News Archives
(from former Rinehart Clinic site)

Archived news by year:

2022

PLEASE NOTE: Some of the links in the archived news articles may not work because they are linked to the old Rinehart Clinic site.

Name Change takes effect in January

December 14, 2022: Beginning the first week in January, Rinehart Clinic will officially become Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy. In 2021, the Board of Directors made the decision to change the name, and the staff team has worked diligently over the last year to line up all the necessary formal approvals.

The transition has been a long, detailed process, and we are thankful for the community’s patience as we continue to work through the process of updating the name on all forms and other materials. For the foreseeable future, all our materials will include “formerly known as Rinehart Clinic” to make sure our patients know that the care team they have come to rely on is still here–just under a new name!

For more information on the name change, visit rinehartclinic.org/news#name-change

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2021-2022 Report to the Community

December 13, 2022: Rinehart Clinic is pleased to present its 2021-2022 Report to the Community. The report features recent highlights and accomplishments, information on finances, and a preview of the preliminary plans for our future expansion.

• 2021-2022 Rinehart Clinic Report to the Community (PDF)

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Do our business hours work for you?

COMMUNITY SURVEY REGARDING HOURS OF OPERATION

November 10, 2022: We are interested in feedback from the community to help us determine whether the current hours of operation at Rinehart Clinic and Pharmacy meet the needs of our patients and community members. During the pandemic, Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy reduced its hours slightly to account for the reduction in the number of people visiting the clinic and the pharmacy.

Your input will help us determine whether expanding our hours would help us better serve the community.

If you are a patient at the Clinic and/or if you visit the Pharmacy (or are a potential patient or customer), we would appreciate your input. Please follow the survey links below. The survey should take 3-4 minutes to complete.

• Community Survey - Hours of Operation

• Encuesta de la Comunidad - Horario de Atención

Thank you for your feedback!

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Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy seeks additional board members

September 6, 2022: Rinehart Clinic’s Board of Directors is recruiting for additional volunteers to join the board. Rinehart Clinic (soon to be known as Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy) is a Federally Qualified Health Center whose mission is delivering compassionate team-based health care and wellness education to improve the lives of ALL in our community.

Candidates need to reside in Rinehart Clinic’s service area (from Manzanita to Tillamook) and the current Board of Directors has a strong interest in broadening the board’s membership so that it is more representative of the community Rinehart Clinic serves. Board members need to attend monthly board meetings and participate in subcommittee work that takes advantage of their experiences. The board is seeking people with an enthusiasm for volunteering and who also may have expertise in fundraising, construction, and design.

If you are interested in serving on the Rinehart Clinic Board of Directors, please submit a letter of interest that includes information about yourself, your background, and why you want to volunteer to serve on the board. Email your letter and any backup materials to boardofdirectors@rinehartclinic.org.

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Rinehart Clinic receives grant award and certification for NKN Student Health & Wellness Center

May 5, 2022: On May 4, 2022, NKN Student Health & Wellness Center received official certification from the Oregon School-Based Health Center Program. NKN Student Health & Wellness Center is a school-based health center at Neah-Kah-Nie High School operated by Rinehart Clinic. In order to be approved, the center had to meet strict standards for certification.

NKN Student Health & Wellness Center opened in November, 2021, offering primary health care and mental health counseling. All students who live within the Neah-Kah-Nie School District boundaries are eligible for care at the center, as are all NKN staff members.

The school-based health center recently expanded its hours of operation from two days a week to three (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), with Thursdays set aside just for counseling services. To learn more about NKN Student Health & Wellness Center, visit NKNHealth.org.

The school-based health center received additional good news this week: Rinehart Clinic has received $200,000 in grant funding that will be used to continue and expand services for the student and staff community at NKN Student Health & Wellness Center, the only certified School-Based Health Center in Tillamook County. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

For details on the grant, visit: www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/05/03/hhs-awards-nearly-25-million-expand-access-school-based-health-services.html

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Introducing Rinehart Clinic’s New Transport Van

March 1, 2022: We know that getting to appointments can sometimes be a challenge for those who do not have reliable transportation or don’t drive. Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy’s new transport van can help make it easier for patients to get to their medical appointments at Rinehart Clinic. If you face challenges with transportation, let us know the next time you call for an appointment and our front desk staff can arrange for our driver to pick you up (and deliver you back home after your appointment). The van is wheelchair-accessible, as well, to help our patients with limited mobility.

Eventually, we will also be able to offer delivery on some prescription medications. Watch for more information on that in upcoming editions of the newsletter.

These services will be provided free of charge. Rinehart Clinic was fortunate to receive grant funding that allowed us to purchase this van. The van is also the first visible roll-out of our new name: Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy. We worked with Deer Island Studio (Nehalem) and Scovel INK (Manzanita) on the design and installation.

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FREE N95 Masks & at-home COVID-19 tests now available at Rinehart Clinic

February 21, 2022: FREE at-home COVID-19 tests and N95 masks are now available at Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy. Stop by the front desk at the clinic or ask the pharmacy staff. The tests are limited to two boxes per person (two tests per box).

For details on home tests and/or how to make sure your mask fits correctly, visit:

• www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Rinehart Clinic Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 6 pm.

COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccines available for children 5 - 11 years of age

December 23, 2021: Rinehart Clinic is offering pediatric Pfizer vaccines for children 5 to 11 years of age most Fridays in January. If you would like to have your child vaccinated against COVID-19, please schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 100. Appointments are limited so schedule soon!

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Rinehart Clinic’s 2020-2021 Annual Report

December 6, 2021: Rinehart Clinic is pleased to present its annual report for 2020-2021. What a busy couple of years it has been! In spite of the ongoing and ever-shifting pandemic, the organization has taken significant steps forward. Highlights include: the Board of Directors announcing a new mission, vision, and even a new name for the clinic; the opening of a new school-based health center at Neah-Kah-Nie High School; and successfully meeting all compliance requirements laid out by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), our primary funder as a federally-qualified health center.

For details on our accomplishments, as well as our year-end letter from the Board of Directors, you can download our annual report:

• •2020-2021 Report to the Community (PDF file)

If you would like to help support Rinehart Clinic’s work, please visit our Donations page to find out ways you can contribute. As Rinehart Clinic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all contributions are tax deductible.

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Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy receives major grant award through the American Rescue Plan Construction Funding

October 4, 2021: Rinehart Clinic was notified last week that it will receive $512,012 in grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Capital Improvement Awards. The purpose of the grant is to help modernize health centers and support underserved communities. Rinehart Clinic was one of nearly 1,300 federally-funded Community Health Centers across the country that received this critical funding.

The funding is an important step forward in planning efforts for a new, updated facility. The Rinehart Clinic Board of Directors and administrative staff have been in discussions with the Nehalem Bay Health District Board and CEO for the past year regarding the possibility of upgrading and/or relocating the clinic and pharmacy. The current Rinehart Clinic facility is located on the Nehalem Bay Health District campus and the clinic rents the building from the district.

The Nehalem Bay Health District recently purchased a vacant property in Wheeler adjacent to U.S. 101 that could be a prime location for a new updated building. Discussions about the potential for moving Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy to this site are in the preliminary stages.

Much more discussion is needed before the project moves forward, and additional funding will be needed as well, but this grant award is a critical first step.

For more information on the grant award, visit: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/09/28/biden-harris-admin-providers-nearly-1-billion-in-arp-funding-to-modernize-health-centers.html

For more information on future plans on the property purchased by the Nehalem Bay Health District, visit: https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/nehalem-bay-health-district-wheeler-property-acquisition-furthers-districts-strategic-plan-new-member-joins-health-district-board/

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UPDATE for Unvaccinated Patients and Customers

September 30, 2021: In late August when COVID-19 cases in Tillamook County were increasing at an alarming rate, Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy notified patients and customers who were not fully vaccinated that they would only be seen via telehealth (video appointments) or parking lot visits. Pharmacy customers were asked to use our curbside prescription pick-up service.

Clinic Update: As we have seen a notable decrease COVID-19 cases over the last few weeks, starting October 4, Rinehart Clinic will ease its request for unvaccinated patients to schedule appointments only via telehealth or parking lot visits. While we still encourage unvaccinated patients to continue scheduling their appointments via telehealth if possible, we recognize that this is not possible in all situations.

All patients can rest assured that Rinehart Clinic has been, and will continue to, take all necessary safety precautions for our patients and for our staff team.

Pharmacy Update: Rinehart Pharmacy requests that customers who are not vaccinated continue to use our convenient curbside prescription pick-up service. Call the pharmacy at 1-844-715-2299 or visit our Pharmacy page for details.

Mask/Face Covering Reminder: Masks or face coverings continue to be required at all health care facilities. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided.

A reminder to ALL patients and customers (regardless of whether you have been vaccinated for COVID-19): If you have any COVID-19 related symptoms or if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please DO NOT come in to the clinic or pharmacy. Patients can call our front desk at 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 100 and we will schedule a telehealth visit or our care team will see you in the parking lot. Pharmacy customers can use our curbside prescription pick-up service. Please visit our Pharmacy page for details.

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COVID-19 Booster Shot Update

August 26, 2021: We know many of our patients are anxious to receive a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is NOT recommending additional doses or booster shots except for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

We anticipate we will receive authorization from the CDC this fall to start offering boosters for the general population.

