2008-Q3-Fall-WellAware

MID-COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER Fall 2008www.mcmc.net

SurgicalExcellenceDocs AroundThe ClockNew InternistIn Town

SurgicalExcellenceDocs AroundThe ClockNew InternistIn Town

WA Fall Nov3.qxd:Well Aware Spring 08 11/5/08 1:22 PM

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Dear Neighbor,

Two years ago I was using this space todescribe the changing medical environment

that had helped create a shortage of primary carephysicians in Mid-Columbia communities.

I closed my message with a note of optimismabout the measures we at Mid-Columbia MedicalCenter had planned to ensure access to primarycare. I am pleased to now be able to report thepositive results of those efforts.

Two years ago we were hustling to replace several primary care physicians who had left the area. Today I can tell you that there are more primary care health professionals serving this community than at any other time in the almost 50-year history of Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

I wrote in this space of the nationwide shortage of internal medicine providers, but alsoassured you that wouldn’t slow our efforts to recruit these specialists to our community. In this issue, you can read the latest of several stories that demonstrate our success in this endeavor.

James Edwards, M.D, is our newest internist and he is happily accepting new patients. He isthe most recent of eight primary care providers who have relocated to our area since fall 2006.

And primary care physicians are not the only health professionals we have attracted. Also inthis issue you can read about two new surgeons who have recently joined Mid-Columbia SurgicalSpecialists, and a neurosurgeon whose local presence is helping patients stay in the community for specialized care.

Two years ago we also introduced our Hospitalist Program, another of our long-term strategiesto address the changing healthcare environment. That is another success story you will read abouton the following pages.

I have always remained confident that we were well positioned to serve the needs of ourcommunity even as we worked our way through a transitional period. Even so, it still feels great tobe able to say, “The doctor is in. Call today for an appointment.”

I have been in healthcare long enough to understand that a new challenge is just around thecorner. But I am also confident that, no matter what shape it takes, your hospital is ready for it.

Duane FrancisPresident/CEO

A Long WayIn A Short Time


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Inside ScoopIt is Our Mission…

To lead and act as a catalyst inpromoting health for all people.

To recognize the individual as a wholehuman being with different needs that

must be enthusiastically met.

To communicate a vision of health, art,education, technology and create a centerfor healing which will continually upgrade

the quality of life in the communityenvironment in which we live.

To empower people to becomepartners in their health care.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center is a not-for-profithealthcare organization offering comprehensive

services to the Mid-Columbia Region, and isgoverned by a volunteer Board of Trustees:

Robert L.R. BaileyJorge Barragan

Daniel BoldtPaul Cardosi, M.D.

Duane FrancisGretchen Kimsey

Robert A. Staver, M.D.Wallace Wolf, Jr., D.V.M.

WellAware is published byMid-Columbia Medical Center

1700 East 19th StreetThe Dalles, OR 97058

(541) 296-7545

All rights reserved. No information may be reprintedwithout the written consent of MCMC.

Photo Credits:Page 20, Lori Russell

All other photos — Jim Semlor, Semlor Images

Printed with Agri based inks onrecycled paper, 10% post consumer.

Fall 2008

Meet MCMC’s New SurgeonsAnn Harris, M.D., finds the perfect mix of small-town values and big-citymedicine, while our hospital, communityand mountain attract new surgeon, James Stoller, M.D.

Award-Winning Surgical Care

Mind Body Calendar

2008 CommunityBenefit Report

Meet Hubert Rodriguez, M.D. Alabama native joins MCMC Surgery Department’s all-physiciananesthesiologist team.

Docs Around the ClockMCMC’s hospitalist program puts patients inthe good hands of physicians 24 hours a day.

New Internist in Town

Neurosurgeon Now Available

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A Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital

(ON THE COVER)Surgical ExcellenceTwo new surgeons, a new neurosurgeonand a new anesthesiologist help MCMCgrow its reputation for outstandingsurgical care. The stories begin with asurgery patient’s personal testimonial.


After retiring from a long career in the hospitalindustry, Jim Adams figured the last place he’d be

spending so much of his newfound free time wasanother hospital.

Yet there he was, a couple years ago, just twomonths into his alleged life of leisure, laid up atMid-Columbia Medical Center recovering from abroken hip. And then again, more recently,Adams was back, this time for surgery toremove a colon polyp.

But on this day The Dalles resident is inhigh spirits. He’s just finished a round of golfonly a few weeks after his September surgery.Now, with a clean bill of health, Adams isfeeling like he can get serious about havingsome fun.

“Both times I have been at MCMCeveryone has taken fabulous care of me,” hesays. “I can’t say enough about the incrediblepeople up there.”

In MCMC’s Surgical Department,patients like Jim Adams have accessto skilled and compassionate staffand physicians, an unrelentingcommitment to quality and anuncommon scope of services.

Out of theOrdinaryOut of theOrdinary

By Dick Baltus


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Adams’ latest experience beganduring a routine check up with hisinternist Maile Anslinger, M.D.

At 66, Adams already was 16years past the age when doctorsrecommend an initial colonoscopy toscreen for colon cancer, and Dr.Anslinger called him on it.

“She said I needed to have thetest done sooner than later, and shesaid there is a great surgeon rightdown the hall who you’d hit it offwith,” Adams says.

The surgeon was WilliamHamilton, M.D., of Mid-ColumbiaSurgical Specialists.

“Dr. Hamilton is wonderful,”Adams says. “He makes you feel so comfortable, and he’s easy to relate to.”

During Adams’ colonoscopy Dr. Hamilton detected a small polyp.Typically polyps are removed duringthe colonoscopy, but Dr. Hamiltonopted for surgery later because of the suspicious shape of the polyp and the risk of it transforming overtime into colon cancer.

Despite Dr. Hamilton’sreassurances, Adams, like most surgery patients, was apprehensivebefore his procedure. However, he says he was quickly put at ease byMCMC’s Surgical Department staff.

“The whole staff was amazing,”Adams says. “Dr. Hamilton said it wasa fairly routine procedure, but my wifeand I were still tense. You still don’treally know what’s going to happen.But they took wonderful care of me.”

During the surgery, Dr. Hamiltonremoved about five feet of Adams’colon based on what he learned fromthe earlier colonoscopy. The surgeon’ssuspicions were proved well foundedwhen later tests showed Adams’polyps to be early-stage cancer.

“It just reinforces how importantscreening for colon cancer is,” Dr. Hamilton says. “If Jim hadn’t had

a colonoscopy the cancer could havedeveloped unchecked. We found itearly enough to have a very positiveresult for him.”

After his surgery, Adamsrecuperated at MCMC, where he waslooked after by Ann Harris, M.D., whoassisted Dr., Hamilton during thesurgery and is one of two newsurgeons on the MCMC medical staff.The second, James Stoller, M.D.,removed Adams’ surgical staples later.

Dr. Hamilton says the personalitiesof the two new surgeons blend wellwith other members of the MCMCsurgical team.

“It really is a great department,”he says. “Most of the people havebeen there for a long time and theywork well together as a team. We also have a great team of surgicalspecialists who are board certified or board eligible and are well trained. There aren’t many surgicalprocedures that are not available inthis community.”

The wide range of inpatient and outpatient surgical servicesavailable at MCMC is rare for a facility its size, Dr. Hamilton adds, as is the hospital’s philosophy of using only anesthesiologists in theoperating room.

“The vast majority of hospitalsthis size use nurse anesthetists; it’srare to see an all-anesthesiologist staff

at a small facility, and that’s animportant benefit,” he says.

MCMC surgical patients alsobenefit from the hospital’s unrelenting commitment to qualitycare, which includes participation with a select group of hospitals (just two in Oregon) in a nationalinfection control study. The hospital’ssix-year involvement in this study has enabled surgical patients tobenefit from best practices that have been shown to reduce infection rates.

As a result, Dr. Hamilton says,“MCMC’s infection rates are now far below the national averagefor hospitals.”

MCMC’s reputation for qualitywas one of the reasons Adams and his wife moved back to the area after he retired as director of foodservices for Stanford Hospital. In the 60s, Adams’ wife had worked as an X-ray technician at The DallesGeneral Hospital.

“I knew what a first-class medicalcommunity this was,” he says. “I justnever imagined I’d be using so muchof it so soon.”

He’s grateful for what heconsiders “extraordinary care all theway around,” and he’s a new convertto the power of preventive care.

“Since I’ve retired, I’ve beengoing to the gym five days a week andmaintaining a healthy lifestyle; youdon’t expect something like this tohappen. It just goes to show you thatyou may look and feel healthy, butthat’s not always the case.”

Adams may not have expected to spend this much of his earlyretirement in a hospital, but you won’t find him complaining.

“I think it’s important to recognizewhen people step up and really dosomething that is extraordinary, andmy surgical experience at MCMC wastruly extraordinary,” he says.

“I knew what afirst-class medicalcommunity thiswas; I just neverimagined I’d beusing so much ofit so soon.”

— Jim Adams


Helena and learned to love the area. “I loved the smaller community, thehistory behind the community andthe people.”

Those characteristics guided Dr.Harris and her husband Jason duringtheir search for a community wherethey could live and she couldpractice.

“We liked Oregon, too,” shesays. “We didn’t want to go back toSandpoint. I didn’t like the fact thatso many people didn’t live full-timein the community.

“For what we want in life, TheDalles just fits us better.”

Dr. Harris appreciates efforts bythe city of The Dalles to tap into thecity’s historical roots and restorehistoric features of the downtown.

A skier and water sportsenthusiast, she also likes the easy

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Emerging from her medicalresidency at Creighton

University in Omaha, Ann Harris,M.D., knew she wanted to settle in acommunity a little like her home ofSandpoint, Idaho, and a little not likeit, too.

Sandpoint lies on the shores of beautiful Lake Pend Oreille,features a cute downtown and, inthe winter, is home to great skiing atSchweitzer Basin.

Dr. Harris wanted a communitywith similar recreational appeal, but more of a year-round, residentpopulation.

She found it. In August, Dr.Harris joined Mid-Columbia SurgicalSpecialists’ team of five generalsurgeons in The Dalles.

Dr. Harris earned her bachelor’sdegree from Carroll College in

Ann Harris, M.D.

In The Dalles and MCMC, new surgeonAnn Harris, M.D., finds the perfect mix ofsmall-town values and big-city medicine.

Meet MCMC’s

“Although I will be performing general surgery, I have a special interest in caring for breast cancer.”

— Ann Harris, M.D.

Continued on page 9

By Stu Watson


“I’m really looking forward tobeing home,” he says. “Oklahoma is a little too hot, too dry and too flat for me.”

In addition to skiing, Dr. Stolleralso enjoys hiking, cycling and golf. All of those can be done inOklahoma City, of course, but thatwasn’t why he applied to medicalschool there.

He jokes that Oregon andOklahoma fall next to each other inthe alphabet, and his finger slipped.However, the truth is he applied tothe University of Oklahoma on theadvice of a cousin who had attendedmedical school there 30 years earlier.

“It’s a little diamond in therough,” he says. “About half of theattending physicians there trained atJohns Hopkins (ranked one of the best medical schools and centers inthe U.S.).

After medical school, Dr. Stollertrained under a renowned surgeonwhose skills and reputation had ledto his selection as president of theAmerican Board of Surgery.

James Stoller, M.D.

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I t’s no secret getting throughmedical school can be tough

sledding, but one of The Dalles’ twonew surgeons skied all the waythrough it.

Well, at least he did in his head. James Stoller, M.D., who joined

Mid-Columbia Surgical Specialists inlate August, caught the skiing bugthree years before entering theUniversity of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

Dr. Stoller grew up in Molalla,within sight of Mt. Hood, but hedidn’t start skiing until late in hisundergraduate studies at theUniversity of Washington. Then heheaded to Oklahoma, which mightbe among the states least likely tocome to mind when one thinks of skiing.

So Dr. Stoller's mind is exactlywhere skiing had to stay all throughmedical school and his subsequentsurgical internship and residency, allat the University of Oklahoma HealthSciences Center in Oklahoma City.

