Williams shared, "We are thrilled to embark on this crucial initiative to bring chemotherapy services to Curry County. Our goal is to ensure that cancer patients in our community have access to comprehensive care close to home."
Curry Health Network is pleased to announce the arrival of two new Same Day Clinic Providers, Kim Orta, FNP and Julie Green, PA-C. The addition of these two providers has allowed the network to expand appointment availability by 45%, and now the clinic is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A 3D mammogram, also known as breast tomosynthesis, or "tomo", creates a three-dimensional image of the breast and shows the tissue in thin, one-millimeter layers, allowing a better chance to detect cancer hiding behind overlapping tissue.
CMS assigns star ratings to hospitals nationwide based on performance reported by adult patients after discharge through a standardized, 29-question survey. Patients of Curry Health Network (CHN) receive the survey by mail through an unbiased, independent third-party; the CMS ranking system helps consumers easily compare hospitals to make more informed decisions about their care.
Curry Health Network (CHN) is excited to announce the addition of teledentistry services for Medicaid members to its Curry Family Medical clinic in Port Orford, a community that has been without dentistry for about two decades. The decision to partner with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), AllCare Health and Advantage Dental was made to make dental care accessible in the communities the healthcare system serves and provide a much-needed resource to help people protect their oral--and overall health. 
Dedicated to providing advanced services for the communities they serve, Curry Health Network (CHN) added new, leading-edge technology to its radiology and imaging department. The equipment upgrades provide faster results, more comfortable patient experiences and sharper, more precise images to detect and diagnose illnesses, injuries and other conditions. Enhancements include equipment with the newest, most advanced technology in the region: a 64-slice CT scanner, echocardiogram (cardiac echo) and a high-definition dual head gamma camera to aid in nuclear medicine diagnostics.
January 18, 2022 - The federal government has announced that every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
Ferris, a Utah native, recently moved his six-member family to Brookings, where he will begin seeing patients on December 15 at Curry Medical Center. 
Do as I say. And as I do.
Curry Health Network's CEO Ginny Williams greeted them at Curry General Hospital on August 27 where they received general orientation and job-specific training. "The highest priority of these National Guardsmen will be to serve as patient sitters and entrance screeners, although they can assist with other job functions such as those in environmental services or the dietary department," she said.
Throughout his more than 30 years as a general orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Perry has provided a variety of care. "I'm a general ortho surgeon, which means I do everything," he explained. "I do shoulders, hips, knees, hands, feet, sports injuries, trauma. My career has been very full of all-nighters and working through a weekend of trauma procedures."
Diabetes is the fastest-growing chronic disease nationwide. More than 88 million Americans -- that's one in three adults--are pre-diabetic and at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. And 84% of adults who have the disease are unaware they have it, putting them at danger for kidney damage, an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, blindness--and death. The Curry Health Network team urges men to schedule wellness visits to get important screenings and talk to primary care providers about type 2 diabetes. Early detection is important to manage -- or reverse --this life-altering diagnosis.
In the 2020 fiscal year, CHN invested nearly $1 million in capital equipment to upgrade its facilities with state-of-the-art technology. Some of the improvements include new inpatient beds, Smart IV pumps, PAPRs, laboratory microscopes and analyzers, boilers, bedside ultrasound, portable telemetry boxes, ventilators, and computers in our surgery and inpatient departments. Curry Health Network also has plans to upgrade its CT scanner and Nuclear Medicine camera so that our providers have a clear picture of their patients' health.
Dr. Battey comes to CHN from the Grants Pass area and has extensive experience in performing various obstetric and gynecologic procedures, both in the clinic and hospital settings. He has participated in over 5,000 deliveries and manages routine and high-risk pregnancies.
"Our clinicians can make much faster and more accurate diagnoses and begin more quickly the appropriate treatment on patients," CEO Ginny Razo said. "While the technology is small in stature, it packs a big punch. Our lab can now perform some tests in a fraction of the time it took before, and can do more in-house testing that was previously sent out to external laboratories." Razo was honored to cut the blue ribbon in the Curry General Hospital laboratory in Gold Beach and was equally pleased to announce the laboratory had completed validation of the new GeneXpert which is now in service.
