Columbia Memorial | Health Compass | Winter 2018

2 q Bridging the divide AFTER more than seven years of preparation by Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH), the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, and the community of Astoria, Oregon, the CMH–OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative opened its doors to patients and the community in October 2017. More than 1,000 community members toured the new 19,600-square-foot facility during opening events. The Cancer Collaborative expands existing medical oncology and chemotherapy treatment services and brings much- needed radiation oncology and radiation therapy to the North Oregon Coast. “This has been the biggest community-supported project I’ve seen in my career here at CMH. The fundraising efforts and community partnerships have been remarkable,” says Erik Thorsen, chief executive officer (CEO) of CMH. The project became a reality with the support of many people, including Astoria’s former mayor Willis Van Dusen; Sonny Park, MD; William “Bill” Armington, MD; Robert Raish, MD, formerly of OHSU; and so many more. Cancer care at CMH has grown from a single room in the hospital to a full-service center. “We found a great partner in OHSU. This program would not be here if we didn’t have their support,” Thorsen says. “Our collaboration with the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is a significant enhancement to the healthcare services available to our community. We are working to bridge the divide of accessible healthcare services locally. Our growing partnership with OHSU aims to continue bringing medical advancements to the North Coast.” Man on a mission Erik Thorsen has led Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) as CEO since 2010. Through his leadership, CMH has grown services three-fold, adding both breadth and depth to the medical services available in the Columbia-Pacific region. Building the new CMH–OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative involved first securing the land through a complicated land swap, then collaborating with Oregon Health & Science University to design and build the Cancer Collaborative. This comprehensive cancer center means patients no longer need to travel for radiation therapy or leave their family to obtain treatment alone. The impact of this on their recovery cannot be measured. Thorsen was one of 26 people nationwide named a “2017 Community Star” by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. This honor recognizes heroes on the front lines of rural health who are making a positive impact on rural lives. A cornerstone of our community By Chris Laman, PharmD, Director of CMH–OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative Building the CMH–OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative could not have been done without the support of our community who said“yes”to bringing this level of cancer care to Astoria. Leaders in the Columbia-Pacific region have high expectations for the hospital and this center. Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) and OHSU share these high expectations, and we are committed to making the Cancer Collaborative the destination for people facing a cancer diagnosis. We achieve this by offering services like social work, dietitian consults, classes and support systems from our community that you just do not find at larger facilities. Since CEO Erik Thorsen joined CMH in 2003, we have made tremendous improvements in the level of care we offer here, and over the next 10 years we will continue to grow and improve. Cancer is not where this stops. The opening of the Cancer Collaborative was just another step in building something great. The future is bright, but it is up to us, as a community, to continue to strengthen our partnerships to ensure we have a place that will attract top medical talent so our community members can get the care they deserve. Thank you for your support, and I promise the best is yet to come fromCMH! Call us at 503-325-4321 Collaborative cancer care CMHHEALTHCOMPASS is published as a community service by COLUMBIAMEMORIAL HOSPITAL, a Planetree-designated Person-CenteredCareFacility. 2111ExchangeSt.,Astoria,OR97103,telephone503-325-4321 ,website:columbiamemorial.org For information about CMH HEALTH COMPASS: Felicia Struve , Marketing & Communication Coordinator Penny Cowden, Executive Director, Foundation Information in CMH HEALTH COMPASS comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questionsaboutspecificcontentthatmayaffectyourhealth, pleasecontactyourhealthcareprovider.Modelsmaybeused in photos and illustrations. 2018 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Erik Thorsen Chief Executive Officer Katrina McPherson, MD Vice President, Operations, CMH Medical Group Jarrod Karnofski Vice President, Ancillary and Support Services Trece Gurrad Vice President, Patient Care Services Galina Gandy Vice President, Health Information Services ConstanceWaisenen President, Board of Trustees Erik Thorsen CEO