Food equity programs made a debut in area farmers markets in May, and already, two have yielded nearly $41,000 for small farmers as well as fresh, locally-grown food to over 5,000 people at no cost. This summer, Trillium Community Health Plan partnered with the nonprofit Willamette Farm and Food Coalition[Read More…]
Health & Wellness
Medicaid performance report shows ‘general improvement’
SALEM – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released the state’s 2023 annual report on the performance of coordinated care organizations (CCOs), local health networks that administer coverage to Oregon Health Plan (OHP / Medicaid) members. The report found that CCOs generally improved their performance in most categories statewide from 2022 to[Read More…]
Robotics rule at RiverBend: New surgical robot added to toolbox
SPRINGFIELD — PeaceHealth RiverBend this month added the latest in robotic technology to its surgical services, and as the name suggests, he is a smartie. The da Vinci surgical robot has been assisting surgeons with laparoscopic or “keyhole” operations since 1999. While keyhole surgeries — a minimally invasive approach through[Read More…]
Camas Swale falls to wayside: Clinic closes, leaves void for family doctor in Creswell
CRESWELL — It was a good seven years, Dr. Damon Armitage said. Camas Swale, a community-based family medicine clinic at 117 Melton Road, closed its doors on July 18, leaving Creswell without a family care practitioner for the first time since October 2017. Above, practitioners and community members celebrate the[Read More…]
AED is A-OK for science center
From left: Oregon CPR owner and instructor Katrina Purdy, Eugene Science Center (ESC) community engagement director Peter Kukla, and University of Oregon Police director of community engagement John D. Johnson showcase where the donated AED will be placed at ESC. The organization’s leaders were motivated to receive an automated external[Read More…]
Take care: Navigating mental health resources
Editor’s Note: In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, this is Part 5 of a month-long series centering around the many facets of mental health from community, to crime, to survivor stories. Read Part 4, “Suicide attempt survivor shares perspective, advice,” here. Jeremie Wharton said his passion to work in[Read More…]
Writer’s reflections: Mental health series
Hard lessons: Don’t suffer in silence Close your eyes and picture someone struggling with depression. Are they wearing dark, neutral shades devoid of color? Are their eyes dull and lowered? Are their lips sagging at the sides? Are there green, cartoon stink lines wiggling outward from the person’s greasy hair[Read More…]
Take care: Suicide attempt survivor shares perspective, advice
Editor’s Note: In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, this is Part 4 of a month-long series centering around the many facets of mental health from community, to crime, to survivor stories. Read Part 3, “Increased youth suicide rates stress need for open dialogue,” here. SPRINGFIELD — On July 26,[Read More…]
Take Care: Increased youth suicide rates stress need for open dialogue
Editor’s Note: In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, this is Part 3 of a month-long series centering around the many facets of mental health from community, to crime, to survivor stories. Read Part 2, “Take Care: Addressing the intersectionality between crime, mental illness,” here. Suicide is one of the[Read More…]
Take Care: Addressing the intersectionality between crime, mental illness
Editor’s Note: In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, this is Part 2 of a month-long series centering around the many facets of mental health from community, to crime, to survivor stories. Read Part 1, “Take Care: Destigmatizing mental health issues through education, community events,” here. When examining the intersectionality[Read More…]
