Columbia Memorial Hospital | Annual Report 2020

Expanding your care Recruitment efforts resulted in the successful start of 23 new physicians and advanced practice providers at CMH in 2020, with 12 additional providers scheduled to start in 2021. Staying strong and independent By Constance Waisanen, CMH Board President It is easy to overlook how fortunate we are to have a robust medical community here at the mouth of the Columbia River. Last year, rural hospitals reached a new record high with 20 closures across the country, leaving many communities with limited or no access to medical care. In many cases, the COVID-19 pandemic hastened the end for these struggling hospitals. We are fortunate to have a thriving community hospital. With CEO Erik Thorsen at the helm, CMH has weathered the pandemic. Erik and our strong leadership team have put our local hospital on the course toward an even brighter future. CMH’s Board of Trustees is composed of local business leaders and community members who were selected for their specific expertise. We are committed to planning for the health care needs of our whole community, especially those neighbors who are underserved. Because CMH is an independent, not-for-profit hospital, we are accountable only to the people of the Lower Columbia Region. As a Planetree Gold-Certified Hospital, we surround you with a caring environment and top-level medical expertise. Our greatest goal is to ensure that the future health care needs of all of our children and grandchildren will continue to be served locally. COVID-19 VACCINATIONS Chris Laman, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy and Cancer Center Before the first COVID-19 vaccines were approved for use, CMH formed a task force to tackle the challenge of getting health care workers and first responders in our area vaccinated as quickly as possible. Our team went from giving 80 doses a day to more than 1,000 . 30+ CMH caregivers held more than 20 vaccination events for health care workers and first responders. CMH partnered with the Clatsop County Health Department, Providence Seaside Hospital and Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic to offer mass vaccination events in Seaside and Astoria. Trending on social media May 7, 2021 46% of Clatsop County had at least one shot by May 11. These large public vaccinations would not have been possible in Clatsop County without the support of CMH. COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 3