You'll learn:
Please join Curry Health Network's General Surgeon, Dr. Jessica Carlson, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 in the conference room of Curry General Hospital at 94220 4th Street in Gold Beach.
"We're very excited to have Dr. Britt on board," said Razo. "As a small health network in a rural location, we're lucky to have successfully recruited such an experienced and accomplished board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is just as excited to be here as we are to have him. We know the community will benefit greatly by his addition."
Once the new hospital opens, there will be many areas of the building that, because of privacy laws, the general public will be unable to visit unless they are a patient. Curry Health Network's Board of Directors, CEO Ginny Razo and Medical Staff President Dr. Reginald Williams will welcome the public, and staff will take visitors on tours, showing off the new facility and equipment and talking about services that will be available.
The mission of the Advisory Council for Rural Surgery, a committee of the ACS Board of Regents, is to identify, investigate, and rectify the challenges of rural surgical practice. Its members are elected to three-year terms and work to support rural surgeons through recruitment, retention, mentoring, and post-residency education. 
"We're very pleased to introduce and welcome Dr. Carlson," said CEO Ginny Razo. "She is a wonderful addition to our medical staff and her education and experience will allow Curry Health Network to offer more types of surgeries than were previously available."
I'm thankful for the opportunity to explain more about the unique challenges we face in providing those services to our northernmost community members.
I'd like to talk with you about "quality" versus "patient satisfaction" in healthcare, and why it's so important for Curry Health Network (CHN) to focus its efforts on these areas. 
Aspects of branding include learning about consumer wants, needs, feelings and impressions of an organization, and why people choose it. Analyzing this type of information is very useful. It helps you see the big picture of how your business is perceived - a snapshot of the trust, recognition, support and value you offer in the minds of your customers. 
A dozen applicants vied for the positions, and the Board narrowed the field to a final five they interviewed September 24. In addition to Moore and Ringer; Bryan Grummon, Ruth Daniels and Jodi Fritts were among the finalists.
Business Services at CHD.
CHN is a Network comprised of a not-for-profit Critical Access (CAH) Hospital, clinics, ambulatory surgery center and assisted living facility whose service area reaches more than 22,000 people. Many more are served whom live outside the official District boundaries. Our most important value is offering accessible quality health care for you and your family when you need it.
"It's very satisfying," said Virginia (Ginny) Razo, CEO of Curry Health Network (CHN). "We've worked hard for the last year to improve our processes and the care we provide to our patients," she added. "It is one more feather in our cap that reflects our deep commitment to improving care for our patients." The other feathers Razo alluded to include the recent accreditation by AAAHC of Rush Surgery Center, the Network's ambulatory surgery center in Brookings, and the DNV-GL quality and safety accreditation in 2015 of Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.
Status as an accredited organization means Rush Surgery Center has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care set by AAAHC. More than 6,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; and not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted accreditation.
The single biggest reason I believe we can deliver on this statement is because of you, the residents of Curry County.
The hospital utilizes a Telestroke robot with a secure two-way video system that allows neurologists with the Providence Stroke Center in Portland to be "in the room" with the patient, the patient's family and the local physician. This ensures patients can receive the fastest, most effective treatment locally. The new Emergency Department to be opened in Brookings at Curry Medical Center later this fall will also be equipped with a Telestroke robot.
Mayfield first began his career in health care working as a registered nurse in Gold Beach at Curry General Hospital in 1979. He left to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), and later earned a Masters degree in Nursing, also from OHSU. Mayfield remained in Southern Oregon and retired from the Veterans Administration where he worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner. He most recently practiced in a rural clinic in Eagle Point, Jackson County, Oregon.
Since the early 1950s, the original Curry General Hospital has provided healthcare with genuine caring and compassion to the residents of Gold Beach and surrounding areas, and has recently received patient safety and quality accreditation by DNV-GL. In November, 2013, District voters supported the building effort by passing a ballot measure to approve a $10 Million general obligation bond, providing roughly one-third of the approximate $29 Million total cost.
The Oregon Health Authority today issued a Temporary Rule prescribing the conditions under which Curry Health Network (CHN) can secure a State permit to operate a satellite Emergency Department (ED) at Curry Medical Center in Brookings, CHN's 34,500 square foot facility that opened in 2011 on 5th Street. The temporary Rule will remain in effect for 180 days while the State processes the enactment of a similar Permanent Rule.
Razo holds a Doctor of Science (DSc) in Healthcare Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Ala., and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.
GOLD BEACH, OR (February 23, 2015) - Even before Central Curry School District learned they would be the recipient of a 2014 OEA Choice Trust Wellness Grant, the Board of Directors of Curry Health District agreed to partner with them in their endeavor to improve the health and well-being of employees and schoolchildren, and in building a culture of health that promotes healthy living to prevent or manage risk factors and chronic diseases.
By earning accreditation, Curry General Hospital has demonstrated it meets or exceeds patient safety standards (Conditions of Participation, or CoP) set forth by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DNV GL's accreditation program is the only one to integrate the ISO 9001 Quality Management System with the Medicare CoP. 
Curry General has three years from the date of accreditation to achieve compliance with ISO 9001, the world's most trusted quality management system used by performance-driven organizations to advance their quality and sustainability objectives.
GOLD BEACH, OR (January 28, 2015) - The Curry Health District Board of Directors has been working with nationally renowned board governance expert Bill Charney of Charney Associates, and board Chair Gary Anderson is now seeing the future of the Board and the Health District in a whole new light - optimistically and with confidence.
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. 
Last surveyed by DHS in 2009, the September 30 extensive survey found no deficiencies (zero - zip - nada - nothing) at Curry Family Medical. The surveyors commented that since their last visit they have noted a marked improvement. They were very impressed with the clinic and the entire staff, whom they described as highly engaged.
Moira was on hand to lead the Marine Corp Volunteers as they collected school supplies, greeted the public and handed out Curry Health Network promotional materials.
Stuff the Bus, a community effort to gather educational materials for local students, was a resounding success with a huge amount of school supply donations, plus $2,400 in monetary donations.
GOLD BEACH, OR (August 1, 2014) - The Curry Health District Board of Directors and Administration continue to advance the plan for the design and construction of the new replacement Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. The USDA continues to be helpful, and CEO Andrew Bair, CFO Ken Landau, and Steve Wolters of Erdman are working well with their officials.
You know his face .....
When it comes to orthopedics, you want personal care that gets you back in action. Now you can get that care at Curry Health Network.
Since the Curry Health District voters on November 5, 2013 approved a $10 Million bond measure for the construction of a replacement Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach, much has been accomplished. This spring when the timeline was set for the hospital project, it was an admittedly aggressive timeline but one which the District thought possible.
The Curry Health Foundation and Curry Health Network wishes to thank Southern Oregon Cardiology of Medford for their generous donation of $10,000 to the foundation, funds earmarked as a contribution toward the purchase price of an Echocardiography machine for the patients of Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.
Erdman Company has been designing and building healthcare facilities for 63 years, which, coincidentally is the age of the hospital they will be replacing. They have completed more than 4,600 healthcare projects, and in the last decade alone developed and constructed more than 550 healthcare facility projects with a value of more than $2.4 Billion.
"We expect with Erdman that the community will have a healing environment that promotes greater well-being for our patients, and a hospital that is also operationally efficient," Bair added. 
Labor and Delivery services at Curry General Hospital resumed on March 1, and on March 5 the first baby - a healthy boy - was born in the new program, followed by a second baby boy delivered March 28.
The teams, during their final presentations, have been asked to present preliminary conceptual drawings for a facility that meets the community's needs using an estimated budget of $18 Million without equipment. Construction is expected to be completed in 2016.