Health center schedules clinic meetings

The acquisition of the county-owned Wahkiakum Family Practice by the Cowlitz Family Health Clinic is continuing despite a recent call to reconsider the transition.

County Commissioners Dan Cothren, Blair Brady and Lisa Marsyla confirmed their intention to transfer the clinic to the health center on Tuesday.

Wally Wright, a member of the Cathlamet Fire Department, asked the board Tuesday to reconsider the transfer. The health center mode of operation won't allow as much sharing of personnel and resources with the county's emergency medical services (EMS) as has existed in the past, he said. Ambulance crews won't be taking patients to the clinic, just straight to a hospital.

The EMS system is overburdened, Wright said, but the call volume has reached the level that would make it profitable for a private ambulance company to operate.

The financial drain of current clinic operation is too much for the county to continue to absorb, Cothren indicated.

Brady suggested the county's EMS levy may have to be increased to support the ambulance service.

"I don't think one ambulance will handle the call volume," Wright said. "The call volume is horrendous. It may burn people out."

Marsyla said discussions about EMS are continuing with the health center, but it limited by federal regulation from providing certain services.

Health center staff will hold community meetings next week to talk about the services it will provide when it takes over operation of the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic.

Health Clinic Executive Director Dian Cooper will attend meetings of the county board of commissioners, 10:15 a.m., Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce, 12 noon, and Lower Columbia Economic Development Council, 1 p.m.

Another staff member will appear at the senior meals luncheon at the Rosburg Hall at 11:45 a.m. and later that day at the Grays River Grange, 7 p.m.

On October 15, Cooper will appear at community forums in the commissioners meeting room in the courthouse; one will be at 2 p.m. and the other at 6 p.m.

A staff member will speak October 22, 11:45 a.m., at the senior meals program at the Cathlamet United Church of Christ.