2022 Oregon Rural Health Hero of the Year Award
The Hero of the Year award honors a person, an organization, or a community that has made a distinguished, unique, or exceptional contribution to improving the quality of life for rural Oregonians. Past recipients have shown extraordinary leadership under trying circumstances, or have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to inspiring rural youth to take up careers in healthcare.
Learn more here.
Oregon Rural Health Conference
The annual Oregon Rural Health Conference is the largest gathering in Oregon dedicated to sharing information and showcasing innovative approaches to health and the delivery of health care in rural Oregon. The conference brings together providers, administrators, consumers, policy makers and others to exchange ideas and share expertise.
The 2022 Conference will be held October 12-14 in Sunriver. More details coming soon!
COVID Resources
We recognize that information related to COVID-19 changes daily, if not hourly. We are committed to providing you—our rural health facilities and services—with the most up-to-date information we have from vetted sources to address your questions. We will keep this webpage updated with the most current information we have as it evolves.
Upcoming Events
All ORH Webinars are listed below. For specific webinars, please use these links:
Forum on Aging Webinars | Quality Webinars |RHC Webinars
Providing Specialized, Emergency Care to an Aging Rural Oregon Population Through Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation
November 18, 2021
Older adults require specialized emergency care, especially in rural communities. Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in Lincoln City, Oregon, has committed to delivering appropriate, safe, patient-centered care to the aging population by becoming an accredited Geriatric Emergency Department (GEDA). Attendees learn about the process and benefits of GEDA.
Presenter
Dr. Crystal Bowman, PhD, RN, MSN-Ed, CHSE, CNE, CNE-CL | Director of Nursing & Allied Health | Oregon Coast Community College
Media
Rural Trans Health in Oregon
October 21, 2021
This conversation will help to foster an awareness of physical and behavioral health care access and barriers for trans people in rural Oregon.
Participants will:
- Learn about the challenges that trans people (including binary and nonbinary individuals) face when accessing health care in rural Oregon.
- Explore ways that trans people often navigate and respond to these barriers.
- Gain an understanding of how to advocate with and care for trans communities.
- Learn about trans educational resources, including Southern Oregon University’s Certificate in Transgender Studies and Trans and Queer Training program opportunities.
Presenters
- Carey Jean Sojka, PhD (they/them/theirs or she/her/hers) | Assistant Professor, Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies | Southern Oregon University
- Kylan Mattias de Vries, PhD (he/him/his or they/them/theirs) | Associate Professor & Program Chair, Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies | Southern Oregon University
Media
Disaster Preparedness for Older Adults and Their Caregivers
September 16, 2021
Older adults face unique challenges preparing for and in the aftermath of natural disasters. This population can be among the hardest hit by hurricanes, floods, winter storms, heat events, and extended power outages. Learn the many reasons older adults are at a particular disadvantage during disasters and how to help them and their families think through and prepare for a variety of scenarios.
Presenter
Lauren Kraemer, MPH | Assistant Professor of Practice | Oregon State University Extension Service
Media
Volunteers in Action
August 19, 2021
Learn about Volunteers in Action and consider how to use volunteer community caregiver programs to promote aging-in-place and combat social isolation. Learn program facets such as eligibility requirements, volunteer roles and best practices, opportunities to engage young people, and the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the program.
Presenter
- Britta Wilson, MA | Volunteers in Action Program Coordinator, Providence Hood River
Media
Race, Ethnicity, Language and Disability (REALD) Data Collection in Oregon
August 11, 2021
During this webinar the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will provide REALD Program education to health care providers who are required to begin Race, Ethnicity, Language and Disability (REALD) data collection and reporting as of October 1, 2021. Learn about the OHA REALD Program, understand the reporting requirements and get your questions answered during this webinar.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the history of REALD data collection in Oregon, including future data collection efforts for REALD and SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity)
- Understand why REALD data collection is important
- Understand how to access resources for REALD data collection
Presenters
- Belle Shepherd, MPH, Lead for HB4212 REALD data collection for COVID-19 encounters, and government relations lead on REALD/SOGI legislation.
- Marjorie McGee, PhD, OHA’s subject matter expert on all things REALD with Equity and Inclusion Division
- Renee Harger, MPH, Lead for data collection on REALD for COVID-19 encounters in OHA’s Acute and Communicable Disease Program
Resources
Media
Promoting Pediatric Lead Screening in Oregon
August 11, 2021
Health issues associated with pediatric lead exposure received attention recently when the water in Flint, Michigan, was found to contain lead. Lead affects children in rural Oregon as well. After this session, participants will have:
- Knowledge about potential sources of lead in Oregon and how to mitigate exposure
- Knowledge about the unique childhood vulnerabilities that can result
- Understanding of the importance of pediatric blood level surveillance
- Information on how to prevent elevated blood levels in children
NW PEHSU offers free consultations to clinicians regarding lead and other environmental exposures. Contact them at 1-877-KID-CHEM (1-877-543-2436) or email pehsu@uw.edu. Although it is housed in Washington, NW PEHSU also serves Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho.
Presenter
Debra Cherry M.D., M.S. | Director of the Occupational and Environmental Residency Program | University of Washington
Dr. Cherry was joined by Ryan Barker of the OHA, Program Coordinator, Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, for the Q & A session.
Media
News Feed
- Wallowa Memorial Hospital Recognized as a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital
- Applications are open for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant for '22-'23
- Governor declares May 16 to be “Rural Senior Day” in Oregon
- Oregon Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program
- Forum on Aging one month away! May 16-18, 2022 in Seaside.
- Medicare/Medicaid by County Map | List
May 23, 2022 - RHC Static Map
RHC Interactive map
RHC Spreadsheet
May 12, 2022 - Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)—Primary Care
March 9, 2022 - ORH Percent and Number 65+ by County Map
February 16, 2022 - ORH Rural Map
February 16, 2022 - Rural Safety Net Map
February 4, 2022 - Rural Health Agencies in Oregon Congressional District 1
Rural Health Agencies in Oregon Congressional District 2
Rural Health Agencies in Oregon Congressional District 3
Rural Health Agencies in Oregon Congressional District 4
Rural Health Agencies in Oregon Congressional District 5
February 3, 2022 - Primary Care Physicians by Service Area 2017-2021
January 20, 2022 - Tableau Visualization of All 10 Maps in AUHCN, 2018-2021
December 7, 2021 - Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)—Dental
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)—Mental
October 27, 2021 - Rural Practitioner Tax Credit Map
Rural EMS Provider Tax Credit Map
Rural Medical Practitioners Insurance Subsidy Program Map
Critical Access Pharmacies Map | List
September 16, 2021 - 2021 Area of Unmet Health Care Needs Report
Spreadsheet of all 9 variables, with final Unmet Need Scores, by Primary Care Service Area
2021 Areas of Unmet Health Care Needs Map
Time to Patient Centered Primary Care Home
Primary Care Capacity
Dentists per 1000
Mental Health Provider per 1000
Poverty Rate 138-200% of 12%
Inadequate Prenatal Care
Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
Emergency Department Non-Traumatic Dental Visit
Emergency Department Mental Health/Substance Abuse Visit
Population Current Race by Service Area 2021
August 23, 2021
COVID Vaccinations
The latest COVID vaccination information for rural Oregon, updated as we receive new information.