IF you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, we may be able to provide a booster shot at this time. Please call the clinic at 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 100 to inquire about receiving a booster shot.

According to the CDC, people with the following conditions are considered moderately or severely immunocompromised:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood

• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)

• Advanced or untreated HIV infection

• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Thank you for your understanding. We will provide updates as we receive additional guidance and recommendations from the CDC.

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Rinehart Clinic is becoming Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy

Plus: New Mission and Vision announced

August 25, 2021: Rinehart Clinic’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce its decision to change the name of Rinehart Clinic to Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy.

Why did the Board of Directors want to change the name? The board began discussions about a name change after a strategic planning session early in 2020, during which the board and staff discussed aspirations for the future of Rinehart Clinic. The idea of a name change has come up several times since the clinic’s former Medical Director, Dr. Harry Rinehart, retired in 2015. The board’s vision was to select a name that describes the clinic’s place in the community – not only the services it provides (health care and pharmacy), but also its physical location – in the hopes of drawing new patients and customers who may not be familiar with the Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy.

What we heard from the community about the proposed name change:

To help guide the discussion regarding a proposed name change, the board conducted a community survey earlier this year to obtain feedback from patients, customers, donors, and other community members. Nearly 300 people completed the survey and the following themes emerged:

• Many in our community think it is important to respect and honor the Rinehart name.

• Many people wanted a name that speaks to the natural environment/features of the clinic’s location in the community.

• Many people appreciate the services we provide and indicated the name is of secondary importance.

The survey results prompted deep and thoughtful conversations among the board members and the Board of Directors appreciates everyone who took the time to respond.

After months of discussion, the board decided to move forward with changing the name to Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy.

The History of Rinehart Clinic: The Rinehart Clinic has a long legacy of providing compassionate, innovative care for the people of North Tillamook County and beyond. The clinic has existed in Wheeler, in one form or another, since 1913. Rinehart Clinic was granted 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1996 and in 2008, it became a Federally Qualified Health Center, which allows for the clinic to receive federal funding as a community health center offering primary care services in an underserved area.

The clinic would not exist if not for Dr. Harry Rinehart and the generations of the Rinehart family doctors before him who set the stage for the type of compassionate community care Rinehart Clinic delivers. The new name is a nod to the history of the Rinehart Clinic; when Dr. Rinehart originally opened his own practice in 1994 at the current location, it was named Nehalem Bay Medical Clinic.

New Mission & Vision: The 2020 strategic planning session that resulted in the name change also prompted an update to the clinic’s mission and vision statements. The Rinehart Clinic Board of Directors recently adopted the following to serve as the clinic’s guiding principles:

Mission: Delivering compassionate team-based health care and wellness education to improve the lives of ALL in our community.

Vision: A community in which all people achieve their full potential for health and well-being across their life span.

The transition from Rinehart Clinic to Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy will take place over the course of the next year. The logo will remain the same, but the wording will be updated to reflect the new name.

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Notice to Rinehart Clinic Patients & Pharmacy Customers not fully vaccinated against COVID-19

August 23, 2021: Due to the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in Tillamook County, effective August 23, 2021, patients who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will only be seen via telehealth (video appointments) or parking lot visits. For those cases where it is necessary to do an in-office exam (such as well-child checks or well-woman care), arrangements for office visits will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Pharmacy customers who are not vaccinated are asked to use Rinehart Pharmacy’s curbside prescription pick-up service. Visit www.rinehartclinic.org/pharmacy or call 1-844-715-2299 for details.

A reminder to ALL Patients (regardless of whether you have been vaccinated for COVID-19): If you have any COVID-19 related symptoms or if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please do NOT come in to the clinic. Please call the front desk (1-800-368-5182, Ext. 100) and we will schedule a telehealth visit or our care team will see you in the parking lot.

The Rinehart Clinic care team's goal is to provide the best care possible while keeping all patients and staff safe during the current COVID-19 surge (and always).

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Have you been vaccinated yet?

July 21, 2021: With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Tillamook County (and across Oregon), now may be the time to get vaccinated if you aren’t already. COVID-19 vaccines are effective against all currently identified variants in the United States, including the Delta variant, which is increasing in Oregon.

To schedule your vaccine at Rinehart Clinic, call 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 100 for an appointment. Vaccines are widely available across Tillamook County. If you are closer to Tillamook, you can schedule at Tillamook County Community Health Centers, or stop in to one of the pharmacies.

For more information on ways to protect yourself against COVID-19, visit the Oregon Health Authority’s Vaccine news page.

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Masks are still required at Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy

July 1, 2021: Even though COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in most settings in Oregon, face masks are still required at health care facilities, in airports/on airplanes, and on all public transportation, according to federal regulations.

We thank all our patients and customers for continuing to wear your mask when you visit Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy. Face masks are available at the front desk of the clinic if you need one.

For more information on restrictions and guidelines in Oregon, visit the Oregon Health Authority’s Vaccine News page.

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Vaccine Schedule Update: Online COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Tool will be deactivated June 15.

June 9, 2021: Still need to get your COVID-19 vaccine? Rinehart Clinic is offering Moderna vaccines at the clinic. We are getting closer to the 65% goal that Tillamook County has set for the number of eligible people vaccinated. If you want to receive the vaccine, but haven’t yet, please book your appointment soon.

How to make an appointment: BEFORE JUNE 15, people interested in receiving the vaccine at Rinehart Clinic can still schedule using the online scheduling tool (https://tillamook.bookappt.link/vaccine) or by calling 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 100. ON JUNE 15, we will switch from online registration to direct scheduling, so after JUNE 14, please call the clinic at 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 100 to book your appointment.

All three COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for age 18+ and Pfizer for age 12+) are available in Tillamook County. Visit the Tillamook County Health Department’s website at www.tillamookchc.org to find out which vaccines are being offered at which vaccination locations.

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UPDATE (10:30 am May 26): Service has been restored - The Pharmacy has reopened and all systems are operational.

May 26, 2021: RINEHART PHARMACY IS CLOSED THIS MORNING - Our Internet service is down at present due to a fiber cut. Rinehart Pharmacy cannot operate until service is restored. Spectrum is aware of the problem and working to resolve it, but we have no timeline for when service will be restored.

Our phone voice message system IS working, but phones are not ringing so callers will need to leave a message and staff will call you back as soon as possible. Rinehart Clinic IS OPEN and operating using wi-fi hotspots.

A NOTE TO PATIENTS who have telehealth (video) appointments scheduled today: If you have a video or phone appointment today with one of our providers, our staff will call you to check you in (rather than you calling in for your appointment). Due to the Internet outage, we cannot receive incoming calls, but we CAN get messages and staff is checking voicemails regularly.

We will post updates as soon as we have them. Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience this causes!

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New prescription medicine disposal kiosk installed

May 21, 2021: The Rinehart Clinic now has a MED-Project medicine disposal kiosk and the items that can be disposed of have changed from the former MedDrop box.

• ACCEPTED: Prescription Medications in any dosage form, except for those identified as Not Accepted below, in their original container or sealed bag.

• NOT ACCEPTED: Herbal remedies, vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, other personal care products, medical devices, batteries, mercury-containing thermometers, sharps, illicit/illegal drugs, pet pesticide products, animal medicines, and biologics. Please, NO EMPTY prescription bottles.

For more information, visit our Medicine/Syringe Disposal page or check with the Pharmacy staff.

Keep your family and community safe by getting rid of unused medications.

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Rinehart Staff Member receives NWRPCA Summit Award

May 19, 2021: Rinehart Clinic is proud to announce that one of our staff members, Angelica Godinez, Promotora y Navegadora de Inscripción/Outreach & Enrollment Navigator, was recognized with a Summit Award during the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association’s (NWRPCA) Virtual Spring Summit this week.

The Summit Award recognizes people who have reached a singular level of achievement in a particular area of expertise or service. The topic of this year's award was Corazón (Heart) of Service: Community Health Worker/Promotora de Salud.

Here is an excerpt of the award notification to Angelica: "Thank you for your resilience, innovation, commitment, strength, brilliance, and unwavering commitment to quality access to health care. We are so honored to be able to acknowledge your incredibly critical work with this award."

Congratulations to Angelica and the other Community Health Workers who were recognized with this award!

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New COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Tool coming soon

March 19, 2021: More COVID-19 vaccines are expected in Oregon AND in Tillamook County. Governor Brown announced yesterday that all Oregonians over 16 who would like a COVID-19 vaccine will be eligible by May 1st.

We have been working with our partners across Tillamook County – Tillamook County Community Health Centers, Adventist Health (Tillamook), Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue, and Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization – and we are pleased to announce that we now have an online COVID-19 vaccine scheduling tool. Those who signed up through our registration form or the Tillamook County registration form will be contacted with information on how to access the scheduling tool next week (if they haven’t already received a vaccination from one of our partners).

Our goal is to launch the scheduling tool by March 29th and anyone who is eligible and wants to receive the vaccine can begin schedule appointments. We anticipate that people in Phase 1B, Group 6 (see link below for details) will be able to schedule an appointment starting as early as the beginning of April. We will still offer assistance by phone for anyone not able to use the internet.

The updated Oregon Health Authority eligibility timeline is listed on this page: https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19

PLEASE NOTE: Our 65+ registration forms will be deactivated on Thursday, March 25, 2021 as we prepare to launch the new Tillamook County COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Tool.

