OAHHS Hospital Voice Fall/Winter 2019

6 » A magazine for and about Oregon Community Hospitals. Behavioral health is driving a growing share of the care in rural Oregon, and more of that care is moving outside the four walls of the hospital. That was a dominant theme when health leaders gathered in early October in Bend for the 36 th Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference. The trend is having a big impact on rural hospitals, where addiction and mental health issues are affecting both individuals and families. Treating those patients in the community “is the right thing to do,” said Charlie Tveit, CEO of Lake District Hospital in Lake County. “Also, if we don’t do it, they’ll wind up in our ED.” Tveit has directed more resources to community mental health care, including coordinating care with county corrections at the jail. That work in Lake County, along with other community health investments, earned Tveit praise for his innovative approach from Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen in his remarks to open the conference. In his speech, Allen said, “This is the time that we need to strengthen behavioral health systems, just as By Dave Northfield RURAL HOSPITALS FACE THE FUTURE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS we’ve worked to transform physical health.” Other Oregon rural hospital leaders agree. At an annual OAHHS lunch meeting for legislators and rural members the first day of the conference, executives repeatedly mentioned behavioral health as one of the most difficult care and social issues they face. Leaders representing facilities from every corner of the state—from Burns to Coquille, John Day to Coos Bay, Enterprise, Prineville, and more— echoed one another. Amy Fine of Southern Coos Hospital in Bandon said management of behavioral health patients is a daily challenge. Addiction issues are