DEVOTED TO HEALTHFUL LIVING LATE SPRING 2025 COMPASS Expanding our team Creative ways to develop a skilled workforce Aloma Joseph, medical assistant intern, practices phlebotomy as part of the Medical Assistant Internship Program at CMH.
Growing our team to meet your needs By Nicole Williams, Chief Operating Officer/Assistant CEO Since the COVID-19 pandemic, like many other health care organizations, Columbia Memorial Hospital has faced challenges in finding the right individuals to join our skilled team. Staffing shortages remain a top concern for health care leadership, even as the field continues to grow. At CMH, we have seen over a decade of growth in service volume. With the increased number of patients, it is crucial to have the appropriate number of caregivers to safely meet the needs of our community. In recent years, we have developed several innovative programs to address staffing concerns, implementing effective strategies to ensure that we meet the needs of our patients. These programs include: ● Donating to support the cost of a nursing instructor’s salary at Clatsop Community College each year, which allows more nursing students to enroll annually. ● Offering annual scholarships for registered nurse (RN), certified nursing assistant (CNA) and medical assistant (MA) students at Clatsop Community College. ● Providing a Nurse Residency Program for newly graduated nurses in their first year of work. This program offers additional on-the-job training before they begin working independently. ● Training caregivers on-site to become pharmacy technicians, who then take their certifying exams after completing their training. ● Running the in-house Medical Assistant Internship Program, which offers paid, onthe-job training for medical assistants, who then take their certifying exams. Learn more about our creative growth tactics as you read through the following pages of this edition of the Health Compass. Our commitment to safety for all For the past two years, CMH has been on a journey to become a High Reliability Organization (HRO) that prioritizes safety for our patients and caregivers. Safety is one of our core values. In 2024, everyone at CMH underwent training on the universal skills of HROs. HRO training is also part of every new caregiver’s orientation. CMH has nearly 20 “safety coaches” throughout the organization. Safety coaches are front-line safety “super users” who can answer questions, identify opportunities to use HRO skills and lead by example. We will continue to honor our heritage by working to ensure the safest care for our patients and safest environment for our caregivers and visitors. Each year, we recognize a caregiver who, using our HRO tools, helped us ensure patient safety. Our 2024 Greatest Catch award winner is Mariah Rudolfi. Mariah is a charge nurse in our Med/Surg unit. She spoke up for safety to make sure the nurses were trained well on a new process before it was implemented. Safety coaches, from left to right, front row to back row: Austin Miller, Marketing; Tammee Saulsbury, Human Resources; Donna Bzdil, Rehabilitation; Michael Wahl, Facilities; Sarah Absher, Imaging Services; Grant Lehman, Business Intelligence; Sarah McClelland, Information Technology; Jennifer Via, Laboratory; Connie Dubb, Imaging Services; Elle Wolf, Endocrinology; Dena Neill, Patient Experience; Jami Hernandez, Physical Therapy; Lonn Martin, Environmental Services. Not pictured: Evandro Almeida Filho, Hospice, and Kitra Biebighauser, General Surgery. 2 HEALTH COMPASS Late Spring 2025
Over the past several months, construction has been focused on utility work and parking improvements for the BuildCMH Expansion Project. First things first We first needed to complete various utility updates, such as burying power lines and relocating water and sewer mains. We also constructed a new parking lot west of the Cancer Collaborative and demolished several buildings, making way for a temporary helipad. Utilities Throughout March and April, traffic detoured around an Exchange Street closure so that the necessary utility work could be completed. Exchange Street has reopened, and we thank the community for their patience during this disruptive phase of construction. Helipad In April, we worked to finish a temporary helipad and make it operational. It will be used until the new facility opens. At that time, the permanent helipad will be located on the hospital roof. Building begins As we near the end of summer, we anticipate building construction to begin in August. Although you won’t see framing for several months, you’ll notice some changes to our campus immediately. We’ll soon be routing patients to the back side of the hospital to enter. When that happens, we’ll be sure to communicate and show you the way. BUILDCMH UPDATE What’s happening on campus at CMH? Thank you Thanks to all who have supported us as we have planned and started this immense project. We are confident it will be a wonderful addition to our region when it opens in late 2027. COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG Late Spring 2025 3
The health care field is growing. Over the past 10-plus years at CMH, we’ve added many services to care for our patients’ needs locally. The response and growth in patient volumes has been astounding, which has required our team to nimbly and creatively fill open positions. Our leadership team has worked creatively and strategically to hire the people who are most needed. Read about some of our innovative hiring programs that help provide care for you, right here on the North Coast. Growing our team Our strategies to have the right caregivers to meet community needs On-the-job experience with the Medical Assistant Internship Program For the past several years, CMH has offered scholarships to students in the certified nursing assistant and medical assistant programs at Clatsop Community College. “What we saw as a barrier to those potentially attending the college program is they may have to quit their job — and they can’t go without an income for nine months,” says Jeanette Schacher, director of the CMH-OHSU Health Medical Group. “So we collaborated with an educational company to develop a structured curriculum that allows us to train MAs through a comprehensive internship program.” CMH welcomed its first two medical assistant interns in December 2024, with a new cohort starting this June. The program is a paid six-month internship with the curriculum and hands-on clinical hours to obtain a medical assistant certification. Interns learn medical terminology and anatomy, how to room patients and obtain vital signs, how to document within a medical record, phlebotomy, vaccine administration, and more. While training, interns are full-time employees of CMH and eligible for benefits. When they complete the program, CMH will pay for their national certification exam, and they agree to work full- or parttime for CMH for one year. “The two that we started [initially] have been phenomenal; they’re doing great,” Schacher says. Nicole Murphy, quality and training coordinator, helps train our first two medical assistant interns on administering vaccines. Pharmacy techs trained on-site Manager and pharmacist Jeff Chow, PharmD, says the department was struggling to hire pharmacy technicians in 2021 when the hospital’s two outpatient pharmacies in Astoria and Seaside were beginning to serve more patients. Because of the certification that’s required for pharmacy techs, Chow was not getting qualified applicants. He went to the hospital’s leadership team to propose an on-the-job training program, and they were fully supportive. “We’ve been lucky in that we have had seven caregivers who have made it through our program,” he explains. “Two former CMH pharmacy technicians are furthering their education in pursuit of becoming pharmacists. So the program has been very successful.” Individuals hired as pharmacy techs receive a syllabus and training materials and are assigned a trainer. While much 4 HEALTH COMPASS Late Spring 2025
Join the team Interested in a role at CMH? Visit columbiamemorial.org/ apply to learn how to join our team. Other community efforts In addition to the on-the-job training programs, CMH offers several full scholarships for medical assistant and certified nursing assistant students who attend Clatsop Community College programs. CMH plays a big part in the college’s Nursing Program, as well, covering the annual salary for an instructor and welcoming students for clinical rotations. In addition, in 2024, the hospital began offering scholarships to students in each of four local high schools who are interested in health care careers. CMH now employs more than 925 caregivers, and the growth continues. of the training occurs on the job, some additional studying must be completed independently. “At least 50% of the caregivers who [have gone] through this program were already working at CMH, so this provides a stepping stone for caregivers and the opportunity to advance their career and improve their life situations,” Chow says. “Especially with everything costing more, we need to offer advancement every chance we can.” Nurse Residency Program supports new nurses Leah Allen, RN, remembers feeling overwhelmed with everything she had yet to learn when she started her nursing journey. “Learning the ins and outs of the unit, trying to find my own nursing flow, and getting in the habit of working 12-hour shifts was a lot for me,” Allen says. “Working in a profession and specialty that I was passionate about, with patients who were so kind and patient with me during the beginning stages of my learning process, made it so worth it.” During this time, Allen found support from her co-workers and fellow nurses in the Nurse Residency Program at CMH. The program, now in its third year, offers newly graduated nurses a comprehensive, one-year journey designed to ease their transition from student to professional. The residency begins with intensive sessions, where participants meet twice a month for the first three months and once a month for the remaining nine. This structure creates a collaborative atmosphere where nurses can discuss shared experiences and challenges. “I owe a lot to my co-workers who trained me and took me under their wings to mentor and support me,” Allen says. “The Nurse Residency Program was also a great resource for support, education and comradery amongst my fellow recent graduates who were going through the same ups and downs I was. The program helped me further gain the tools necessary for being a safe and supportive nurse.” Newly graduated nurses are encouraged to apply for any nursing position at CMH. If selected, they are automatically enrolled in the residency program, ensuring a smooth transition into their new roles. Emily Collins (second from left), clinical education coordinator, leads trainings for new nurses in the Nurse Residency Program. Jeff Chow, PharmD, is the manager of the Outpatient Pharmacy at CMH. COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG Late Spring 2025 5
CMH wins national award Selected for 2024 Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award In late February, the American Hospital Association (AHA) announced Columbia Memorial Hospital as the winner of the 2024 Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award. The AHA is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. Nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members come together to form the AHA. Leaders in innovation The award recognizes rural hospital leaders who guide their hospital and community through change and innovation. The honorees display outstanding leadership, responsiveness to their community’s health needs and a collaborative process that has led to measurable outcomes. “Your enduring commitment to rural health care innovation and transformation is laudable,” says the award letter from Susan Doherty, vice president of field engagement at AHA, “and your work at improving quality, patient safety and access for your community is inspirational.” CMH’s application was reviewed multiple times by a panel of rural hospital colleagues. The panel was impressed with the collaboration with Oregon Health & Science University to build the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative. Panelists were also pleased to see the involvement of the Patient and Family Advisory Council in projects at CMH. The panel looks forward to updates as the BuildCMH Expansion Project and Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Refuge Structure (TVERS) are completed and appreciated that the community will be able to use the TVERS as a safe refuge in case of a natural disaster. They also applauded the innovative land swap with Astoria High School to open CMH Field, the all-weather turf sports complex, in 2013. Inspiring trust “We are honored to receive this award and recognition from the American Hospital Association,” says CEO Erik Thorsen. ”At CMH, our leaders share a fundamental understanding. The pursuit of excellence is a continuous journey, and each of us plays a crucial role in ensuring that the talented individuals who work at the hospital and clinics, and the patients we serve, choose CMH. They choose us not because of our location or other conveniences, but because they trust in our unwavering commitment to our mission and values.” Learn about our leadership Members of our leadership team, including the community-led Board of Trustees, are responsible for achieving the organization’s strategic goals. Visit columbiamemorial.org/leadership to learn more. CMH leadership received the award from the American Hospital Association Rural Health Services team at the 2025 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, Feb. 23–26, in San Antonio, Texas. 6 HEALTH COMPASS Late Spring 2025