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Rinehart Clinic Community Survey – We want your opinion!

March 2, 2021: The Rinehart Clinic Board of Directors is considering a name change for the Rinehart Clinic and we would like feedback on the idea from our patients, our donors, and the entire community.

The topic of a name change came up during a strategic planning session in February 2020 as part of a visioning exercise focused on the future of Rinehart Clinic. Over the course of the last year, the Board of Directors has discussed the possibility and gathered feedback and ideas from staff and our Patient Advisory Council. The Board hopes that a new name might better describe our place in the community and the services we provide.

The Board has spoken with local members of the Rinehart family and they are agreeable to the idea of changing the name. There is a long history of innovation associated with the Rinehart Clinic dating back over a century, and we pride ourselves on continuing that innovative, compassionate approach to care.

Please take a few minutes to complete our survey to let us know what you think. The survey should take you between 2-5 minutes to complete. If you prefer to receive a hard copy of the survey, please email outreach@rinehartclinic.org or call 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 111 and leave your name and mailing address.

• www.surveymonkey.com/r/RinehartClinicNameChange

• https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/CambiodeNombreClinicaRinehart

March 31, 2021 Update: This survey is now closed.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Update & Online Registration Form for 65+

February 7, 2021: Rinehart Clinic is continuing to work with our Tillamook County health care partners and the Oregon Health Authority on plans to distribute the vaccine to anyone who wants it. We began vaccinating Phase 1B Group 1 (which includes schools) last week. Following that, we will move to Group 2 (people 80 and older), then Group 3 (people 75 and older), and so on, as we receive vaccines.

Online COVID-19 Vaccination Registration Form for people 65+ If you are eligible for a vaccine in the Phase 1B group (age 65 and older) and want to receive the vaccine, please fill out this online interest form:

UPDATE: These forms will be deactivated on Thursday, March 25, 2021 as we prepare to launch the new Tillamook County COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Tool.

• COVID-19 Vaccination Interest Form - English

• COVID-19 Vaccination Interest Form - Spanish

Rinehart Clinic has been working closely with its health care partners across Tillamook County since the onset of the pandemic, and especially during the vaccine roll-out. We will continue to coordinate with Tillamook County Community Health Centers, Adventist Health Tillamook, and others approved to offer vaccines. We all want to make sure everyone who wants to be vaccinated and is eligible to receive the vaccine can get an appointment, as vaccine supplies become available.

Tillamook County Community Health Centers has a helpful web page that includes a listing of the vaccine distribution phases, answers to frequently-asked questions, and more: https://tillamookchc.org/coronavirus/vaccines/

For more information on the Covid-19 vaccine prioritization plan in Oregon, visit: https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/#prioritization

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Notice regarding Telephone System Upgrade

January 22, 2021: We recently upgraded our telephone system at Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy. Our number did not change (1-800-368-5182) and we have tried to keep the menus and extensions the same, but callers may notice some slight changes in the system.

Temporary Outgoing Number: Until the transition is complete (in early February), our outgoing number will show on Caller ID as 971-358-5892. This is only temporary, but we know it may cause some confusion.

Callers should still continue to use our primary numbers to reach us:

• Rinehart Clinic - 1-800-368-5182

• Rinehart Pharmacy: 1-844-715-2299

Thank you for your patience during this transition, and if you encounter any issues when you call in, please let us know.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Expansion Update

January 13, 2021: Following the recent announcement that the federal government would be releasing its full reserve of COVID-19 vaccines, Governor Brown announced yesterday that Oregon will be expanding vaccinations to include everyone age 65 and older. Rinehart Clinic is working with its healthcare partners across Tillamook County on plans to distribute the vaccines as quickly as possible to all eligible individuals who want a vaccination.

In the meantime, we ask for your patience. We know many of you are anxious to get the vaccine as soon as possible and we are working to come up with a plan that allows us to serve the broadest number of people as quickly as possible. We will post details of upcoming vaccination events as soon as they are available.

More information is available on the Tillamook Health Department’s web page: https://tillamookchc.org/coronavirus/vaccines/

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COVID-19 Vaccine Update

January 8, 2021: Rinehart Clinic received its first allotment of vaccines as part of the state's Phase 1 distribution on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. We vaccinated a portion of our essential staff members this week; the remainder will be vaccinated next week.

All vaccines are being distributed according to the Oregon Health Authority's (OHA) phased sequencing plan. We are working with the health department and other agencies in the county to make sure all eligible groups in Phase 1 receive vaccines.

It is important to note that we must follow OHA's phased distribution guidelines for the vaccines. We look forward to being able to offer vaccines to our patients as soon as we are able to do so, and as additional vaccine supplies become available.

Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy Hours Expanding

September 29, 2020: Effective Monday, October 5, Rinehart Clinic and Pharmacy hours of operation will extend to stay open until 6 pm. The new hours will be: Monday - Friday 8 am - 6 pm. (The pharmacy will still be closed every day between 1 and 2 pm for lunch.)

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Rinehart Clinic receives approval to purchase portable rapid-results COVID-19 testing equipment

UPDATE September 16, 2020: In August we reported that Rinehart Clinic had been approved to purchase COVID-19 testing equipment that would provide rapid results. The equipment is on order, but we still do not know the exact timeline for its delivery. We are hopeful it will be yet this fall or early winter. As soon as the machine has been delivered, we will share details here on our website, and on our Facebook page and eNewsletter. Rinehart Clinic will continue to rely on guidance from the Oregon Health Authority for testing criteria.

August 4, 2020: Rinehart Clinic is pleased to have received approval to purchase portable rapid-results COVID-19 testing equipment that can be used to test patients on-site at Rinehart Clinic.

Abbott is one of the manufacturers of this type of equipment, but there are other companies that produce models with similar capabilities. Rinehart Clinic is doing due diligence to make sure we are able to purchase the most effective and reliable testing machine available.

We do not have an exact timeline for when the equipment will be received, but we are hopeful it will be this fall. Once the machine has been delivered, we will share details on our website, Facebook page, eNewsletter, and as broadly as possible throughout the North Tillamook County community. Rinehart Clinic will continue to rely on guidance from the Oregon Health Authority for testing criteria.

The equipment is being funded by federal stimulus funding through Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

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Letter to Governor Brown regarding COVID-19 testing resources

July 31, 2020: The Boards of Directors of Rinehart Clinic and the Nehalem Bay Health District have sent a letter to Governor Brown advocating for increased COVID-19 testing, testing resources, and testing capacity in Tillamook County. Read the full letter here: Letter to Governor Brown

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A Statement from the Nehalem Bay Health District, The Rinehart Clinic, Nehalem Valley Care Center and the North County Food Bank

“To Ignore Evil is to Become an Accomplice to It”

June 2, 2020: The appalling death of George Floyd in Minneapolis recently is yet another horrible reminder of the extent of racial and societal inequity in America. It follows the horrific slayings of Breonna Taylor (fatally shot by police in Louisville on March 13, 2020) and of Ahmaud Arbery (fatally shot by a former Glynn County, Georgia police officer on February 23, 2020).

Members of the Nehalem Bay Health District (NBHD), The Rinehart Clinic, Nehalem Valley Care Center and the North County Food Bank (NCFB) have been working together for the last few months to understand and learn to respond to the deeply embedded racism – and the tolerance of that racism – that exists in the America of 2020. We are committed to policies and actions that respect and encourage diversity, create equity and ensure inclusion for all people.

One of the lessons of our work is that it truly matters how we as individuals respond to the reality of racism and inequity. To privately or quietly condemn the events in Minneapolis – or similar tragic events – while not publicly denouncing these outrages and joining the many voices calling for change is not acceptable. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.”

We condemn in the strongest possible terms what happened in Minneapolis and any racially motivated violence. We mourn with George Floyd’s friends and family and with all who have suffered. What has happened was wrong and tragic and must not be tolerated, accepted or ignored. Those responsible must be held to account.

The evidence is overwhelming that people of color, or those not part of the dominant white culture in America, suffer disproportionally the historic, original sin of America – racism. From our perspective, the current world and national public health crisis lays bare the depth of wrong that exists in a country of great wealth where many, many people continue to live on the margins, lacking economic security, health care and too often basic human dignity. The victims of COVID-19 have been overwhelmingly poor, African American or Latinx. We recognize that our systems, including healthcare, have been infected by racism, and that racial health disparities exist because of that.

Our commitment to the people we serve and represent is to never become complacent or accepting of evil against anyone. We have a responsibility – every one of us – to identify and denounce racism and hatred, intolerance and violence wherever it appears. Evil triumphs when good people do nothing. We must not let evil triumph.

Jeff Slamal, NBHD CEO; Marc Johnson, NBHD President; Lynda Chick, RN, NBHD Vice President; Debbie Moberly, NBHD Treasurer; Barbara Edwardson, NBHD Board Member; Tom Mock, NBHD Board Member; Gail Nelson, Rinehart Clinic CEO; Dianne Bloom, Rinehart Clinic Board Member; Terra Marzano, LCSW, Rinehart Clinic Director of Behavioral Health; Liz Vitale, LAc, Rinehart Clinic Licensed Acupuncturist; Leigh Ann Hoffhines, Rinehart Clinic Communications Manager; Debra Padgett, Nehalem Valley Care Center Administrator; Tom Ayres, NCFB Board President; Jackie McCrady, NCFB Board Vice President; Blaine Bocarde, NCFB Board Member; Mark Roberts, NCFB Board Member; David Flemming, NCFB Board Member; Joan’e Koyote, NCFB Board Member; Dave Orman, NCFB Board Member; Holly Smith, NCFB Board Member; Bill Wright, NCFB Board Member

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Update on Telehealth Options

May 19, 2020: The Rinehart Clinic Care Team now offers video visits, phone visits, and we are expanding our in-person visits as the COVID-19 restrictions are being cautiously lifted in phases throughout Tillamook County.

Here are the options patients have for meeting with their Rinehart Clinic provider:

• Video visits from home – Have a web-cam and Internet access? If you have a computer, smart phone, or mobile device with a camera and an Internet connection, you can meet with your provider via video. It’s easy, and our staff will walk you through it.

• Video visits from the parking lot – No device or Internet? Our staff can meet you in the Rinehart Clinic parking lot and you can have a safe, secure visit with your provider from your car using one of our iPads. (Want more information on telehealth visits? Watch the demonstration videos below.)

• Need to see your provider in person? Our Primary Care Providers are still doing in-person appointments at the clinic for appointments that need a physical exam, following all the necessary guidelines to ensure a safe visit. Over the coming weeks, we will begin to welcome more patients to the clinic for appointments, depending on the treatment needed. Patients will be scheduled so the number of people in the clinic at any one time is limited. And masks are still required for patients and staff. If you do not have a mask, we will provide one.

• By telephone from home – Are video visits not possible for you? You can schedule an appointment to speak with your provider over the phone.

At this point, only our Doctors and Family Nurse Practitioner are seeing patients in-clinic. Our Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) and Acupuncturist will still see patients via telehealth for the foreseeable future. As things change, we will update you on the return of in clinic acupuncture and LCSW appointments.

Interested in learning more about how our telehealth (video) visits work? Here’s a video that shows you how to connect to the system. We try to make it as easy for our patients as possible, and our Medical Assistants will walk you through every step. www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ8dVtbnWx8

And here’s a demonstration of how our parking lot telehealth visits work: www.facebook.com/RinehartClinic/videos/237559130909904/

If you have any questions about our telehealth options, or if you need to schedule an appointment, call Rinehart Clinic at 1-800-368-5182.

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Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy seeks additional board members

April 24, 2020: Rinehart Clinic’s Board of Directors is recruiting for additional volunteers to join the board. The Board Development Committee has issued the following call for candidates:

We seek candidates who support the mission of the clinic and who can help us achieve our goals. The Rinehart Clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center whose mission is to provide accessible, effective and comprehensive medical care and education, assuring optimal health and well-being for all in our community, regardless of health or financial circumstances.

Candidates would need to reside in the Rinehart Clinic’s service area (from Manzanita to Tillamook). Board members need to attend monthly board meetings and participate in subcommittee work that takes advantage of their experiences. The board is seeking people with an enthusiasm for volunteering and who also may have expertise in the medical field, communication, law, fundraising, and construction and design.

If you are interested in serving on the Rinehart Clinic Board of Directors, please submit a letter of interest that includes information about yourself, your background, and why you want to volunteer to serve on the board. Email your letter and any backup materials to boardofdirectors@rinehartclinic.org.

If you are interested in learning more about Rinehart Clinic, visit www.rinehartclinic.org.

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Rinehart Clinic shares its COVID-19 Response Plan

April 2, 2020: As a community health center, the Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy stands at the ready to serve alongside the Tillamook County Health Department and in a back-up capacity to the area hospitals, especially in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In preparation for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases, we immediately put in place all guidelines and protocols issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority. Clinical and administrative teams swiftly re-designed operations to support a telehealth platform, curb-side pharmacy services, increased access to behavioral health services, and have been proactively reaching out to current patients to meet them where they are in this time of crisis. Our staff can even help find insurance through the Oregon Health Plan for people whose income or health insurance status may have changed during this time. The application process can be done entirely over the phone; there is no charge for this service and it is available to everyone in our community, not just Rinehart Clinic patients.

We have the necessary safety measures and protocols in place for those patients who need to be seen in person, established triage protocols via nurse lines to assist patients, and developed a plan to screen and/or assess patients in the parking lot if they present with symptoms of COVID-19. Our role is to help keep patients out of nearby hospitals and we have identified an additional site nearby for providing remote services and we may deploy clinic providers to hospitals, if needed.

Since the beginning of March, Rinehart Clinic has participated in the Tillamook Medical Advisory Group, a partnership of all health care agencies in Tillamook County, along with the local governments, social services agencies, and emergency preparedness groups across the county. We are in constant communication with other health centers throughout the United States, either through the Oregon Primary Care Association or the National Association of Community Health Centers, to share best practices as we all work together to fight in readiness the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Rinehart Clinic team is fully committed to the critical role we play as one of Tillamook County’s community health centers and we remain dedicated to continuing to fulfill our mission of providing accessible, effective and comprehensive medical care and education, assuring optimal health and well-being for all in our community, regardless of health or financial circumstances.

For the latest information, please see our COVID-19 Update page: www.rinehartclinic.org/covid19-update

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NEW (temporary) HOURS at Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy

March 27, 2020: Starting MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020, we are making a temporary adjustment to the operating hours for both the clinic and the pharmacy to help lessen the potential exposure of staff, patients, and customers to the coronavirus.

CLINIC Hours:

Monday: 8 am - 6 pm

Tuesday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm

PHARMACY Hours:

Monday: 8 am - 1 pm / 2 pm - 6 pm

Tuesday - Friday: 8 am - 1 pm / 2 pm - 5 pm

(Pharmacy closed for lunch between 1 and 2 pm)

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all navigate this challenging time together in our best efforts to keep our community safe and healthy.

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Rinehart Pharmacy now offers curbside prescription pick-up

March 23, 2020: Effective immediately, and throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Rinehart Pharmacy is offering customers a curbside pick-up option for certain prescriptions.

Here’s how it works:

• Call the pharmacy like you normally would (1-844-715-2299 OR 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 193) to request your medication order/refill. Please allow at least 24 hours advance notice for refills. (Some prescriptions could take up to 48 hours depending on the medication and/or how busy the pharmacy is.)

• You can also order over-the-counter items. Please note, however, that all over-the-counter items must be included as part of the initial order. (i.e. We cannot accept orders from your car when you arrive to pick up your prescription.)

• Once you have been notified that your prescription is ready, you can pay via credit or debit card over the phone

• Come to Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy, wait in the parking lot and text the pharmacy at 503-461-4201. Please include your name and vehicle description. If you do not have texting capability, call the pharmacy at 1-844-715-2299. (This might take a little longer.)

• One of our staff members deliver your order to your car and have you sign for it (using a sterilized pen and clipboard).

• If your prescription requires a consultation with a pharmacist, that will be conducted by phone at a later time.

PLEASE NOTE:

• The curbside pickup option does not apply to controlled substances (such as narcotics or other medications that could cause dependence). Those must be picked up inside the pharmacy.

• Cash purchases must be completed inside the pharmacy.

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COVID-19 Update Page

March 19, 2020: All Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy updates related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) will now be found on this page: www.rinehartclinic.org/covid19-update

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Message from our Medical Director (COVID-19 Update)

March 13, 2020: The care team at Rinehart Clinic wants to assure our patients that we are staying up-to-date on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We are focused on the health and well-being of our patients and staff, and we are doing everything we can to keep everyone safe and healthy. We receive regular updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority to make sure we are informed on the latest recommendations and statewide guidelines. We are also part of the Tillamook Medical Advisory Group, alongside many other healthcare and social service agencies across Tillamook County, to make sure we are part of a county-wide network of collaborative care should that become necessary.

We know there is a lot of information about the coronavirus in the news, and we understand it can be unsettling, even scary, to hear how quickly the situation is evolving. Please know that the Rinehart Clinic and Pharmacy team remains committed to the health and well-being of our patients, our customers, and the entire community.

Dr. Jeffrey Luty, MD

Rinehart Clinic Medical Director

MORE INFORMATION: Special Edition newsletter: March Rinehart Clinic News COVID-19 Update

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

March, 2020: Rinehart Clinic is continuing to monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) We are in close contact with the Tillamook County Health Department and other healthcare agencies in the area.

A NOTE TO PATIENTS: If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (see below) or have been exposed to someone who may have it, PLEASE CALL THE CLINIC BEFORE YOU COME IN so we can discuss your symptoms and determine the best course of action.

SYMPTOMS include fever and lower respiratory problems like cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain when breathing or coughing.

Upper respiratory symptoms like stuffy nose, runny nose, ear pain, or facial pain are generally NOT associated with COVID-19.

This fact sheet from the Oregon Health Authority explains symptoms, what to do, and how to take care of yourself if you have symptoms: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/…/Serv…//LE2356.pdf

Information is also available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Rinehart Clinic Equity Committee adopts Mission and Vision

December, 2019: For the past few months, a group of Rinehart Clinic and Pharmacy employees and community members have been meeting to talk about the importance of health equity.

