Rapid increase in patients meant hiring physical therapist JAMIE SWAFFORD For The Umpqua Post Jan 13, 2018 Last week I talked about what a Critical Access Hospital is, why we’re reviewed annually, and the requirement to conduct a community health needs assessment every three years. I also listed some of the things that were requested in our most recent assessment and ways we have complied with those requests. The final items are listed in today’s article. • We have reorganized our primary care clinics to better serve our population: Reedsport Medical Clinic (RMC) and Dunes Family Health Care (DFHC). We added a new medical staff specialty, with Hospitalists caring for patients who are admitted to the hospital. • Both RMC and DFHC have a mental health clinical social worker seeing patients weekly in their clinics. In 2017 LUHD hired a full-time licensed clinical social worker to the staff. • With the rapid increase in patients, an additional physical therapist was added to the rehabilitation department. One occupational therapist recently certified for lymphedema treatments to make that service available in the local area. The subject of a maternity / birthing facility is often mentioned as a community need. The hospital stopped routine delivery of babies for several reasons-–the demand for the service decreased to comparatively smaller numbers each year; fewer than 30 the last year the service was offered. The numbers were not strong enough to support obstetric physicians and specially trained staff on a full-time basis. It is unlikely that a birthing facility will be created at Lower Umpqua Hospital in the near future unless the age demographic of our community changes, with an influx of younger people who are building families. Over the years, LUHD has worked closely with Peace Harbor Hospital (PHH) to provide services in this area. Local residents can see their obstetrician at Dunes Family Health Care, then deliver babies at PHH in Florence with the same doctor, in its new birthing suite. All of the physicians at DFHC are trained as family doctors including pediatrics and they love to have babies as patients. Once your baby is born, travelling out of the immediate area for care is not necessary. As health-care providers serving small communities, Critical Access Hospitals are expected to do more than just test your blood or give you a chest X-ray. As the largest providers in their communities, these hospitals assume a leadership role in addressing community or regional issues affecting access, quality, workforce, and cost. The leadership team at a Critical Access Hospital works together with other organizations within and across communities to improve life for those living in their service area. . Over the next three years, Lower Umpqua Hospital District, in concert with its community partners will focus its energy in these four areas: Lifestyle Improvements Address lifestyle related health problems and chronic disease management through education. Focus will be on: • Diabetes • Obesity Community Health Education and Awareness Create a systematic approach to improving the health of our service area. The approach will include: • Vaccinations • Screenings • Nutrition • Physical activities • Health education • CPR classes Mental Health Awareness • Employment of a licensed clinical social worker • Contractual agreement with an outpatient psychiatric provider (ADAPT) • Research developing a tele-psych program for the emergency department Community Collaboration Enhance the focus and activities of the CHNA Committee. Utilize this group to continue dialogue regarding: • Mental health needs with emphasis on youth and elderly • Mental health access and placement • Health professional educational classes in the local community charter school Both the 2014 and the 2017 Community Health Needs Assessment report are available on our website at http://www.lowerumpquahospital.org/Lower Umpqua Hospitalwww.lowerumpquahospital.orgLower Umpqua Hospitalwww.lowerumpquahospital.org