As a retired health care administrator of 30 years, Tita Montero knows good health care. Montero lives in Seaside and is a city councilor there. She has received her medical care at CMH for more than a decade. As a Seaside resident, Montero is especially grateful that CMH opened a clinic there in 2020. Now, instead of making the drive to Astoria, she can see her provider, go to the pharmacy and get lab work done within five minutes of her house. “It’s very important that this be close to home,” she says. Strong supporter For the past several years, Montero has been a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). Members of PFAC share the patient perspective on various projects at CMH. Montero has been involved in testing new patient beds and other materials, as well as discussing the BuildCMH Expansion Project. She recently donated $5,000 to purchase a stone bench for the new labyrinth that will be next to the expanded hospital. “I believe in contributing to the institutions and the nonprofits that I believe do good work and benefit the community,” she shares, “and this is something that I truly believe in for CMH.” Reflecting on the expansion, Montero says she was excited to see the thought that has gone into the building’s design. What stands out to her is the Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Refuge Structure that will serve as a safe refuge for caregivers, patients and community members in case of a natural disaster like a tsunami. Planning to provide refuge goes above and beyond the hospital’s call, she explains, and it’s an additional service for the community. A worthy cause “I am especially critical of health care systems. I know how they should work, I know how patients should be handled, I know about customer service,” Montero says. “Being so critical, it’s important to be able to discuss anything with the administrators at CMH. I find them to be open, I find them to be forwardthinking and I find them to be visible. “As someone who is retired and who must take required minimum distributions of my retirement funds, I find it very rewarding that I am able to give some of that money to a very worthy and deserving institution that is going to be here for a long time.” Seaside resident donates to CMH’s longevity Leave a legacy with the expansion project Find out more about the BuildCMH Expansion Project at columbiamemorial.org/ buildcmh. COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG Late Spring 2025 7
COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2111 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Salem, OR Permit No. 86 Find us on social media! @cmhcommunity @cmhcommunity linkedin.com/company/ columbia-memorial-hospital @cmhcommunity Cover photo by Austin Miller, CMH graphic designer and videographer. CMH HEALTH COMPASS is published as a community service by COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, a Planetree Gold-Certified Person-Centered Care Facility. 2111 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103, telephone 503-325-4321, website: columbiamemorial.org For information about CMH HEALTH COMPASS: Sarah Bello, MBA, Director of Communications Robert Holland, MD, PhD President, Board of Trustees Erik Thorsen, MBA, CPA, FACHE Chief Executive Officer Nicole Williams, MPA, FACHE Chief Operating Officer/ Assistant CEO Jimmy Heilman, MD, MBA Chief Medical Officer Information in CMH HEALTH COMPASS comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2025 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Jennifer Peach-Guzman, RN, BSN, MBA Vice President, Patient Care Services Jarrod Karnofski, DPT, ATC, MSHCA Vice President, Ancillary and Support Services Christopher Laman, PharmD, MBA Vice President, Strategy Brandon Parker, MBA, CPA Vice President, Finance Nicole Perez, BSHA, MSITM Vice President, Health Information Services Meet a CMH provider Renee Roth, MS, RN, ACNP-BC Renee Roth, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, is a medical oncology nurse practitioner in the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative. She joined the Cancer Center in May 2025. Q: What do you do to connect with your patients? A: “A cancer diagnosis can be bewildering and extremely frightening. To connect with my patients, I assess each individual for their unique coping mechanisms, knowledge base and fears by carefully listening and considering what I can do for that individual to increase knowledge, reduce stress levels and establish trust. My goal for our patients is for them to understand that I am their advocate on their cancer journey the first time they meet me.” Q: Why did you choose your medical specialty? A: “I chose nursing to make a difference on this earth and have the honor and privilege to touch lives. I then chose advanced practice hematology/oncology because I realized what my gift was as a bedside stem cell transplant nurse. I knew with advanced practice oncology nursing that I could use more of that gift to touch lives.” Q: What is the best part about your job? A: “The best part of my job is that it is my absolute passion. I have a career that enables me to use my education, empathy and skills for the management of disease [and] treatment-related toxicities. My gift has allowed me to have extremely difficult conversations that are sometimes avoided by patients, families and providers. I could not see myself doing any other work. Each step I have taken in my nursing career has led me to be the nurse practitioner I am today.” Cancer care you can trust Find out about the expert services offered at the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative. Visit columbia memorial.org/ cancer-care.
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