Background: The discussions around health equity have been occurring more broadly and deeply over the last couple of years among staff, and several improvements have already been made. In 2018, trainings were organized for all staff on cultural sensitivity and how to effectively work with language interpreters to help patients understand their care options. We also contracted with a new language interpretation service that provides on-site interpreters whenever possible to work directly with patients and their providers (and live video when in-person is not possible). Earlier this year, two of our staff members were honored with a Health Equity Award from the Oregon Primary Care Association recognizing their role in the improvements that have been made. But they, and others, knew the work must continue, and so the Equity Committee was formed.

What is Health Equity? The definitions vary widely, but for the Rinehart Clinic Equity Committee, health equity means that everyone should have the health care and opportunities needed to lead healthy lives. And these opportunities could vary depending on a person’s life circumstances. Equality is everyone having the same access; equity is recognizing each person’s individual circumstances (financial, identity, language, background, etc.) and tailoring the care to suit that individual’s needs.

We know that many people have barriers to accessing health care. The Rinehart Clinic team feels strongly that health care organizations must recognize these challenges and help reduce as many of the barriers as possible so that all people receive quality health care that is delivered with respect and dignity.

After much discussion, the committee adopted the following mission and vision statements.

Mission: Acknowledging the impact of systemic oppression on health, the Equity Committee’s mission is to foster a culture that is committed to providing equitable healthcare for all in our community.

Vision: The Equity Committee believes the diversity of our experiences and perspectives makes our community stronger, healthier, and safer. We are committed to holding the healthcare system accountable, including the team at Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy, for providing equitable healthcare for all. We will work to identify and eliminate inequities, both internal and external, by modeling practices that promote health equity, by adopting policies and procedures that support the mission, and by collaborating with key partners to further understanding and accountability.

The committee recognizes that drafting a mission statement is just the first step in moving these efforts forward. Now the real work begins of making sure Rinehart Clinic is a shining example of a community health center that provides equitable care for all. The committee has strong support from the administration and the board of directors, who recognize the importance of this work.

Watch for updates on the committee's work on the Rinehart Clinic bulletin boards. If you have ideas or input to share about this or any other matter related to Rinehart Clinic or Pharmacy, we encourage you to fill out a feedback form (located at the front desk).

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Rinehart Clinic & Pharmacy Holiday Schedule

December, 2019: Rinehart Clinic has announced its holiday schedule for the clinic and pharmacy:

• Thursday, December 12 — Clinic & Pharmacy will CLOSE at 5 pm (Staff/Board Holiday Party)

• Tuesday, December 24 — Clinic & Pharmacy will CLOSE EARLY at 3 pm (Christmas Eve)

• Wednesday, December 25 — Clinic & Pharmacy CLOSED (Christmas)

• Tuesday, December 31 — Clinic & Pharmacy will CLOSE EARLY at 3 pm (New Year’s Eve)

• Wednesday, January 1, 2020 — Clinic & Pharmacy CLOSED (New Year’s Day)

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Giving Tuesday

November 18, 2019: What comes after Black Friday (or Plaid Friday if you are in the Tri-Village area), Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday? Giving Tuesday! Giving Tuesday is a Global Generosity Movement that makes it easy for people to find and contribute to local nonprofits that serve their communities. This year, Giving Tuesday falls on Tuesday, December 3.

If you are looking for a charitable giving opportunity this holiday season, please consider donating to the Rinehart Clinic.

The Rinehart Clinic is a nonprofit primary care clinic. As a federally qualified health center, our charge is to provide quality, compassionate healthcare to all in our community who need it, regardless of their financial circumstances. Some of the clinic’s funding comes in the form of federal and other grants, and we also rely on the generosity of private donors to help us continue our commitment to personalized, patient-centered care and improving the health of the community.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can support our mission, visit our “How can you help?” page: www.rinehartclinic.org/contribute

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Improvements Ahead (Accompanied by Construction)

UPDATE November 29, 2019 - Construction nearing completion: Since mid-October Rinehart Clinic and Pharmacy have been in various stages of construction, and the improvement project should be complete by the end of December, right on schedule.

The renovations will result in the following changes in the clinic and pharmacy:

• We are adding a patient restroom next to the lab with a pass-through for urine samples to make it more convenient for the patients.

• Our Outreach Team will have a renovated space that offers more privacy for meetings with patients, and more storage for materials.

• The former staff breakroom has been reconfigured into a room for group therapies, and will also provide meeting space.

• Unused space in one of the hallways will house laundry equipment for the linens that are used in our acupuncture treatment room.

• The area where our providers work when they are not with patients will have new shelving for easy access to reference and research materials.

• Two new rooms were created by taking advantage of unused space – one will be a room we can use to meet one-on-one with patients; the other will be used as office space for one of our employees who has not had a dedicated workspace.

• The Medical Assistant station will also receive a modest update, with refreshed countertop coverings and an additional work space.

• Improvements to the pharmacy will include a new privacy divider to help facilitate quicker in/out patient and customer access, and a roll-up door will be added at the entrance to allow more space for over-the-counter medicines.

PLEASE NOTE: We had hoped to be able to complete the entire project without closing the clinic or pharmacy, but it will be necessary to close the pharmacy one more time on Friday, December 6.

We are grateful to our patients and customers for your patience throughout the project.

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Renovation Update

October 23, 2019: Renovation construction began Tuesday, October 15, 2019. We had anticipated that the clinic and pharmacy would remain open throughout the project, but it was necessary to close the pharmacy on Thursday, October 17. Our apologies to our patients and customers for any inconvenience.

Construction is expected to be complete before the end of the year.

We thank all our patients, customers, and staff for your patience during our renovation efforts.

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Grant Funding Received for Clinic Renovations

October, 2019: We are pleased to report that Rinehart Clinic received grant funding for minor renovations and updates throughout the clinic. Construction will begin mid-October and should conclude mid-December.

The clinic and pharmacy will remain open during most of the project, but it will be necessary to close the pharmacy on Thursday, October 17. We will do our best to minimize the impact, but patients and customers (and staff too) can expect a few disruptions along the way.

We look forward to being able to serve you even better once the improvements are completed before year's end, but we do apologize for any inconvenience caused by the renovations.

Watch for details and updates here on our website and on our Facebook page.

Thank you for your patience during our renovation project!

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Rinehart Clinic welcomes a new Primary Care Provider

July, 2019: Meet Leanna Coy, Rinehart Clinic's new Family Nurse Practitioner. Leanna joined the Rinehart Clinic Team in early July and will start seeing patients in mid-July.

Leanna is an Oregon native with a strong background in both rural healthcare and in women's health. She is passionate about women's healthcare in particular, but loves working with families across the generations from children to parents and grandparents.

She comes to Rinehart Clinic from Legacy Medical Group in Sandy, Oregon. Leanna holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Nursing from Washington State University in Vancouver.

When asked what drew her to the Oregon Coast and to Rinehart Clinic, Leanna responded: "I have always loved coming to the coast since I was a kid and am excited to be able to work in a place I love. I am looking forward to settling in and getting to know this community.”

Leanna is accepting new patients. To make an appointment, please call the front desk at 1-800-368-5182.

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Rinehart Clinic staff honored with OPCA Awards of Excellence

May, 2019: The annual Oregon Primary Care Association’s (OPCA) Awards of Excellence program recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of community health center staff throughout Oregon. Rinehart Clinic was one of the clinic’s showcased with the 2019 awards, with three staff members receiving Awards of Excellence:

• Denise Weiss, Rinehart Clinic’s Quality Director, was honored with a CHC (Community Health Center) Value Award for fostering a clinic culture focused on improving patient care.

• Angelica Godinez, Outreach and Enrollment Navigator, and Sara Todd, one of Rinehart Clinic’s Licensed Clinical Social Workers, received the award for championing quality health care for all in our community.

For a full list of award winners, and details on their accomplishments, visit the OPCA website: www.orpca.org/about-us/annual-awards-of-excellence

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Rinehart Clinic now offers acupuncture

February, 2019: Meet Liz Vitale, Rinehart Clinic's acupuncturist, who is bringing patients a new option for managing chronic pain and other health concerns.

Offering acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, Liz focuses on treating chronic medical conditions and addressing the root causes of disease. She has a background in pain management and addiction, including smoking cessation.

Liz holds a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland.

She is currently accepting patients on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Rinehart Clinic. If you would like to make an appointment, please call 800-368-5182, ext. 101.

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Rinehart Clinic welcomes new CEO

January, 2019: The Rinehart Clinic is pleased to welcome Gail Nelson as our new Chief Executive Officer. Gail will join the team in late January.

An extensive search for a new CEO had been under way since late summer. The previous CEO, Marge Jozsa, resigned in October ahead of her scheduled 2018 year-end retirement.

Ms. Nelson has a background in rural healthcare and with federally-qualified health centers. For the past five years, she has served as Associate Director of Chambers Community Health Centers, Inc. in Anahuac, Texas.

Gail places an emphasis on recruitment and retention of qualified staff. She also has a strong focus on monitoring and improving quality, patient-centered primary care, and she believes firmly in collaboration–both among clinic staff and with community partners.

According to Camy VonSeggern, President of Rinehart Clinic's Board of Directors, Gail is well qualified for the job. She is excited to get started and make the move to the Oregon coast.

"The search committee was impressed with Gail's knowledge about rural healthcare challenges and her approach to running a clinic and pharmacy," said Camy. "We are confident she will serve Rinehart Clinic well and we are pleased she has chosen to accept the leadership role here."

