|
Meeting health care needs in rural Oregon can be a daunting task. And the Union Family Health Center, which serves health care needs for an area far beyond just Union, faces some significant challenges as it seeks stable funding and staffing for the clinic’s future.
According to the Office of Rural Health, in 2006 the center pulled 748 patients from Union, 78 from North Powder, 133 from Cove, 885 from La Grande and 39 from Baker City. ORH estimates that within the Cove-Union-Powder Medical Association’s primary coverage area — Cove, Union and North Powder — the clinic could draw more than 10,000 patient visits a year. Keeping the center not just alive but thriving is critical if we are to meet the region’s health care needs.
The CUP board, made up of individuals working for the betterment of the community, is scurrying to mobilize funding since Oregon Health & Science University, which runs the clinic, announced it is discontinuing services there within 12 to 18 months. Faculty and staff from OHSU could still fill in for local doctors as vacation relief under the “locum tenens” program being trialed in Elgin, which faces a similar clinic issue, right now.
CUP is considering five options. They include being a rural health clinic, the classification the center already holds. Being a federally-qualified health center, a federally-qualified health center look alike or a private clinic. Or forming a health district.
CUP has formed two committees so far to address the issue: a marketing/needs assessment committee and an ownership/funding committee. It is emphasizing the provision of equitable health care for all three of its communities, and while there are board members from those towns, CUP probably needs more representation from both Cove and North Powder.
The health district idea is among those that look promising. Both Elgin and Halfway are pursuing a health district option. Statewide, there are 25 taxing health districts, about half supporting clinics and half hospitals.
In this time of a doctor shortage in La Grande, and patients scrambling for service, it’s important than we shore up the Union center, which is located in an attractive building constructed in 2000. To CUP’s advantage, it owns the building and leases it to OHSU. The fact that the non-profit group doesn’t need to purchase the facility is a big advantage, according to ORH, because it saves money and means they can concentrate on finding a new medical provider.
We’re confident CUP can come up with a forward-looking plan to put the region in better standing for providing health care needs not only today but 10 and 20 years down the road. Concerned citizens should turn out at CUP’s next meeting, 7 p.m. March 18 at the center’s Community Room, to show support for the effort.
|
Opinion 
