EUGENE — There is something to be said about the power of community. The often strenuous nature of a physical or emotional obstacle is best served with someone to share it with, and in the Aphasia Conversation Group’s case, over autumnal Scattergories and peals of laughter. As indicated by its[Read More…]
Health & Wellness
Pass the gravy … then discuss Medicare
SPRINGFIELD—This Thanksgiving, Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Val Hoyle are urging Oregonians to have conversations with older loved ones about Medicare enrollment (along with their turkey and sides) at the dining room table. On Nov. 22, at Willamalane Adult Activity Center, Sen. Wyden and Rep. Hoyle hosted a press conference[Read More…]
Did you hear that? Schools salute locally-grown food with simultaneous crunch
SPRINGFIELD- Not far from the bustling hub of urban neighborhoods in Eugene and Springfield is a thriving agricultural area. The outskirts of Lane County are scattered with family farms working to feed their community. But besides farm stores and farmers markets, these farms do not always have the opportunity to[Read More…]
Dismantling a diet deficit: Fresh summer grub program generates $41,000 for farmers
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…]
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…]