Ms. Nelson provided the following statement regarding her new role at Rinehart Clinic: “I look forward to working with the leadership team and staff of the Rinehart Clinic and Pharmacy. I want to help the organization continue to fulfill its mission of providing high-quality, complete, personalized healthcare for residents and visitors, regardless of their health conditions and financial circumstances. It was apparent to me immediately upon meeting everyone, that each member of the team is compassionate about health care, their role(s) in the Center, and the collaborative approach to finding creative solutions to complex needs. My goal is to identify new strategic partnerships, strengthen existing community relationships, and create a sense of excitement about the future.”

Ms. Nelson received her Masters of Health Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Health Administration, from Texas State University-San Marcos. She also attended the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program and is board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).

Please join us in extending Gail a warm welcome to the clinic and to the North County community.

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Grant award brings new classes and programs to Rinehart Clinic

January, 2019: Rinehart Clinic recently received $20,000 in grant funding aimed at reducing obesity in our community. The project's focus is on expanding access to healthy foods and physical activity.

The grant comes from the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization Community Advisory Committee and the Eugene Schmuck Foundation.

The generous funding will help us expand our class offerings throughout 2019. Our popular Art of Eating and Weighty Discussion classes will return, and several others are in the planning stages. The classes will include diabetes management, medication management, and perhaps new walking groups and/or other physical activities.

The first new class we are adding is a monthly Mindfulness Meditation class that will help people understand the connection between emotional wellness and healthy eating. The drop-in class starts January 28 and will be led by Sara Todd, one of Rinehart Clinic's Licensed Clinical Social Workers. Sara has practiced mindfulness meditation for more than 15 years.

Keep an eye on Rinehart Clinic's Facebook page, our events page, and upcoming editions of Rinehart Clinic’s e-Newsletter for details on additional upcoming classes.

Rinehart Clinic reduces sliding fee charges

November, 2018: Rinehart Clinic’s Board of Directors has reduced the clinic’s sliding fee scale charges in order to make it easier for all patients to get the care they need. The change is effective immediately. The new sliding fee scale ranges from $10 to $55, and the Discounted Time of Service fee, which covers the office visit, has been reduced to $60.

What does this mean for patients? The reduced charges apply to all patients on the sliding fee. All patients are encouraged to apply for the sliding fee discount regardless of their income level, household size, or insurance coverage. If for some reason your insurance does not cover some or all of the services we provide, you may be able to use our sliding fee scale.

About the sliding fee scale: Rinehart Clinic offers discounts on charges to patients based on their family size and income, and as a Federally Qualified Health Center, we have additional programs available to help patients who may have difficulty paying their health care bills.

For questions on insurance enrollment or the sliding fee scale program, please contact our Outreach and Enrollment Navigator at 800-368-5182 ext. 112. Our friendly front desk staff can help patients make appointments and determine insurance coverage, including for our Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Call 800-368-5182, Ext. 101 to reach the front desk.

For more information, and to download a sliding fee scale application, visit Rinehart Clinic’s services page: www.rinehartclinic.org/services

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Giving Tuesday offers opportunity to support Rinehart Clinic

November, 2018: Rinehart Clinic is pleased to be participating in Giving Tuesday, a global giving movement that connects nonprofits to those who are considering year-end giving opportunities. Giving Tuesday is November 27, 2018, following on the heels of “Black Friday.”

If you are planning to support local nonprofits on Giving Tuesday (or anytime), please consider a tax-deductible donation to Rinehart Clinic. Online donations can be made through PayPal on Rinehart Clinic’s Contribute page: www.rinehartclinic.org/contribute/

Learn more about Rinehart Clinic’s mission to provide healthcare to everyone in our community who needs it, regardless of their health conditions or ability to pay.

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Seaside Providence Community Connections program helps connect patients with rides to medical appointments

November, 2018: Rinehart Clinic has partnered with Providence Seaside Hospital’s Community Connections to expand its free ride program into Tillamook County. The program provides rides to medical appointments in Clatsop County and the Portland metro area for patients who meet income eligibility requirements (200% and under of federal poverty level).

How to apply for the program: For Rinehart Clinic patients who want to apply to use the Providence Seaside Hospital Community Connections free ride program, the clinic’s Enrollment Navigator can help complete the intake and screening process. All they need to do is fill out an income verification sheet and, as long as they meet the guidelines, the Community Connections Program Coordinator will be notified that the patient is eligible to schedule rides to medical appointments. Rinehart Clinic’s Enrollment Navigator can be reached at 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 112.

The Enrollment Navigator will let patients know when the verification is complete. At that point, rides can be scheduled through the Providence Community Connections Program Coordinator.

Details on scheduling a ride: Once the patient is qualified for the program, they can contact the Community Connections Program Coordinator at 503-717-7766.

They should:

• Provide 14 days’ notice for rides

• Schedule appointments for Wednesdays if possible.

• If patients have a friend or family member who could drive them, they should try that option first.

The Community Connections program cannot guarantee availability, but they will do their best to work with patients to find a day and time that works.

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November is National Diabetes Month

Bringing attention to diabetes and its impact on millions of Americans

November, 2018: Rinehart Clinic is focused on diabetes throughout the year, but November is a good time to highlight its impacts since it is National Diabetes Month.If left untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and other serious health problems.

As you can see by these statistics from from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), type 2 diabetes is widespread across the United States. In Tillamook County the numbers are even higher; more than 11 percent of the population has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and many more are undiagnosed or prediabetic.

Rinehart Clinic's care team is placing a special emphasis on diabetes this November. Some of you may have received a letter from our Panel Coordinator telling you "It is important to have your A1C checked before the end of 2018!"

Why is this A1C test so important? The A1C test, a routine blood test, averages your blood sugars for the past three months. Testing your A1C is the best way to stay in control of your diabetes and prevent related health complications.

Rinehart Clinic is also part of Tillamook County Wellness, a county-wide collaborative of healthcare facilities and other community partners focused on reducing the risk of diabetes across Tillamook County. For more information on Tillamook County Wellness, visit tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org.

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Rinehart Clinic CEO Marge Jozsa submits resignation

November, 2018: Rinehart Clinic’s CEO, Marge Jozsa, submitted her resignation effective Tuesday, October 23, ahead of her scheduled retirement of December 31, 2018.

Ms. Jozsa took the helm at Rinehart Clinic and Pharmacy in November, 2014. Since that time, she has assembled a top-notch team; her strong leadership has ushered in many improvements at the clinic and encouraged a broad and innovative approach to primary care.

Some of the clinic’s most notable accomplishments under Marge’s leadership include: integrating the pharmacy into the clinic facility; facility upgrades and renovations to enhance the team-based approach to patient care; major strides in reducing opioid prescription use through careful tapering plans and alternative pain control methods for patients; interactive classes and lifestyle coaching focused on helping address community needs and encouraging patients to become more engaged in their own health; building a more culturally diverse staff to address the healthcare needs of the Hispanic community; enhanced collaboration with other community partners focused on community wellness and safety; and the addition of a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine to the care team, offering an integrative approach to primary care.

Additionally, Ms. Jozsa guided the clinic through two successful site visits by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), initiated the clinic’s successful application for coverage through the Health Center Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) program, and led the charge to improve quality measures resulting in additional grant dollars from the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization. During her tenure at Rinehart, the Clinic’s rating from the Oregon Health Authority as a Patient-Centered Primary Care Home was increased significantly from tier 2 to tier 4. Marge continually advanced the clinic’s mission by collaborating with many community partners and healthcare organizations. She helped to establish longevity in relationships and build partnerships to increase awareness and to promote the accomplishments of the clinic and its positive effects on our community.

In addition, Marge successfully found and secured grant funding opportunities aimed at improving the overall health of the community. With her support and guidance, the clinic has been awarded several hundred thousand dollars in grant funding focused on reaching residents currently not accessing healthcare, or who need assistance finding insurance coverage, helping patients with diabetes manage their health challenges, and expanding mental health services, including treatment for substance use disorders.

The search for a new CEO has been underway for several months, and the Rinehart Clinic Board of Directors is committed to finding the best candidate to provide exceptional leadership, partnership, and expertise in facilitating the delivery of healthcare to our community.

The Rinehart Clinic Board of Directors and staff thank Marge Jozsa for her commitment to the health and well-being of the people of Tillamook and South Clatsop Counties and wish her a long, healthy, and happy retirement.

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Rinehart Clinic awarded $291,000 grant to help expand treatment for opioid use disorder

October, 2018: Rinehart Clinic has received $291,000 in grant funding to help expand access to treatment for substance use disorder. The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) $352 million investment in community health centers across the country to combat the opioid crisis.

For some time, the Rinehart Clinic has been providing treatment to those patients with substance use disorder. We have developed a strong foundation for addiction treatment within a primary care setting. This grant will allow us to increase the number of patients served and expand to more fully incorporate mental health services and primary care alongside substance use disorder treatment.

The treatment program calls for a broader, more holistic approach, with the help of Rinehart Clinic’s Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and a support team dedicated to helping patients navigate the challenges of recovery. One of the most critical pieces of the plan is to expand access to mental health services, since mental health conditions (PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, for example) are often co-occurring with substance use disorders.

We are one of 1,232 community health centers across the nation chosen to receive this grant funding. The Rinehart Clinic is proud that HRSA has put its faith in us to expand the important work we have been doing in Tillamook County.

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Rinehart Clinic receives grant funding to assist with health insurance open enrollment period

[The following is excerpted from a press release issued by the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services. Rinehart Clinic is pleased to have been selected as one of Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace's community partners for the upcoming open enrollment period. Watch for details in the coming weeks on open enrollment events taking place across Tillamook County and south Clatsop County.]

September, 2018: The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace has awarded more than $795,000 in grants to eight community groups and 34 insurance agencies. The awardees will use the grants to publicize the upcoming health insurance open enrollment period, and to help Oregonians enroll in coverage through HealthCare.gov and other programs.

For most people who buy their own health insurance, open enrollment is the only time of year to sign up for a health plan or switch plans. Open enrollment for 2019 coverage will run from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15.

“Every year more Oregonians enroll in coverage through HealthCare.gov,” said Chiqui Flowers, administrator of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “The dedication and expertise of partners like these grantees help make that possible.”

The state selected grantees after a competitive process. Applicants were judged on multiple criteria, including their demonstrated ties to community networks, ability to reach underserved populations, and capacity to serve consumers whether they are eligible for HealthCare.gov plans or other programs, such as the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare.

The nonprofit groups—called community partners—receiving a total of $457,265 in grants are:

• Asian Health & Service Center, Portland

• Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon – Community United Funds and the OR-COFA Project, Portland and Salem

• Cascade AIDS Project, Portland

• Centro Latino Americano, Eugene

• Interface Network, Salem

• Northeast Oregon Network, La Grande

• Project Access NOW, Portland

• Rinehart Clinic, Wheeler

Community partners help Oregonians sign up for insurance and apply for financial assistance. Their help is free of charge. To make an appointment with a partner or agent, go to OregonHealthCare.gov/gethelp.

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Providence Seaside partners with Rinehart Clinic to expand transportation program

June 5, 2018: Providence Seaside Hospital recently partnered with Rinehart Clinic, in Wheeler, to expand its Community Connections transportation program into Tillamook County.

The free community benefit ride program is a ministry of Providence Seaside Hospital that allows patients with medical appointments in Clatsop County and/or the Portland metro area to reserve transportation through the hospital.

“Expanding the program to serve Wheeler-area residents helps address our community health goals,” says Kendall Sawa, chief executive, Providence Seaside Hospital. “We know transportation is a barrier for many, so we’re proud to offer this service to our neighbors to the south of us.”

In 2017, Community Connections provided 1,625 rides totaling 55,784 miles. The program is staffed with a program coordinator, part-time driver and several volunteer drivers.

Rinehart Clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center located in north Tillamook County that provides health care regardless of health conditions or financial circumstances. As a federal Qualified Health Center, Rinehart Clinic has programs available to help patients who may have difficulty paying their health care bills.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Providence Seaside Hospital on this important service,” says Marge Jozsa, Rinehart Clinic’s chief executive officer. “Easier access to health care benefits the entire community, and we are proud to play a role in that.”

The Community Connections transportation program serves people of all ages who have limited transportation options and meet certain income eligibility criteria. Clients are asked to schedule ride requests 14 days’ in advance of a medical appointment.

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The Rinehart Clinic receives Gold Category recognition for Vaccine Accounting Excellence

May 11, 2018: The Rinehart Clinic has been named a Gold Category clinic in the Oregon Vaccines for Children "Clinics Achieving Excellence" recognition, according to the newest statewide accountability report published by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The Gold Category includes clinics that have met or exceeded the 95% inventory accountability standard for vaccines.

The accountability program is in place to make sure clinics participating in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program adhere to best practices for vaccine management and inventory accounting.

To learn more about the program, and the gold category designation, visit OHA's Oregon VFC Clinics Achieving Excellence web page.

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Rinehart Clinic seeks additional board members

April, 2018: Rinehart Clinic’s Board of Directors is recruiting for additional volunteers to join the board. The Board Development Subcommittee has issued the following call for candidates:

We seek two or three candidates who support the mission of the clinic and who can help us achieve our goals. The Rinehart Clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center whose mission is to provide high-quality, complete, personalized healthcare for residents and visitors, regardless of their health conditions or financial circumstances.

Candidates should be available to attend monthly board meetings and participate in subcommittee work that takes advantage of their experience in the fields of business or healthcare. The board is seeking people with an enthusiasm for volunteering and expertise in Finance, Law, Construction and Design, or Hospital Administration.

If you are interested in serving on the Rinehart Clinic Board of Directors, please submit a letter of interest that includes information about yourself, your background, and why you want to volunteer to serve on the board. Email your letter and any backup materials by June 1, 2018 to Brooke Hua at bhua@rinehartclinic.org.

If you are interested in learning more about Rinehart Clinic, visit www.rinehartclinic.org

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Step It Up! Walking Groups forming throughout Tillamook County

North Tillamook County Walking Group: Tuesday mornings 8 - 8:30 am (starting April 3)

Location: Neah-Kah-Nie High School Walking Track, 24705 N Highway 101, Rockaway Beach, OR

March, 2018: Rinehart Clinic is partnering with North County Recreation District and Tillamook Year of Wellness to organize a weekly walking group in North County. "Step It Up!" Walking Groups are forming throughout Tillamook County as part of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program.

The North County walks will kick off Tuesday, April 3 at Neah-Kah-Nie High School. The school district has graciously offered the use of the school's brand new track. Registration is required to participate in the Step It Up! program.

Funding for this project is provided in part by the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program. The walks are open to EVERYONE - not just cancer survivors, but survivors and their family and friends are especially encouraged to participate. Registration is FREE and participants can join groups any time with chances to win prizes for attendance.

To register, and to find out more about the Step It Up! program, visit the Tillamook Year of Wellness website.

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Rinehart Clinic granted Federal Tort Claims Act protection by the United States Health and Resources Services Administration

February, 2018: Rinehart Clinic was recently notified by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that the clinic’s application for coverage through the Health Center Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Program has been approved. The Health Center FTCA Program provides medical malpractice coverage at no cost for health centers that meet stringent federal guidelines.

What does this mean? The Health Center FTCA Program coverage means that Rinehart Clinic meets or exceeds all federal guidelines for quality control practices aimed at protecting patients and staff. The federal government is now Rinehart Clinic’s primary insurer, which will save the clinic potentially thousands of dollars in malpractice premiums that can be used to enhance healthcare services and programs at the clinic.

Rinehart Clinic Chief Executive Officer Marge Jozsa is pleased with the FTCA coverage. “I am so proud of the staff at Rinehart Clinic – they understand how important it is to have safety guidelines in place, and the entire team works hard to make sure they are followed.” she stated. “Having this recognized through the FTCA designation is further evidence that we are headed in the right direction.”

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Helping patients successfully manage type 2 diabetes: Rinehart Clinic’s Diabetes Risk Reduction Program

January, 2018: Rinehart Clinic applauds Tillamook County Year of Wellness for its decision to focus on diabetes. The clinic’s healthcare team has long recognized the challenges patients with diabetes face and the impact the disease has on the health of the broader Tillamook County community. With roughly nine percent of Tillamook County residents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and nearly 33 percent of adults at risk for the disease, it merits our attention.

As the community becomes aware of the need for healthy lifestyle choices, we also need to make it easy for people to be active participants in their own health. From a patient’s perspective, the hardest step may be that first one: walking through the doors of a healthcare facility for treatment and education. The care team at Rinehart Clinic has found the single most important factor in bringing about positive change is creating a supportive environment for treatment and for group classes.

Last summer, Rinehart Clinic launched a comprehensive Diabetes Risk Reduction Program made possible by grant funding from the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization. The program helps patients make positive strides towards overcoming some of the risk factors of diabetes, including obesity and sedentary lifestyles. The clinic holds a variety of healthy lifestyle classes throughout the seasons, shying away from traditional lecture-style trainings, and opting instead for informal and interactive conversations that are often driven by the participants themselves.

To help make it easier for patients to participate, the clinic offers incentives for patients who join in the programs. This past year, the clinic’s weight loss/walking group members received pedometers, healthy eating class participants went home with fresh vegetables each week, and many class members received vouchers for free fitness and aquatics classes at North County Recreation District.

The program has been in place since mid-2017 and the clinic is already seeing positive outcomes for participating patients: lowered blood sugar numbers (A1C), lower blood pressure, healthier eating habits, and even weight loss.

Rinehart Clinic’s class lineup includes:

• A Weighty Discussion series, which offers an informal conversation around healthy eating and weight loss. Some of the participants also joined in a weekly walking group during the summer months.

• The popular Art of Eating class, where patients learn how to increase the use of vegetables in their diets in healthy and creative ways.

• Living Well with Diabetes, which offers supportive tools to help patients manage diabetes and pre-diabetes conditions.

• Several community partners who believe in the importance of a healthy community have rallied behind Rinehart Clinic’s Diabetes Risk Reduction Program:

• North County Recreation District, which provides fitness and aquatics passes for patients to help them become more physically active.

• Moon River Farms, a local organic farm that provides shares of vegetables through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for the Art of Eating classes.

• Manzanita Farmers Market offers participating patients vouchers for free fruits and vegetables at the market throughout the summer and fall program.

• Manzanita Grocery and Deli, long known for its commitment to the well-being of the community, is also offering a voucher program to provide fresh produce in winter when the local farms are not producing.