He is happy to be back in ski central.

Passionate about surgery and skiing,Dr. James Stoller hit the trail in searchof the ideal practice opportunity andtouched down in The Dalles.

New Surgeons

By Stu Watson

“This is a trueopportunity forme to use thebreadth of mygeneral surgerytraining.”

— James Stoller, M.D.

Continued on page 9


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Award-Winning Surgery

Continued on page 21

Mid-Columbia Medical Center'songoing commitment to

meeting and exceeding the higheststandards in patient care and safetyhas been recognized with two awardsfrom an independent qualitymeasurement agency.

Acumentra Health, a nonprofitorganization dedicated to improvingthe quality and effectiveness ofhealthcare, has presented MCMC withtwo Achievement Awards through itsPatient Safety Alliance.

The Patient Safety Alliance award program recognizes hospitalsfor achieving high standards ofmedical and surgical patient care,demonstrated by meeting measures

of care established by the NationalQuality Foundation and the Centersfor Medicare & Medicaid Services.These measures are based on research to identify care practices that improve patient outcomes andreduce potential harm.

In addition, MCMC was oneof only four Oregon hospitalshonored with an OutstandingInpatient Medical Care Award. Thisaward recognized those hospitalsin which nearly all patients withone of three common medicalconditions, such as a heart attack,received medical attention thatmet all appropriate care measuresfor their condition.

In addition to the medical careaward, MCMC was one of just twoOregon hospitals honored with anInpatient Surgical Care ExcellenceAward, which was given only tohospitals in which nearly all patientsundergoing surgery received attentionthat met three care measures relatedto use of antibiotics for prevention ofpost-surgical infections.

“As Oregon’s QualityImprovement Organization forMedicare, Acumentra Health applaudsMid-Columbia for their commitmentand their hard work in followingthrough with real process change,”said Ruth Medak, M.D., associatemedical director for Acumentra Health.

MCMC Again Named AmongOregon’s Highest Quality Hospitals


After finishing his surgicalresidency, Dr. Stoller realized thathe wanted to practice full-spectrumgeneral surgery. If he moved to abig city, he probably would havehad to specialize.

“I was looking for a small cityin Oregon or Washington, nearmountains and rivers, when Ilearned about this position withMid-Columbia Surgical Specialists,”he says.

He met with future partners inthe practice — Drs. WilliamHamilton, Jeffrey Mathisen andPaul Moon — and, “I really likedthem,” he says, “And this is a trueopportunity to be a generalsurgeon and use the breadth of my training.”

Chances are he’ll alsoregularly use a little bit of thatmountain that looms so temptinglyover his new hometown.

Drs. Harris and Stollerteam up in the MCMCoperating room.

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access to outdoor recreation.After completing medical school

at Creighton in 2003, Dr. Harrisentered a one-year family practiceresidency, then moved into a generalsurgery residency, which she finishedthis year.

Although she will be performinggeneral surgery, Dr. Harris says she hasa special interest in caring for breastcancer patients.

“I enjoy the patient-physicianrelationship that develops with cancerpatients,” she says. “You’re not just asurgeon; you take care of all theaspects of patient care.”

The chance to work with theskilled medical team at the CeliloCancer Center also was an enticementfor Dr. Harris.

“I’m hoping to create a processworking with the team at Celilo so the

surgical treatment regimen is the bestoverall for the patient.” she says.

Her husband, a physical therapist,will be working with outpatients atthe hospital. Together, they’ll bejuggling care of their three children,Katelynn, 7; Emily, 5 and Jacob, 2.

Ann Harris, M.D.(Continued from page 6)

James Stoller, M.D.(Continued from page 7)


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Gorge residents are invited tojourney over the river, through thewoods, down the freeway or via any other route of their choice toThe Dalles’ Civic Auditorium in early December to usher in theholiday season.

The 13th annual Festival ofTrees, presented by sponsorColumbia River Bank, lights up theauditorium Friday and Saturday,Dec. 5 and 6. The theme for thisyear’s Mid-Columbia HealthFoundation (MCHF) fund-raiser is“Over the River and Through theWoods,” and those who attend will be able to stroll through anenchanted forest of 35 trees,beautifully decorated by volunteer designers.

“This event would not bepossible without the people whodonate and decorate our trees,”says MCHF’s Anne Copper. “Theyspend all year gathering items fortheir trees and working on details.Their commitment to this event isphenomenal, and we just appreciatethem so much.”

MCMC maternity nurse RoseSchulz is one of those volunteers. She took on a tree three years agothinking it was a great way to gether foreign exchange student ataste of community life, and itturned out to be just that.

Last year Schulz set out todecorate a tree in honor of a cousinwho died of cancer, but then thedisease hit even closer to home. Herson Austin was diagnosed withkidney cancer and, Schulz says, “They didn’t give him much hope.”

But last June marked Austin’sone-year anniversary of beingcancer free and, his mother says,“Life has been good for him.”

This year the theme of Schulz’stree is Rose’s Little Angel Austin,and she has contacted all ofAustin’s former classmates from St. Mary’s to solicit angel- or rose-related ornaments or gifts for the tree.

“Every last one of those kidscontacted Austin after he wasdiagnosed and offered theirsupport,” Schulz says. “They hold a special place in our hearts.”

The 2008 Festival of Treesactivities include an intimateThursday evening Dinner Among the Trees, featuring a preview of the trees and a special auction of a Food for Thought tree, withproceeds, in part, benefiting theFood Bank.

Friday night’s gala evening,starting at 7 p.m., allows attendeesto enjoy an evening of socializing,followed by a live auction of thetrees. A limited number of tickets

are available to this 21-and-olderevent through the MCHF office.

Saturday is community day from 9 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by Billand Neva Reid, community day will give members of the public theopportunity to enjoy a pancakebreakfast provided by the Lions Club, listen to music by GorgeWinds, take photos with Santa, view the beautiful trees and learn about local nonprofitorganizations by visiting booths at the Philanthropy Fair.

