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» A magazine for and about Oregon Community Hospitals.
Innovative Housing continued from pg. 14
“In health care, we are moving from a focus on caring for
disease and acute illness toward ongoing care and treatment
of a patient’s overall needs. We know that access to housing
helps stabilize people’s lives—and as a result, puts them
in a better position to get the best level of care to keep
them well.” – Dave Underriner, CEO, Providence Health &
Services–Oregon
“People with health issues, who don’t have stable housing,
just can’t make the changes they need, whether they’re
recovering from hospitalization, managing chronic health
conditions or overcoming addiction. Housing not only
improves health outcomes, but helps reduce the overall costs
of health care. CareOregon’s support is an investment in
preventive health care and our members’ futures.”
– Eric C. Hunter, President & CEO, CareOregon
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The ABCs of Asante’s school nurse program
For many kids, the school nurse is the important link
between well-being and academic success. If a student has
an asthma attack, gets hurt on the playground, or needs
quick diabetic care, it’s the school nurse who gets the child
back to class or to a doctor.
The Asante School Nurse Program includes three nurses,
who work with students in kindergarten through eighth
grade in the Ashland and Phoenix-Talent school districts.
“This is a great resource that Asante provides,” said Steve
Retzlaff, principal of Ashland Middle School.
School nurses provide case management for kids with
chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and asthma; they
also triage concussions, fractures, headaches and allergic
reactions.
“No two days are the same,” said Belinda Brown, RN, Asante
School Nurse Program coordinator.
Also provided are health screenings for hearing, vision,
dental, and height and weight, to help promote overall
wellness. Mental health counseling and a suicide prevention
program are also available.
“One of the unique opportunities we have is to develop
long-term trusting relationships with kids and their
families,” said Brown. “I’ve known some of these kids since
kindergarten, and I have a really good understanding of
their health history.”
Principal Retzlaff has known Brown since she began serving
Ashland Middle School.
“She goes way beyond the Band-Aids and ice packs; she’s like
a social worker,” he said. “Belinda is great at finding out what
support the students need outside of school and connects
them to those resources. And not just for the student, but
for the family too.”
With nearly 2,800 students in the district, Brown said some
require individualized care plans for chronic conditions such
as allergies and seizures.
“We work with doctors and parents to develop health plans
as well as train teachers and office staff about what a child
needs to be safe at school.”
Primary funding for the Asante School Nurse Program
is provided by Asante, with additional support from
school districts and a grant from the Oregon Community
Foundation Walker Fund.
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SPECIAL SECTION: A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY