COMPASS People are at the heart of all we do LATE SPRING 2026 Cheers to our caregivers! Here are some of our team members who have worked at CMH for 15 years or longer. DEVOTED TO HEALTHFUL LIVING
2 HEALTH COMPASS Late Spring 2026 What’s new at CMH Clatsop County health partners release 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment findings In 2025, Clatsop County Public Health, Columbia Memorial Hospital and Providence Seaside Hospital partnered to complete a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for the region. CHNAs are used as a tool to identify key community health concerns. The final report was published in January 2026. To complete the report, the organizations conducted interviews, focus groups and surveys to analyze local health data. All research was conducted in English and Spanish. The report identified social drivers of health, access to care and providers, services for Spanish speakers, and mental and behavioral health service as key areas needing further development. This year, the three organizations are developing a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) as they work to improve the identified health needs. Moments that define great care Erik Thorsen, CEO When I joined CMH’s leadership team in 2003, I knew it was a special place. Over the years, I’ve worked with many exceptional caregivers, and I’m proud to serve as just one member of an outstanding team. The hospital and clinics frequently hear stories and receive cards from grateful patients and family members. I’d like to share a recent patient story about our Emergency Department and Inpatient teams: A patient was seen in the Emergency Department for respiratory distress and was later admitted to the Critical Care Unit. Her husband reported that from the second she arrived, she was treated with phenomenal care, and they couldn’t have asked for better care. He specifically mentioned the Emergency Department, Critical Care Unit and Nutrition Services Staff. He wanted to call out the Emergency Department doctor, Sergio Camba, MD, in particular, who stayed with her until 1 a.m., despite his shift ending at 9 p.m., saying, “He saved her life.” Stories like this are humbling reminders of the trust our community has in our care, and they are encouraging tributes that motivate us to continue with our mission. Thank you for your continued support of CMH and our team. We’re honored to play an important role for so many of you in our community. Electronic versions of the report in English and Spanish can be accessed at columbiamemorial.org/chna.
COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG Late Spring 2026 3 BUILDCMH UPDATE History taking shape Want to explore? Visit columbiamemorial.org/buildcmh for monthly construction photos, renderings of the finished facility, project news, links to live construction cameras, a form to submit questions or comments, and more. In February, construction crews began pouring the expanded hospital’s foundation. This was a huge milestone, as the footprint of the building took shape. The foundation took a little over a month to complete, with the building’s steel framework following close behind. A crane to help move the steel beams was mobilized around the end of March, and we expect the final beam to be set in place in June. If you are visiting inside the hospital, we encourage you to look outside our West Lobby windows, or you can peek through the fence line outside. It is impressive to see all the work being done! We have entered a really exciting stage of the expansion and are truly seeing history being made here in Astoria. We’re looking forward to sharing more progress on the project, and we thank the community for their continued support and flexibility.
4 HEALTH COMPASS Late Spring 2026 People are at the heart of all we do Person-Centered Care Steering Committee The Person-Centered Care Steering Committee engages and empowers caregivers to work together to create a more person-centered environment at CMH. Caregivers on the committee represent day and night shifts, on-site and off-site locations, and clinical and non-clinical work areas. Leaders, providers and a Board member serve, as well. The group monitors progress toward our ongoing Planetree gold-level certification and strategic plan initiatives. They also work to improve the patient and caregiver experience by gathering patient and caregiver input on person-centered practices and setting goals to support person-centered care at CMH. Board of Trustees As a not-for-profit organization, CMH does not have shareholders. Rather, it has people and groups who benefit from the hospital’s quality services. Those groups include patients and their families; people who live and work in the communities we serve; and our caregivers, health care providers and other businesses. The CMH Board of Trustees’ primary responsibility is to protect the interests of those groups. The Board consists of 15 dedicated volunteer community members. They set the vision and mission of the organization and work toward the shared goal of keeping our hospital viable — ensuring the delivery of safe, quality health care services. Celebrating our caregivers At CMH, our friendly and welcoming team of caregivers and providers is deeply committed to improving the health of the surrounding community. People are at the heart of all we do, and we want our patients to feel right at home as they are cared for at our hospital and clinics. Our team includes caregivers working behind the scenes in administration, a facilities team to keep our equipment and buildings in good shape, lab and imaging technologists who run tests to make or confirm diagnoses, compassionate nurses, medical assistants, nurse anesthetists, doctors and advanced practice practitioners providing high-quality care, a Board guiding our way, and more. We refer to all team members as caregivers, because whether or not they are providing medical attention, everyone here cares for our community. In addition to our caregivers and providers, our team is enhanced by dedicated volunteers and committees of patients who give feedback on their experience. Keep reading to get to know some special groups and people you may not have heard about before. Board President CAPT. Doug Kaup
COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG Late Spring 2026 5 Meet our interpreter: Andrés Ávila Andrés Ávila is our full-time, in-person Spanish health care interpreter at CMH. Ávila has more than 28 years of experience in medical interpretation and translation, bringing expertise and a strong commitment to serving our Spanish-speaking patients. A native Spanish speaker, Ávila holds national and state certifications in health care interpretation and has worked extensively with OHSU and other major health systems across Oregon. Conozca a nuestro intérprete: Andrés Ávila Andrés Ávila es nuestro intérprete de salud en español, a tiempo completo y en persona, en CMH. Ávila cuenta con más de 28 años de experiencia en interpretación médica y traducción, y lo que aporta con su experiencia es un firme compromiso con el servicio a nuestros pacientes hispanohablantes. Ávila es nativo hispanohablante y cuenta con certificaciones nacionales y estatales en interpretación de servicios de salud y ha trabajado extensamente en OHSU y otros importantes sistemas de salud en Oregon. Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) and PFAC Hispano Decisions about patient care and the patient experience should include a patient perspective. This is why the CMH Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is a very important group of people. The PFAC is a committee of community members who share their perspective with leaders, collaborate with hospital employees and work on improvement projects. This group has been speaking up for patients since 2012 in discussions about the hospital experience. In 2024, we formed a PFAC Hispano to get perspectives from the Hispanic/Latino members of our community. The PFAC Hispano speaks up for Spanish‑speaking patients to improve their care and experience. Volunteers With the founding of the CMH Auxiliary in January of 1951, our volunteers have a long history of giving to the hospital and its patients. They run the Gift Shop, answer phones, show patients and visitors around the hospital campus, bake cookies, bring pet therapy animals for visits, work in the donation closet, play piano and other instruments, spend time with hospice patients, and serve on patient committees. Previously known as “Pink Ladies” and identified by their pink coats, volunteers (both men and women) support the CMH mission to help people live their healthiest lives.
6 HEALTH COMPASS Late Spring 2026 Opening doors to future caregivers A Health Occupations class is bringing future caregivers to the field of health care. The class is open to juniors and seniors in Astoria, Warrenton and Knappa high schools. About 30 years ago, CMH started the class, originally taught by CMH Infection Preventionist Kendra Gohl. Kelly Cope took the class when she was in high school, unaware that she would ultimately become a nurse. “I loved learning that nurses were right at the center of coordinating everything, and I loved the relationship aspect,” Cope says. The class inspired her future career in health care. Cope has a master’s degree and 14 years of nursing experience. She is now a clinical education coordinator at CMH after managing the Med/Surg and CCU teams for several years. Her role includes teaching the Health Occupations class, organizing job shadowing opportunities and clinical experiences, and supporting safety programs. Cope’s background in nursing prepared her well for teaching. “From the start of your nursing career, you’re always educating patients,” she says. Years of patient care and leadership roles honed her communication and presentation skills, making her comfortable in front of groups. “I always wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, so guiding and coaching feels natural,” she explains. Cope likes to use creative tactics to keep students engaged, since the class doesn’t carry the same weight as professional training. Health care has so many career paths, and students might not know about these opportunities in the field, she says. Learning opportunities Over the course of the school year, students in the class learn through a variety of methods, including hands-on activities, guest speakers and job shadowing. “There are tons of guests that come in. On average, we probably have a guest almost once a week,” Cope says. Podiatrist Michael Murdock, DPM, “is fabulous,” she says. “He brings in a cadaver foot. He’s a great guest…and it’s a really cool experience.” Job shadowing is an important part of experiential learning, where students get to see a day in the life of a health care professional. “Students do at least five hours of shadowing each semester,” Cope says. “The caregiver’s responsibility is to provide them with hopefully a fun and interactive experience, answer their questions, and try to show them as much as they can but also be very realistic.” Success and future goals Last year, Cope taught a student who wanted to be everything. “Megan Barrett from Respiratory Therapy was one of our guests, and I immediately saw the student’s eyes just light up,” Cope says. “She came up to me after class and said, ‘I want to be a respiratory therapist.’” While most students are interested in traditional health care opportunities, Cope looks forward to introducing alternative careers, such as chiropractic, massage therapy and acupuncture. “We have a lot of caregivers [at CMH] who took this class,” she says. Cope has several goals for the class, such as preparing students for the health care field and building long-lasting relationships. “My primary goal for the students is to help them determine if they want to or don’t want to go into health care,” Cope says. “My other goal is to build relationships with them so hopefully if they go into health care and do want to come back to the community, they remember the hospital and the people…and that maybe they would want to come back and work here [at CMH].” Interested in a health care career? High school students can find out information about the Health Occupations class by contacting their school office.
COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG Late Spring 2026 7 COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION The Nygaard Family and CMH: A legacy of community care CMH has long stood as a cornerstone of health care for the communities of Oregon’s North Coast. Serving the region for generations, the hospital traces its roots to the late 19th century and continues to provide essential medical services as a criticalaccess hospital today. Over the decades, the hospital has been sustained not only by medical professionals but also by families deeply committed to the well-being of their community. Among those are the Nygaards, whose connection to the hospital and the region reflects a long tradition of service, generosity and civic involvement. A family with deep community roots The Nygaard family has a long history in Clatsop County, active in the local timber industry through five generations and over 100 years. Their business employs more than 80 current employees. The Nygaards have supported and been involved with CMH for several generations. In addition to serving as major donors for other CMH projects in the past, including the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative, most Nygaard family members have been born at the hospital. Doris Nygaard was the first female president of the Columbia Hospital Board, David Nygaard is currently on the CMH Board of Trustees, John M. Nygaard served on the CMH Foundation Board, and Tracie (Nygaard) Brockey works as a physical therapist at the CMH Health & Wellness Pavilion. A community spirit The Nygaards have contributed $250,000 to the BuildCMH Expansion Project. The importance of having quality health care, especially in rural areas, is a priority for them, especially since it is something everyone needs and uses. Their continued investment in CMH will greatly improve health care services and opportunities for the entire community. “CMH has been crucial to providing critically needed health care for our family, employees and community for many years,” they say. Families like the Nygaards help illustrate how community institutions endure. Through leadership, service and generosity, they have contributed to the growth and stability of CMH, helping ensure that quality health care remains available on the Oregon coast for generations to come. Building better health care Email Mark Kujala, executive director of the CMH Foundation, at mkujala@ columbiamemorial.org to learn how you can leave a legacy for generations to come by donating to the BuildCMH Expansion Project.
Looking for a new pharmacy? CMH’s Outpatient Pharmacies in Seaside and Astoria are open daily. They offer free weekday delivery from Knappa to Cannon Beach. You do not need to be a CMH patient to use the pharmacy. Give us a call today! Astoria: 503-338-4560 Seaside: 503-738-3006 Cover photo by Austin Miller, videographer and graphic designer. 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 CAPT. Doug Kaup 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 Brandon Parker, MBA, CPA Chief Financial 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. 2026 © 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 Nicole Perez, BSHA, MSITM Vice President, Health Information Services Doug Mays, MHA Vice President, Facilities, Security and Environmental Care COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2111 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Salem, OR Permit No. 86 Meet a CMH provider Michael Triller, MD, Medical Director of the CMH Emergency Department Board-certified emergency medicine physician Michael Triller, MD, joined the CMH Emergency Department in January 2022. He was named medical director of the department in 2025. QWhy did you choose your medical specialty? I enjoy the broad scope of practice — caring for individuals across their entire lifespan — and managing both medical and procedural cases. Emergency rooms are also one of the few places where people from all socioeconomic backgrounds receive the same treatment. That aspect of equity and service to the community is very meaningful to me. Q What do you enjoy most about emergency medicine, and what is the most challenging aspect? I enjoy caring for people while managing multiple complex situations at once. Emergency medicine requires constant multitasking, teamwork and quick decision-making, which I find both engaging and rewarding. The most challenging aspect is navigating the gaps that exist in our current health care system and ensuring patients receive the care and resources they need beyond the Emergency Department. Q Is there anything else you want your patients or the public to know about you? It is both a privilege and a challenge to serve on the front line of caring for our community. Emergency Department volume is increasing, and our patients’ needs are becoming more complex. We are always working to improve. Our goal is to become a national leader in delivering high-quality rural emergency care services. Keep trusting in us and CMH — together we can get there. Explore our emergency services Visit columbiamemorial.org/er to learn about the care you can count on at CMH.
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