County, health center startingtransition talks

Local officials and administrators of the Cowlitz Family Health Center will begin talks leading to a transition of ownership of the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic from the county to the health center.

Commissioner Lisa Marsyla reported on the scope of coming discussions to colleagues Dan Cothren and Blair Brady on Tuesday.

Marsyla said the group will have meetings soon and hope to resolve three issues by the end of September--1. clinic/emergency medical response relationships, 2. staffing, and 3. building, grounds and equipment.

That report sparked a sharp discussion among the commissioners.

Brady commented that the relationship between the clinic and emergency medical response shouldn't be an issue.

Marsyla had explained that some clinic staff respond to ambulance calls, with a paramedic/registered nurse riding in the ambulance on certain seirous cases. Health center operation apparently won't allow that, she said, so the parties wanted to talk about the issue.

"I don't see why," Brady said. "I don't see where it's our business to negotiate for EMS (Emergency Medical Services).

"In the Westend, we have no paramedic. We meet one coming from Astoria when we need one on the ambulance.

"I don't want this to be a deal breaker."

Marsyla said the discussion was part of wider discussion on services that will be provided.

"We have traditionally provided that service to the community," she said. "We need to make sure we have a solution."

"I don't see a reason for us to get involved," Brady said.

"I don't want the issue to get us bogged down," Cothren commented. "I don't have a problem with it, but I don't want to let it derail things."

"We need to be able to tell the community what services will be offered," Marsyla said. "We need to deal with it up front."

"It doesn't have to be negotiated by the board of county commissioners," Brady said.

In related business, Marsyla said the health center will hold an employment fair at the clinic to discuss jobs that will be available.

As the clinic is down to one provider, the health center may be able to provide interim assistance, she added.