Commissioners hear clinic report, okay census plan

The continuing battle to improve revenues for the county-owned Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic is making fitful steps.

Clinic Business Manager Crystal Stanley had good and bad news for county Commissioners Dan Cothren, Blair Brady and Lisa Marsyla on Tuesday.

The good news is that Dr. Janice McClean, lead clinician, has renegotiated some contracts with health insurance companies at higher rates for the clinic. The amount of increase remains to be seen when more contracts are up for renewal this fall, she said.

"Dr. McClean has come through with some pretty good increases," Stanley said. "Some are not as good as we'd like, but they're better than nothing."

Also, Stanley said, flu season has arrived, and the clinic is seeing many patients.

The bad news was that McClean and other providers have been ill, thereby reducing the number of patients that can be seen.

A visiting clinician, Dr. Mark Stefanelli of Seaside, Ore., will fill in this month while Dr. McClean goes on vacation (see related story in this issue).

Overall, cash flow looks good, Stanley said. The staff is focusing on collecting old bills that haven't been paid, she added.

In other business, commissioners authorized local 2010 census managers to increase the number of Census Designated Places (CDP) in the county.

Census coordinators T.J. Keiran and Jennifer Keene explained that the CDP units are used in collecting demographic information about their residents. The smaller the unit, the more specific the information, they said.

In the 2000 census, the county had only a few CDP's, so reporting information was rather general.

After going over maps of proposed CDP's, county commissoners authorized the planners to refine and enlarge the list. Units will include Puget Island, Cathlamet, Lower Elochoman, Upper Elochoman, Skamokawa, Skamokawa Valleys, Grays River, Rosburg, Deep River and Altoona.

All parents of students that will start kindergarten in the Fall of 2009 are invited to an informational meeting on March 17 at 6:30 p.m. at St. James Family Center. There will be child care provided at no cost to make it easier for parents to attend. Packets for kindergarten registration will be shared.

This meeting is for all families of kindergarten eligible students, even if they are not enrolled at the Family Center. This will be an opportunity for parents and students to meet the teacher and ask any questions they may have. At this time there will also be a discussion of expectations for students entering kindergarten and goals that the district has for students during their kindergarten career. Parents are asked to bring immunization records and birth certificates if they need copies made. Facilitators are able to make copies that evening so they can be attached to the kindergarten registration packet.

Those planning to attend are asked to call Janine Davis at 795-3261 or Mary Ann, Vicki or Charl at 795-8612.