All of these programs and resources will continue at Rinehart Clinic throughout 2018. For information on upcoming class sessions, stay tuned to www.rinehartclinic.org. For more information on Rinehart Clinic's Diabetic Risk Reduction program, contact the clinic's Quality Director at 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 172.

Rinehart Clinic launches Care to Chat healthcare discussion series

December, 2017: On Thursday, December 14, 2017, Rinehart Clinic kicked off its “Care to Chat” healthcare discussions, an ongoing series covering a variety of topics and featuring healthcare providers and other staff from Rinehart Clinic and Pharmacy.

The initial Care to Chat program focused on handling grief during the holidays, with discussion guided by Rinehart Clinic’s Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Terra Marzano and Sara Todd.

The Care to Chat discussion series is free and open to everyone. Upcoming topics will include Lyme disease, colorectal cancer, medication management, and when to go to the emergency room (versus when to call your primary healthcare provider). These “chats” will be held every other month at the library in Manzanita. For information on future sessions, look for fliers around the North County area or visit our website or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rinehartclinic).

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Grant funding helps Rinehart Clinic pursue its goal of improving overall health of the community

October 24, 2017: Over the last two years, Rinehart Clinic has successfully pursued several grant funding opportunities aimed at improving the overall health of the community by addressing specific health-related needs of North Oregon Coast residents.

The grant-funded programs Rinehart Clinic has launched reflect our belief that a community is made healthy by the hard work and dedication of its individual members. These programs focus on: reaching residents currently not accessing healthcare or who need assistance finding insurance coverage; helping patients with diabetes manage their health challenges; and an expansion of mental health services, including substance abuse treatment.

• ¡Soy Sano!/I’m Healthy Grant – Rinehart Clinic received $71,803 in funding from Oregon Health Authority to help connect children and teens (birth to age 18) to free health care services if they do not qualify for state or federal health insurance programs.

  The Oregon Health Authority recently announced that children who are signed up for the ¡Soy Sano! program before December 31, 2017 will be covered automatically for 2018 under Oregon’s “Cover All Kids” legislation passed in July. This could impact an estimated 17,000 children and teens in Oregon.

  Over the course of the last year, Rinehart Clinic staff has taken the ¡Soy Sano! mission seriously. The clinic now has a full-service Spanish-speaking staff, from the front desk to our Family Nurse Practitioner. We have broadened our outreach in Tillamook and South Clatsop counties in the hopes of ensuring that every child who needs healthcare is receiving it.

• Diabetes Risk Reduction Grant – Received $77,650 from the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization to launch a comprehensive diabetes risk reduction program in North Tillamook County aimed at reducing some of the barriers faced by residents with uncontrolled diabetes. Statistics indicate that nearly 33 percent of adults in Tillamook County are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes.

  Education about healthy lifestyle choices is important, but we have found the most important factor in bringing about positive change is creating a supportive group environment for all our classes. The program has been under way since mid-summer and the clinic is already seeing positive outcomes in terms of lowered blood sugar (A1C) numbers in some of its patients.

  This grant request included funding for community partners, which has allowed the clinic to engage a variety of outside resources to help patients take control of their own health and make positive strides to overcome some of the risk factors of diabetes (obesity and sedentary lifestyles).

Our grant partners include:

• North County Recreation District, which is participating with fitness and aquatics passes for patients to help them become more physically active.

• Moon River Farms, a local organic farm that provided a 22-week share of vegetables through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The farm-fresh vegetables are distributed to patients who attend the group classes and are also used in the clinic’s popular “Art of Eating” workshops that introduce healthy and creative ways to increase the use of vegetables in our patients’ diets.

• Manzanita Farmers Market, which is participating with a voucher program that offered patients free fruits and vegetables throughout the summer and fall at the weekly market.

• Manzanita Grocery and Deli, a local business long known for its commitment to the well-being of the community, is participating in a patient voucher program to provide fresh produce in winter when the local farms are not producing.

Starting next month (November 7 – December 12) Rinehart Clinic will launch free a “Living Well with Diabetes” workshop series at the North County Recreation District. Community members interested in participating can call 1-800-368-5182, Ext. 101 to learn more or to register.

• Community Partner Grant – Received $50,000 from Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Consumer and Business Services to help Oregonians of all income levels access public and private health insurance. The focus of this grant is to help residents eligible for Medicaid and/or Medicare understand the coverage available to them and to provide them assistance in the application process.

  The funding has covered training and certification for Rinehart Clinic staff and allowed for broad outreach to make sure residents are aware of the insurance coverage and other resources available to them. With a shortened open enrollment period of November 1 through December 15, we are committed to informing the community of insurance options. These services are available to everyone – residents do not need to be a Rinehart Clinic patient to take advantage of these free resources.

• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Grant – Awarded $175,700 from the Health Resources and Services Administration to expand mental health services and substance abuse services focused on treatment, prevention, and awareness of opioid abuse. The clinic healthcare team has worked diligently with the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization to follow state guidelines and implement best practices related to pain management. This grant allows the clinic to redouble its efforts to provide alternatives to opioid pain medicines and to provide resources that help support community members in their recovery from the disease of addiction.

  Mental health is a critical component in the overall health of a community. In North Tillamook County, the nearest outpatient mental health and/or addictions provider is over 25 miles away. Income and transportation limitations often present barriers for patients in our service area and limited staffing at Rinehart Clinic has made it challenging for us to offer the treatment necessary locally. This funding has allowed us to hire an additional full-time Licensed Clinical Social Worker and launch new programs to help address the treatment gap in the North County communities, allowing patients to access primary care and mental health services all in the same location.

The focus of these treatment programs includes untreated and long-standing mental health issues associated with post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. It also targets adults with opioid use disorders, including those with opioid prescriptions for chronic pain.

Earlier this year, Rinehart Clinic launched a Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program, with the support of local law enforcement agencies and other community partners. The MAT program offers non-addictive alternatives with heavy treatment therapies such as group classes, one-on-one counseling for outpatient addiction services.

Rinehart Clinic’s Chief Executive Officer, Marge Jozsa, is enthused about the new and enhanced programs made possible by these various grants. “We are grateful for the financial support provided by these grants and we look forward to sharing additional success stories as these programs become part of the clinic’s overall healthcare offerings.”

Rinehart Clinic’s hope is that the additional programs made possible by this grant funding will have far-reaching impacts. In healthcare, we know that a variety of factors contribute to a community’s health. If the individual residents are taking steps to improve their health, their communities are positively impacted, and ultimately so is the entire region.

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Rinehart Clinic receives Tier 4 Status as a Patient-Centered Primary Care Clinic

May, 2017: The Rinehart Clinic has been awarded Tier 4 status by the Oregon Health Authority as a Patient-Centered Primary Care Home.

Patient-Centered Primary Care Home is a health care clinic that has been recognized for its commitment to patient-centered care – care where the patient is the most important part of his or her own care.

The Oregon Health Authority has a five-tier system for rating the standards of care for patient-centered clinics based on these core attributes:

• Access to Care – The clinic helps patients get the care they need, when they need it;

• Accountability – Recognized clinics are responsible for making sure patients receive the best possible care;

• Comprehensive – The clinic’s patients get the care, information, and services they need;

• Continuity – The clinic works with its patients and the community to improve patient and population health over time;

• Coordination and integration – The clinic helps patients navigate the system to meet the patients’ needs in a safe and timely way;

• Patient and family-centered – The clinic recognizes that patients are the most important members of the health care team and that they are ultimately responsible for their overall health and wellness.

Over the course of the past year, the health care team at Rinehart Clinic has worked to improve its patient-centered measures. To receive Tier 4 designation, the clinic passed all standards and improved its scores on every one of the core attributes listed above.

“I am incredibly proud of our care team,” said Rinehart Clinic Chief Executive Officer Marge Jozsa. “We have worked hard to build a strong team-based approach – and our patients are an important part of the team! This Tier 4 designation is evidence that our hard work is paying off.”

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Rinehart Clinic names new Medical Director: Dr. Jeffrey Luty

January 12, 2017: Rinehart Clinic CEO Marge Jozsa has announced the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Luty as the clinic’s new Medical Director, effective immediately. Dr. Luty started at the Rinehart Clinic part-time in October, 2015, and joined the staff full-time in December, 2015. He has played a vital role in the clinic’s transition since the retirement of Dr. Harry Rinehart in August, 2015.

Dr. Luty holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Oregon and earned his Medical Degree from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. He has a broad background in urgent and primary care, with a specialization in addictions treatment.

Marge Jozsa, Chief Executive Officer of the Rinehart Clinic, made the decision to offer the position of Medical Director to Dr. Luty, citing his commitment to the mission and to the patients of the Rinehart Clinic. “We are thrilled that Dr. Luty has accepted the position of Medical Director. He has had such a positive influence on our work of fostering a team approach to patient-centered care; his leadership and oversight will help guide continued improvements at the Rinehart Clinic.”

“I was honored to be considered for the role of Medical Director,” says Dr. Luty. “It has been a challenge and a privilege to have been a part of ushering in a new era at the Rinehart Clinic. I look forward to building upon our team-based, patient-centered approach that helps enable patients to make the behavior changes that are essential for happy, healthy lives. Marge Jozsa has assembled an awesome team to achieve this groundbreaking change in health care delivery and I am lucky to be a part of it.”

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