North Morrow Volume XXVI Number 2
September 1, 2017
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CRCHS welcomes new CEO, plans future services
Seth Whitmer is the Chief Executive Officer at Columbia River Health Services in Boardman Columbia River Community Health Services welcomed their new Chief Executive Officer, H. Seth Whitmer on June 12th, and it has been a busy time since then! Seth and his family moved here from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where Seth had been working in the Health Care field for the US Air Force. His background is a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration from Weaver State College in Utah. He worked in managing long term care facilities, and worked for three hospitals in the Forks, Port Townsend, Port Angeles areas while he studied for his Master’s Degree in Health Administration at University of Washington. Seth worked for Yakima Farm Workers Clinics in the Walla Walla area, and public hospital administration before joining the Air Force. Seth is joined by his wife, Megan and their five children: Ezra, age 14 who is an 8th grader at Riv-
erside Jr/Sr High School, Levi, “almost 12!” who is in the 6th grade at Windy River, Svea, age 9 who attends Sam Boardman Elementary in the 3rd grade, Tristan, age 4 and baby Avril, one year old. Wife Megan is a Respiratory Therapist and is working two days each week at Trios Hospital in Tricities. She is a dual citizen of Canada and United States, having been raised in Alberta Canada. “The board of directors held a Strategic Planning Retreat recently, which helped us focus on our plans for the future of the clinic,” says Seth. Some of their goals include bringing an optometrist to Boardman on a regular basis to serve kids with a disorder called Amblyopia, which is similar to “lazy eye”. He explained that there are over 100 children already diagnosed in our area with this malady, which is a failure of the brain to develop both eyes together. He added that if this is not treated with
glasses by the age of 8, it can become permanent. An optometrist from Hood River, Dr. Chown will be volunteering her services to the clinic one day every other month to specifically treat these patients. The clinic would like to find longterm services and add a $5,000 camera which would help diagnose these children. Seth added the Clinic is working in coordination with Good Shepherd Medical so the Clinic can take over the pharmacy located at the grocery store in Boardman. Good Shepherd has agreed to keep the pharmacy open until October 31st, when the Clinic plans to have their pharmacists on staff and all licenses needed. “To be a medical home for our patients,” says Seth, “It is vital to make sure we are taking care of our patients’ needs.” Columbia River Community Health Services was one of very few community health centers that did not have a pharmacy. The pharmacy will be open Monday through Saturday with convenient hours for their patients. “Our patients will receive discounted drug prices,” Seth added.” Also planned for the clinic is an addition of two medical doctors; one has been hired, and they are still recruiting for another. Nutritional services are important to patients, especially those with diabetes. The clinic looks to add a dietician (at no charge to the patients) for this assistance. The clinic provides emergency dental services and teeth cleaning for their patients who need financial assistance, and would like to add other dental services. The clinic provides discounted services to people who have no insurance, or high deductibles on their insurance. Meanwhile, Seth and his family are excited for the new house they are having built in Boardman to be completed so they can settle in!
Adolfo Bedolla was the lucky winner of a Chrome Book Tablet at Columbia River Health Service’s Annual Community BBQ.
If you served in the military, you may qualify for one or more of the following benefits: * Health Care, including Women Veterans Health Care * Prescriptions * Mental Health Care * Substance Abuse Programs * Geriatric & Extended Care * Caregiver Support * Compensation or Pension * Education Benefits * Burial Benefits And... there may be benefits for the surviving spouse of a veteran. Let’s discuss your Veterans benefits before you need them. Call today 541-922-6420 Morrow County Veterans Services