This year proceeds from theFestival of Trees will support CeliloCancer Center and the foundation’sNext Century Campaign, a fund drive earmarked to support new state-of-the-art medical technology at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

Festival of Trees truly is acommunity event, Copper adds. “From the generosity of sponsors like Columbia River Bank and theReids, to the tree designers and thevolunteers who provide lunchduring the set-up of the event,Festival of Trees just has thiswonderful community feel about it,”she says.

For ticket information or otherdetails about the 2008 Festival ofTrees, call Mid-Columbia HealthFoundation at 541-296-7275.

Festival of Trees isAll About Community

Proceeds to Benefit the Next Century Campaign & Celilo Cancer Center

7 P.M. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5THE DALLES CIVIC AUDITORIUM


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Mind, Body HealingUPCOMING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FROM THE CENTER FOR MIND & BODY MEDICINE AT MID-COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER

&Exercise Movement

Pre-registration required; please call 296-7202to register unless otherwise indicated.

Fall 2008

Introductory T’ai ChiCall for schedule.

T’ai Chi for BalanceTUESDAYS & THURSDAYSCall for schedule.If you are interested in improving yourbalance and reducing your risk of falls,you may qualify for our free T’ai Chiclasses. Participants must be 60 yearsof age or older, have a disability or areliving with a chronic disease. Thisprogram is open to all Columbia RiverGorge residents. For more information,please contact Barb Robison at theCenter for Mind & Body Medicine,541/296-7414.

Celilo Cancer Center1 p.m., FreeCondon, Gilliam County Fairgrounds9:30 or 10:30 a.m., Free

Gentle Yoga WEDNESDAYS8-9 a.m., Celilo Cancer Center$40 for 5 sessions, $60 for 10 sessions or $10 drop-in

This easy-does-it class is perfect forbeginners or people with limited mobility.Stretch, breathe and ease your way intogreater flexibility.

Yoga


Flow Yoga WEDNESDAYS5 to 6:30 p.m., Celilo Cancer Center$40 for 5 sessions,$60 for 10 sessions or $10 drop-in

Flowing from pose to pose, this yogaclass is a moving meditation that helpsrest the anxious, stressed mind whilebringing strength, flexibility andbalance to the body. No previousexperience necessary.

T’ai Chi is an ancient mind/bodydiscipline of relaxed movement. Itinvolves gentle, meditative exercise forindividuals of all ages and fitness levels.Participants will enjoy increased balance,flexibility, coordination and improvedwell being, while reducing stress andassociated pain and fatigue.

T’ai ChiCall for schedule.

T’ai Chi

Yoga NidraWEDNESDAY, November 195 to 6:30 p.m., $10Celilo Cancer Center

This introductory class is suitable forboth beginners and advanced yoga ormeditation practitioners. Gentle body-sensing yoga is followed by guidedmeditation which leads to deeprelaxation of body and mind. In this miniworkshop you will be introduced to thebasic psychology and theory behind thispotent practice as well as receiving thefull, exquisite experience. Developed byRichard Miller, PhD, this protocol is beingused around the world for the treatmentof various conditions including post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety,self-esteem, pain control, insomnia, andnon-medically responsive illnesses.

Yoga All LevelsMONDAYS & THURSDAYS5:30 to 7 p.m., Celilo Cancer Center$40 for 5 sessions,$60 for 10 sessions or $10 drop-in

Unwind and rejuvenate your mind andbody with yoga stretching, breathingexercises and relaxation. This class isdesigned for all ages and levels offitness. Increase your flexibility,strength and balance.

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Workshops & ClinicsMind Body Healing

Healthy Weight SolutionsWEDNESDAYS6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

This outpatient program is a unique8-week progressive weight loss and wellness clinic that will provide a safeand supportive environment for weightloss achievement, stress reduction anddisease prevention. The program willfocus on a holistic solution to weightmanagement. The multi-disciplinary teamincludes a dietitian, registered nurse andphysician. The curriculum will includeresearch-based integrative strategies thatare simple, practical and lifelong.

Journal WritingWEDNESDAYS11 a.m., FreeMeditation Room, Celilo Cancer CenterSusan Erikson, Instructor

You will be guided in journal writingtechniques designed to help you processlife events and to open to inspiration.

Guided Relaxation, Music and AromatherapyWEDNESDAYS, November 19 and December 1712:15 to 12:45 p.m., FreeCelilo Cancer Center

Experience 30 minutes of total relaxation. Relaxation expert–SusanErikson, aromatherapist–Barb Robison and music thanatologist–AnnaFiasca will lead you in a guided imagery and aromatherapy relaxationtechnique, using pure essential oils and music. Leave this sessionfeeling calmly refreshed!

Guided Relaxation with HarpWEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS10:15 to 11 a.m. FreeMeditation Room, Celilo Cancer CenterSusan Erikson, InstructorAnna Fiasca, Harpist

This 45 minute session can help youreduce stress and relax with the use ofguided imagery and beautiful music.

Open Meditation PracticeTHURSDAY, November 137 to 7:45 a.m., FreeCelilo Cancer Center

Free. This session is geared for people who would like to engagein meditation within a group setting. Each session will vary instyle and will be led by MCMC staff. For those new to meditation,Introduction to Meditation is recommended prior to attending.

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For class schedules and registration information,please contact 541-296-7202.

&Core HealthWellness Clinics

Many insurance companies and Medicare will cover all or a portion of the clinic fee.

We will assist you to determine your insurancebenefits. Physician referral may be required.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call 541-296-7202.

Individual Yoga ConsultationIndividual Fitness ConsultationIndividual Nutrition Consultation

OUTPATIENTTHERAPYSERVICES

PERSONALIZED HEALTHAND WELLNESS

Physical Therapy Occupational TherapySpeech TherapyTwo Locations: Westside: 115 W. 4th St.298-8985 MCMC Campus: 1810 E. 19th St.296-7202

Cardiac Rehabilitation ClinicMedical Symptom Reduction Clinic

Living Healthy with DiabetesPulmonary Health Services

Better Breathers Support Group

Fitness for HealthMONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS5:30 to 9 a.m. & 4 to 7 p.m.

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS5:30 to 11 a.m. & 4 to 7 p.m.

FRIDAYS5:30 to 9 a.m. & 4 to 6 p.m.

SATURDAY7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Fitness Center – Medical Center Office Plaza$30 per month$55 monthly for couples

Begin or maintain a personalfitness program using state-of-the-art equipment with theassistance of a fitnessinstructor. Attend anycombination of times that isconvenient for your schedule.

Fitness

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Massage TherapyCelilo Cancer Center

Massage therapy is one of the oldestforms of health practice. It has beenused to enhance healing and generalwell being since ancient times. Thistherapy manipulates the skin, musclesand joints for muscle relaxation,improved circulation and stress relief.The therapists at Mid-Columbia MedicalCenter offer a variety of massagetechniques tailored to your specificneeds. To schedule an appointment orpurchase a gift certificate for amassage, call 541-506-6998.

Relaxation Massage:60 min for $50/90 min for $75

Deep Body Massage:60 min for $55/90 min for $80

Warm Stone Therapy:60 min for $55/90 min for $80

Sports Massage:60 min for $55/90 min for $80

Pregnancy Massage:60 min for $50

Thai Massage:90 min for $80

Lymphatic Massage:$55 per hour — Freda Wasson, LMT

&Therapeutic Body WorkHealing Therapies

Mind Body staff members are available for educationalpresentations at your place of employment. We are

happy to work with your staff to tailorpresentations based on your specific needs.

Topics can be as diverse as stress management,nutrition, aromatherapy, fitness, yoga, T’ai chi,

and lung and heart health.

Contact Barb Robison, Director, Center for Mind & Body Medicine,

541-296-7414

BRINGING EDUCATIONTO THE WORKPLACE

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Lymphedema Treatment and Therapy Celilo Cancer Center

The treatment of lymphedema, or swelling of an extremity, consists of manual lymphdrainage, compression bandaging, skin careand gentle movement exercises delivered byour healing therapist’s hands. These stepsare part of a therapy program that will helpminimize and manage the symptoms oflymphedema. With a physician’s referral,this therapy is covered by most insuranceplans. Please call 541-296-7202 to schedulean appointment.

Acupuncture TherapyCelilo Cancer Center

Acupuncture is one discipline takenfrom the heritage of Chinesemedicine. The technique involves theinsertion of very fine needles atspecific points in the body whichhave been shown to be effective inthe treatment of various conditions. Call 506-6998 for appointments or for more information.


I N V E S T I N G I N O U R

Communities’ HealthThank you for taking the time to read Mid-Columbia Medical Center’s Community Benefit Report. We share this report with ourcommunities each year to describe some ofthe activities we have pursued in the previouscalendar year in support of our mission.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center is a not-for-profit healthcare organization, which meanswe are socially accountable to use revenuefrom the services we provide to benefit our community as opposed to a group ofprivate shareholders.

In this report, you will learn about of some ofthe important community benefit activitiesMCMC is involved in and services we providethat are supported by other sources ofrevenue.

An alarming, and continuously growing, percentage of this revenue have to be used to make up for the insufficientreimbursements we receive from thegovernment for the care we provide patients covered by Medicaid and Medicare.Still more revenue is devoted to our charitycare program.

Those forces beyond our control make it increasingly challenging to support our community benefit initiatives. However, we remain committed to maintaining and enhancing the highest standards of performance in the areas that we can control to ensure that we can continue:

� To provide the education and support you need to enjoy the healthiest and happiest quality of life possible;

� To recruit new physicians to the Mid-Columbia region to ensure timely,local access to primary and specialty care;

� To provide financial support to important community programs and activities;

� To help train healthcare professionals so that future generations of our communities are adequately served;

� To provide everyone access to the same high-quality healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay.

We invite you to read on to learn more about how these activities were pursued last year.

We share this report with ourcommunities each year to describesome of the activities we havepursued in the previous calendaryear in support of our mission.


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MCMC’s commitment to the highest standards of patient careand service continued to be recognized last year with severalhonors from independent organizations. These included:

� Commission on Cancer’s (CoC)Outstanding Achievement Award forCelilo Cancer Center. Celilo is one of only66 U.S. centers to receive the award, thehighest honor given by the CoC, and theonly center in Oregon.

� CoC’s three-year Accreditation with Commendation.

� Acumentra Health’s patient care excellence award, which recognizesMCMC’s standing as the state’s second-highest-ranked hospital in several patient care measurements.

� Acumentra’s Outstanding InpatientMedical Care Award for MCMC.

� Acumentra’s Inpatient Surgical Care Excellence award for MCMC, one of only two Oregon hospitals so honored.

GivingBack� Health & Safety Fair —

MCMC partners with more than50 businesses and health andsafety agencies to supply healthand safety information,demonstrations and samples to thousands of communitymembers at no charge.

� Visiting Health Services in-home caregiving —Visiting Health provides fourhours a month and twoemployees to provide seniors in local and outlying communitieswith blood pressure screenings.

� Diabetes Discovery Day —MCMC sponsors this free annual event, in a partnershipwith Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, whichprovides free screenings,educational talks from localhealth professionals, displays and more.

� Support Groups — MCMC hosts an array of regularsupport group meetings toprovide information and supportto community members dealingwith an array of health concerns,from stroke and breast cancer todiabetes and weight conditions.

MCMC people and resources benefit Mid-Columbia communities in diverse ways. Here are just a few.

T H R E E W O R D S :

Quality, Quality, QualityC O M M U N I T Y B E N E F I T R E P O R T | M I D - C O L U M B I A M E D I C A L C E N T E R | 2 0 0 8



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MCMC regularly makes financial contributions to programs who sharethe hospital’s goal of creating ahealthier community. These include:

� $50,000 has been contributed to helpthe Columbia Gorge Community Collegenursing program, helping alleviate theshortage of nursing personnel in the region.

� $12,000 is given annually to ensureNorth Wasco County School District 21 can continue to provide schoolhealth services

� A $100,000 fund has been establishedto provide a source of interest income,which MCMC uses to match dollar for dollar the investment area fire and ambulance services make on equipment and training.

COMMUNITYBENEF IT

By the Numbers

Healthier Communities

MCMC’s aggressive efforts to recruit new healthcareproviders to the Mid-Columbiacontinue to be successful in2007 and continuing into 2008.In recent months, the followingnew professionals have begunseeing area patients:

� Maile Anslinger, M.D. Internal Medicine

� James Edwards, M.D. Internal Medicine

�Michelle Edwards, P.A.-C.Internal Medicine

�Kathy Pickering, P.A.-C.Family Medicine

�Miriam McDonell, M.D.Women’s Care

�Matt Proctor, M.D. Otolaryngology

� Laura McWilliam, P.A.-C Family Medicine

INCREASING ACCESS

3975The number ofpeople who

visited the Planetree Health ResourceCenter last year to take advantageof this vast library of consumer-friendly free health information.

250+Attendees atPlanetree

health lectures throughout the year.

350People with diabetes who

received free health informationon how to successfully managetheir condition during Diabetes Day activities.

381Comprehensiveinformation packets

prepared for MCMC patients tohelp them learn more about theirmedical conditions, treatmentoptions and more.

175The number ofmen and women

who participated in the MCMC-sponsored Go Red for Women’sHeart Health Walk last year.

228Volunteer hoursprovided by MCMC

staff to train students of ColumbiaGorge Community College’s EMT training course and NW Paramedics program.

275Hours donated byMCMC mentors

working with high school studentsinterested in exploring health careers.

220The number of staffhours donated

last year by MCMC to support NoCEMS Council. MCMC alsoprovided a supervising physicianand support staff for seven EMSagencies at a cost ofapproximately $1,000 per month.

5000Medicare billsthat were

brought to Seniority, MCMC’s freesenior resource program, byseniors taking advantage of thefree insurance counseling service.

S U P P O R T I N G


Each year MCMC’s financial resources are stretched both by the voluntary,mission-driven commitments described in this report and by other forces beyondour control. Last year, MCMC provided the following free care and/or subsidizedcare to ensure every member of our community is able to benefit from high-quality healthcare. More than $3 million in free care was provided to patientsunable to pay.

More than $8 million in care was provided to patientscovered by government-sponsored programs (Medicare andMedicaid), whose payments to MCMC were far below ouractual costs.

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Laura McWilliam’s epiphany came atthe side of a hospital bed.

McWilliam was enjoying a career inMichigan with a pacemaker company,working with clinicians using hercompany’s device, then following upwith the patients who had thosedevices implanted.

The work, she says, “was a blast;”however, once with the patientMcWilliam always found herself askingmore about their health than thepacemaker that she was paid to makeher primary concern.

Today, McWilliam is a physicianassistant working in The Dalles officeof Robert Alaimo, D.O., FamilyMedicine. Her new patients can thanka series of “charming older men withbad tickers” for inspiring her to have a change of heart when it came to her career.

“I really loved my job; I got to travel all over the world,” McWilliam says.“But getting to work with patientsreally inspired me to go back to school so I could work with them on adaily basis.”

A native of Detroit, McWilliam hadconsidered pre-med studies while anundergraduate at the University of

Michigan, but wound up with adegree in mechanical engineering.After school, she moved toMinneapolis for a job, but soonrelocated back to Michigan and a newcareer with Medtronic.

She worked with nine differenthospitals, training clinicians to usepacemakers and defibrillators andmeeting the heart patients of whomshe would grow so fond. Her love ofthe patient interaction motivatedMcWilliam to start searching forphysician assistant training programs.

Any program would have to meet hertwo non-negotiable criteria. “They hadto have an excellent reputation, andthey had to be close to a mountain,”says the outdoors lover, whose hobbiesinclude snowboarding, skiing,mountain and road biking and piano.

That pretty much left Oregon Health &Science University’s PA program as heronly choice. “It’s the only school Iinterviewed at,” McWilliam says.

She entered the classroom portion ofthe program in 2005, and graduatedin August 2007. She stayed on atOHSU, working again with heartpatients in the cardiology departmentand critical care unit.

“I K N E W T H I S WA S T H E P L A C E

I WA N T E D T O B E ”


Q U A L I T Y C A R E F O RAllAll

“I got to work again with clever oldermen with bad tickers,” she says,laughing. “It made me very happy.”

Just as she was picky about her PAprogram, McWilliam also had highstandards for her first venture into aprivate practice setting. Mid-ColumbiaMedical Center and the Gorge passedwith flying colors, she says.

“When I first heard about MCMC itreally sounded like the kind of healthcareorganization I wanted to be with,”McWilliam says. “I was really taken bywhat I learned about the Planetreephilosophy, so I actually sort of houndedthem for a job.”

The opportunity finally came last spring,and McWilliam says it had to be a goodone to get her away from OHSU and ajob she loved.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” saysMcWilliam, “but I knew this is the place Iwanted to be.”

McWilliam can be found in the office of Robert Alaimo, D.O. FamilyMedicine, 1726 E. 12th, The Dalles. For appointments, call 296-1155.


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Meet Hubert Rodriguez, M.D.Alabama native joins MCMC Surgery Department’sall-physician anesthesiology team.

MMid-Columbia MedicalCenter’s commitment to

excellence in surgical care has led tothe hiring of a new anesthesiologist tofill out the Surgery Department’s all-physician anesthesiology team.

Hubert Rodriguez, M.D., recentlyjoined the MCMC Medical Staff afterrelocating from Alabama, where hehad practiced since 2001. The board-certified anesthesiologist is a native ofthe state and remained there for hisschooling and training.

Dr. Rodriguez earned hisbachelor’s degree from Birmingham-Southern College before entering theUniversity of Alabama School ofMedicine. After graduating in 1997,he completed an internship at BaptistHealth System then a three-yearanesthesiology residency at theUniversity of Alabama Hospitals inBirmingham.

The addition of Dr. Rodriguezcontinues MCMC’s tradition ofanesthesiology excellence, says TheDalles surgeon Bill Hamilton, M.D.

“For some time now the trend insmaller hospitals has been to usecertified registered nurse anesthetistsinstead of physiciananesthesiologists,” Dr. Hamilton says.“It is now fairly rare to find a hospitalthe size of MCMC that still has an all-anesthesiologist staff. “

Dr. Hamilton says there are manybenefits to having physicians with

extensive training supervisinganesthesia services in the operating room.

“It is the highest standard ofanesthesia care, and using physiciananesthesiologists is testament toMCMC’s commitment to optimalpatient care,” he says.

“This is the highest standard of anesthesia care, and istestament to MCMC’s commitment to optimal patient carethat the hospital continues to hire only highly trainedand qualified anesthesiologists like Dr. Rodriguez.”

— William Hamilton, M.D.


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A s a health educator, VaughnKrieger knows the value of

asking questions. When Vaughn’shusband Marvin was admitted toMid-Columbia Medical Center foremergency abdominal surgery inJune, she had plenty of them.

“I interview doctors,” Vaughnsays. “If you don’t ask questions, you don’t get answers.”

During her husband’s 17-dayhospital stay — including 11 inMCMC’s Intensive Care Unit —Vaughn frequently consulted withsurgeon Bill Hamilton, M.D., andhospitalists Tom Nichol, M.D., PeterFarkas, M.D., and Larry Long, M.D.

Hospitalists are internal medicineor family practice physicians whoprovide full-time care for hospitalpatients. Twenty-four hours a day,seven days a week, they care for the needs of most of the adultmedical patients admitted to thehospital and collaborate withsurgeons regarding individuals withcomplex medical needs. MCMC’s five-member hospitalist team alsoincludes family practice physicianSonia Schuemann, M.D., and internistGretchen Blair, M.D.

Neither of the Kriegers hadencountered a hospitalist beforecoming to MCMC. “Marvin and

I have been quite healthy,” saysVaughn. “We don’t get colds or theflu. We didn’t even have a localprimary care doctor.”

When they needed care in thepast, the Goldendale couple traveledto Southwest Washington MedicalCenter in Vancouver.

“With a regular doctor, you maysee them once or twice a day whilein the hospital,” says Vaughn. “Witha hospitalist, someone is alwaysthere. If someone can fall in lovewith their doctors, we did.”

Continuity of care and access to a physician are just two of thebenefits of the hospitalist model,says Dr. Nichol, who has directed the program at MCMC since itsinception two years ago.

Prior to instituting thehospitalist model, primary carephysicians traditionally cared for all of their patients, visiting those inthe hospital between managing afull schedule of appointments attheir offices and taking night andweekend call. Hospitalists workseven days at a stretch — with twocovering during the day and anotherat night — freeing primary carephysicians to focus on caring forpatients in their offices.

“With the hospitalist model, aphysician is immediately availableonsite at all times and can managethe patient’s condition,” Dr. Nichol

MCMC’s hospitalist program puts patients in the good handsof physicians who are on site and available 24 hours a day.

Docs Around the

Vaughn andMarvin Krieger


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says. “If family members show up at3:30 p.m., they can talk to a doctor.”

That was important for Vaughn,who for the past two decades hasaccompanied her husband of 52years through doctor visits andhospitalizations. Their time at MCMC was no exception. She tooktime off from her teaching job at a health education center to staywith Marvin.

Dr. Nichol, who worked inprivate practice for 17 years in The

The hospitalists at MCMCpractice medicine which combinesthe physicians’ own clinical expertisewith the latest scientific research andallows them to communicate to theirpatients the risks and benefits ofdifferent courses of action.

“As far as the hospitalists, wecouldn’t have asked for better care,”says Vaughn. She says she recallscalling Dr. Nichol with a question,and learning he was on vacation fortwo weeks. Although anotherphysician addressed her concern,Vaughn says she was impressedwhen Dr. Nichol contacted her afterhe returned to work.

“He called me just to follow upand see how we were,” she says.

After two and a half weeks atMCMC, Marvin Krieger returned toGoldendale to recuperate. While at home, his condition worsened.When he was readmitted to MCMC,Dr. Nichol again was there to care for him.

“We’ve met some amazingpeople at the hospital,” Vaughn says.“They are angels.”

Since being discharged fromMCMC a second time, Marvin’shealth continues to improve. The couple has found a primaryhealthcare practitioner in The Dalleswho will follow any medicalconditions that may arise. “Wethought it good to have someonelocal just in case,” says Vaughn.

In the event that either of themneeds to be hospitalized at MCMC inthe future, the Kriegers know they will be in good hands.

Dalles prior to becoming ahospitalist, says the program alsoprovides patients with qualitycare from experienced physicians.

“I enjoy the challenge of acomplex case that has not yetbeen solved,” he says. “In privatepractice, I may have seen onlytwo or three patients in thehospital with the same condition in one month. Now, I may see 12 to 15 patients withsimilar conditions.”

The more cases a physiciansees, says Dr. Nichol, the better heor she becomes at managing those cases.

ClockBy Lori Russell

Surgical Quality(Continued from page 8)

"They have generouslyshared their successes andpitfalls with others, bringingopportunities for all hospitals toimplement practices that lead tothe best results for the patient.”

MCMC's commitment tomeeting these and otherstandards has helped create anenvironment that minimizes the

chances patients will experiencean unwanted side effect duringtheir stay. For example, as aresult of the hospital’s strictadherence to the established best practices in infection control, infection rates at MCMCare at the lowest end of thenational average.

“We’ve always made aconcerted effort to ensure ourpatients' safety and provide ahigh standard of care," saidMCMC vice president DianneStorby. “But taking part in theseprograms gives us, and ourpatients, the opportunity tobenefit from access to bestpractices and measure ourperformance compared withother hospitals. No matter howwell we're doing to controlinfections and assure quality,we're always looking for betterways of doing things.”

“We’ve alwaysmade a concertedeffort to ensureour patients’safety andprovide a highstandard of care.”

— Dianne StorbyMCMC Vice President

“With the hospitalist model, aphysician is immediately availableonsite at all times and can managethe patient’s condition.”

— Tom Nichol, M.D.


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at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Theimpression stuck.

“We mountain climbed, rockclimbed, and planned to come out this way for our residency,”Dr. Edwards says. Only Edwardsmade it; the friend headed in adifferent direction.

Now Edwards is trying to recruithis friend to The Dalles, and it wouldbe tough to bet against his potentialfor success. Michelle already helpedrecruit to town another physicianassistant, Laura McWilliam, who willbe working with family physician

A fter completing his residency atSt. Vincent’s Medical Center in

Portland, getting married and takinga honeymoon break, internist JamesEdwards, M.D., has begun welcomingnew patients to his first clinicalpractice in The Dalles.

“We’re really happy here, andplan on being here a long time,” saysDr. Edwards.

Earlier this year, his wife Michellestarted work as a physician assistantwith Thomas Hodge, M.D., in TheDalles. Shortly afterward, they boughta house near the middle of town.

The couple was introduced to the Northwest by a friend and fellow kayaker from medical school

Robert Alaimo, D.O. (See page 18).The couple also enticed Allison

Bahr, M.D., to relocate and join theMid-Columbia Medical Centerhospitalist team.

Two major factors led Dr. Edwards to start his medicalpractice in The Dalles. First, thechance to develop close, long-termrelationships with his patients.

“I’m a small-town kind of guy,” Dr. Edwards says. “I like toknow people in the community.”

Second, there’s the community itself.

“We went back and forth

between Hood River and The Dalles,but The Dalles was a better fit,” hesays. “There are a lot more localsand a lot fewer tourists. I reallyadmire people who set up shop andcommit to the community.”

Dr. Edwards likes downtown The Dalles, the shopping and diningoptions. He likes the variety ofactivities, from the Fort Dalles DaysPro Rodeo to Neon Nights.

Early on, Edwards thought hemight like to work in emergencymedicine. He changed his focus tointernal medicine when he realizedthat the E.R. wouldn’t let him get toknow his patients as well.

He also liked the way Mid-Columbia Medical Center has embraced the practice of hiringdoctors to care exclusively forhospital patients. Those doctors,called hospitalists, help providers ofoutpatient care like Edwards tofocus on their patients. (See relatedarticle on Page 20.)

The arrivalof Dr. JamesEdwardsfills theneed formore localaccess to aninternal medicinespecialist.James Edwards, M.D.

New Internistin Town

By Stu Watson


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Through the agreement, Bendneurosurgeon Mark Belza, M.D.,F.A.C.S., will be seeing patients locallyduring regular office hours at MCSSand providing surgical treatment whennecessary at MCMC.

“This is a unique opportunity toprovide neurosurgical care in a regionthat typically would not be consideredlarge enough to support a full-timepractice,” said MCMC vice presidentDianne Storby.

Dr. Belza said his presence in TheDalles will help answer an urgent needfor a neurosurgical specialist who canserve patients throughout the eastern I-84 corridor.

“There is a real need for this kindof care in communities clear out toPendleton,” he said. “This will savepeople needing many types ofneurosurgical care from having to makea trip all the way into Portland. We arepleased to be providing this level ofservice to the region.”

As a neurosurgeon, Dr. Belza hasreceived extensive education andtraining in the treatment of conditionsthat primarily affect the brain, spinalcord and peripheral nerves.

Patients with back pain, lumbarand cervical disk conditions andcompression fractures caused byosteoporosis are among the manyindividuals who may benefit fromneurosurgical care, Dr. Belza said.

The results of neurosurgicaltreatment can make a dramatic impactin a patient’s quality of life, Dr. Belzaadded. For example, one new treatment

M id-Columbia patientsneeding surgery or

treatment for back problems andother conditions requiringneurosurgical expertise will be thebeneficiaries of a new agreementbetween Mid-Columbia SurgicalSpecialists (MCSS), Mid-ColumbiaMedical Center and The Center:Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Care& Research in Bend.

Mid-Columbia’s FirstNeurosurgeon toPractice in The Dalles

When he or other “officedoctors” admit a patient to thehospital, they hand the majority ofcare over to the hospitalists. Itkeeps doctors from having to jumpback and forth between hospitalpatients and office patients.

“It’s important to have theclinic running smoothly all thetime, and to do that, I can’t berunning across the street all thetime to the hospital and puttingthe clinic on hold,” he says.

“But because the hospital isacross the street, I can pop induring lunch hours and pay socialvisits to my patients.”

Now it’s time to bring on the patients. With Dr. Edwards’credentials, personality andinternal medicine specialty, thatshouldn’t be a problem for long.

To make an appointment withinternist James Edwards, M.D.,please call 541-296-8010. His officeis at 1825 E 19th Street, Suite 3.

Mark Belza, M.D., F.A.C.S.

to repair broken vertebrae caused by osteoporosis provides almostinstantaneous relief for patients whopreviously had to suffer in pain for months.

Dr. Belza is a graduate of theUniversity of Nevada, Reno, MedicalSchool, and received extensive trainingin general surgery, neurology andneurosurgery in several settingsincluding Stanford University MedicalCenter. He is a diplomate of theAmerican Board of Neurosurgery and iscertified by the National Board ofMedical Examiners.

“Having Dr. Belza available is a real benefit to local patients,” saysStorby. “The people who benefit mostfrom neurosurgical care often aredealing with great discomfort or pain,and to have to drive to Portland for careis a real hardship for them and theirfamilies. Now they get their treatmentand spend their recovery time closer to home.”

For more information please call The Center in Bend, 541/382-3344 or visittheir Web site, www.thecenteroregon.com.


NON-PROFITU.S. Postage

P A I DMID-COLUMBIA

MEDICAL CENTERPermit #161

CURRENT RESIDENT

1700 E. 19th St., The Dalles, OR 97058

FTESTIVAL

REESOF

Presented by Columbia River Bank

Proceeds to Benefitthe Next CenturyCampaign & CeliloCancer Center541/296-7275www.mcmc.net

7 P.M. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5THE DALLES CIVIC AUDITORIUM


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