by Shelby | Oct 11, 2019 | Being Well, Work Well
Have you ever needed to get across town or even out of town for a doctor’s appointment, but were unable to find a ride? What were your choices? This challenge often results in not getting needed care or having to wait longer than advisable to get care. Forgoing or postponing care should not be an option. In a community with limited resources, access to care can be a common barrier, especially for those who may need special ride arrangements.
Jody Bell, a native to Tillamook, has faced this challenge. Jody is very active in her community. She serves on the Tillamook County Wellness Access to Healthy Food Committee, Co-Chairs the Community Advisory Council for the Columbia Pacific CCO, crochets clothes for those in need, and socializes at her favorite yarn store. Jody is physically disabled and is in a power chair. It is her chair that allows her the freedom to be independent and take part in the community, however, at times her chair can be problematic, as she is not able to ride with friends or family in a standard vehicle. Jody has battled depression and has needed specialty care that she could not obtain in Tillamook. Fortunately, there is a program here that has made it easier for her to get care. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation through NW Rides is a program that makes sure members can get to services covered by Columbia Pacific CCO with no cost to its health plan members. This includes access to specialized vehicles with drivers for folks who use power chairs, and it also reimburses gas for those who have a car or whose family member provides a ride, as well as bus tickets. The transportation chosen is based on what is most appropriate for the individual member, rather than a one size fits all approach. Jody advised that you may order a ride by calling Columbia Pacific CCO’s Customer Service, and typically provide at least 48 hours of notice for the ride to be arranged.
“Taking a ride from a stranger, such as the programs in Portland, is fearful, but here, the drivers are local; they are great drivers, and I trust them,” Jody explained while further describing the program.
With NW Rides, Jody has been able to get the necessary care she needed not only in Tillamook, but in Newport and Warrenton as well. Without this program, Jody states, “my choice would to be to go without care.” NW Rides is a bridge in closing the gap in access to care. For Advisory Council Members like Jody who are involved with advocacy work, it is important to her to get the “word out” on what Columbia Pacific CCO offers. If you are an Oregon Health Plan member you can go to Columbia Pacific CCO’s website at colpachealth.org or call their customer service at 1-855-722-8206 to learn more information about the health plan benefit.
For more local health and wellness information follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
by Shelby | Sep 19, 2019 | Being Well
Although her wellness journey has not been easy, Jaclyn Percy, a single mother of four children aged 7-14 years old has been navigating over barriers for the past year when she started her wellness journey to purse higher education. After being out of school for 18 years, Jaclyn was motivated to make a life change after deciding she desire more for herself and her family. She needed to be more financially independent and wanted to connect with people on an individual basis. With no family in the area, Jaclyn turned to her community for support, and was connected to Tillamook Bay Community College (TBCC). “The community college here is amazing,” Jaclyn stated. “There are a lot of resources and everyone was so friendly and willing to help,” she continued.
Jaclyn had an idea of pursuing a degree in mental health services when she began, however with a strong understanding of herself, she realized she might not have the time to dedicate to pursuing a career in mental health. Describing this moment as her “road block” on her journey, Jaclyn made the conscious choice to continue in another direction rather than be stopped – “anything worth doing is hard,” she emphasized. Jaclyn goes on to share that she had to learn how to ask for help, and once she started, her pathway became more clear and “doors began to open.” Jaclyn found her niche, as she learned more about the two year Occupational Therapy Assistant program through a student resource at TBCC called “Navigators.” Jaclyn describes this as her “intellectual awakening.”
From the community support she found here in Tillamook County, by believing in herself, and from listening to daily affirmations, Jaclyn is now well on her way to complete her degree, and hopes to continue to make a difference in her life, and others; she stated, “you can make a difference in any profession by being kind, smiling, and by being your best self.”
Start or continue your own educational wellness journey at TBCC! Fall Term registration is open now through September 22nd and classes start on September 23rd.
For more local health and wellness information, visit tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
by Guest | Sep 6, 2019 | Being Well
“It is widely recognized that education influences health outcomes and community well-being.” So begins the introductory statement from a recent National Academy of Sciences workshop linking school success with improvements in public health. As our kids head back to school, it is important to remember that education is not just for young children and teens. Lifelong learning and continuing education are tied to better health and quality of life at every age. And, it doesn’t require a four-year degree to experience the benefits of continued learning.
We are very fortunate to have Tillamook Bay Community College right here in Tillamook County, providing affordable, accessible continuing education opportunities in fields that are relevant to our local economy. In collaboration with TBCC, we are sharing the following message from TBCC President, Dr. Ross Tomlin, to highlight these amazing, local opportunities for personal and professional development. If you, or someone you know, are ready to take the next step on your wellness journey, consider a visit to TBCC to explore how they can help you achieve your goals.
Reprinted with permission from the TBCC 2019 Fall Schedule of Classes
All of us here at the college are excited for the upcoming fall activities, and to have students back on campus. TBCC will have a lot of new program opportunities this year, including our new Welding program. This includes a full degree and certificate. There are also new Associate of Science degree programs in Agriculture, Animal Science and Natural Resources that join the AS degree program in Forestry which began last year. These degrees can prepare you to transfer to Oregon State University in their related Bachelor of Science degree programs. There is also a new certificate in Office Supervision within our online Business program, and a new Occupational Skills Training certificate with the Associate of General Science degree program. For any of these programs, reach out to our outstanding group of advisors located in Student Services. They can provide guidance on how to sign up for courses in any of the programs and develop a Career Education Plan that can help you achieve a degree on your schedule.
We are starting our third year of the Career-to-Career Scholarship program that focuses on people in Tillamook County that have been out of high school or have not taken college classes for at least 5 years but want to attend college. We had our first eight Career-to-Career graduates this past June and they all did very well; several are going on to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree. If you think you might be qualified, please check in with student services to apply. In addition, we will be offering several other scholarships using our new online platform. Please take advantage of these opportunities to get some resources to help you with college costs. There is a lot of money available to help you get the education you need to get a good paying career. You just need to seek it out by talking to our knowledgeable staff.
TBCC is joining a statewide community college movement called Guided Pathways. This will help us develop even better ways to help students get on a pathway toward a career, help them stay on the pathway and achieve a completion, whether that is a certificate or Career Technical degree in order to get a good job right out of TBCC, or to transfer on to a university for a Bachelor’s Degree. We are looking forward to enhancing these services to students over the coming year. Fall Term registration is open now through September 22nd and classes start on September 23rd.
For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit us at tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org.
by Michelle | Aug 23, 2019 | Being Well, Eat Well, Recipes
Pam Russell earlier in her journey
Pam Russell’s health journey, like so many others’, has had its ups and downs. Along with recovering from cancer and dealing with other life stresses, Pam has often been frustrated with her weight. As so commonly happens, it seemed there were always issues that got in the way of making lasting health behavior changes. She tried different “quick-fix” approaches, including a liquid diet, but she knew she was not on the right path. “For one thing, I wasn’t learning anything about making healthier choices,” she said, “Plus, I was spending all this money and not seeing the results I wanted. I knew I needed to change my approach but I didn’t know where to start.” Pam admits she was hoping to find a “magic pill” but she was also open to making a long-term commitment to change.
Pam learned that her risk for cancer reoccurrence would be reduced with healthier eating habits and better weight management. Highly motivated after going through cancer recovery, she asked her primary care provider for advice on how to improve her eating habits. Based on the success of other patients and knowing Pam was searching for a convenient solution, her care provider suggested she consider Weight Watchers.
After looking into the program, there were several elements that appealed to Pam. “I’ve learned so much!” she emphasized. “Choosing foods that are right for my goals and tracking what I eat has helped me eat differently.” Pam likes the app that is part of the program and how the points-based system helps with her decision-making throughout the day. What really works for her is that she is changing the way she eats, while also enjoying a better quality of life and sense of well-being.
Pam describes her own “aha” moment as she was learning about food choices. When she realized that fruits and vegetables are nutrient powerhouses that promote health and healing, she found they were much easier to choose and work into her day. She went on to say that what she has learned has totally changed her relationship with food and with eating. After trying many other “quick fixes” and spending a lot of money, she now firmly believes in the power of relatively simple food choices that can make such a big difference. Since, starting this journey, Pam has lost weight, reduced her cholesterol levels and she feels great.
Initially, Pam focused solely on changing her eating habits. Now that she has established a sense of routine around her eating habits, she has added exercise back into her daily life. She says, “adding exercise helped me bust through some of my weight-management plateaus and it also keeps me motivated.” She enjoys participating in group fitness classes at the Y and the sense of community and support they provide.
After the interview, Pam shared an observation of why she believes she and so many others come to the Y. “We go there to heal,” she said. “At least, I know that’s what it has done for me and I think that’s why a lot of other people are there too.”
There are many supports available to people seeking to improve their eating habits, including on-site nutrition services at Tillamook County Community Health Centers, Adventist Health & Rinehart Clinic as well as community programs like CHIP, Cooking Matters, Diabetes UnDone and Diabetes Prevention Program classes offered at the YMCA. Be sure to check with your primary care provider to see what options are available to you and if they are covered by insurance. For more information about local health and wellness programs, visit tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
by Guest | Jul 31, 2019 | Being Well
By Tara Stevens, Health Program Manager, TCCHC
August 4-7th marks National Health Center Week 2019. Tillamook County Community Health Centers (TCCHC) 
joins the more than 10,00 locally run community health centers across the nation in celebrating this week to raise awareness about the missions, accomplishments and ways health centers are providing affordable health care.
Community Health centers (also called Federally Qualified Health Centers or FQHC’s) are independent, non-profit, non-governmental health care organizations that are defined by 4 key components:
- Open to everyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay and charge for services on a sliding fee scale
- Provide high quality, culturally competent and comprehensive services
- Located in medically underserved areas
- Operate under the direction of a patient-majority governing board
This year’s theme of “Rooted in Community” highlights how health centers are at the forefront of a nationwide shift in addressing environmental and social factors as an integral part of primary care, reaching beyond the walls of conventional medicine to address the factors that may cause sickness, such as lack of nutrition, mental illness, homelessness and substance use disorders. Community Health Centers’ success in managing chronic disease in medically vulnerable communities has helped reduce health care costs for American taxpayers. A few highlights of health center accomplishments include:
- Serve as the health care home for more than 28 million patients in over 11,000 communities across the country;
- Reduce health care costs and produce savings – on average, health centers save 24% per Medicaid patient when compared to other providers;
- Integrate critical medical and social services such as oral health, mental health, substance abuse, case management, and translation under one roof;
- Employ over 220,000 people and generate at least $54.6 billion in total economic activity in some of the nation’s most distressed communities;
- Provide care to 1.4 million homeless patients and more than 350,000 veterans.
TCCHC provides primary health care services to community members of all ages in multiple locations throughout the county. They also offer preventative care services, such as immunizations and disease screenings, dental care
from local providers at an affordable cost, and offer expanded care through their in-house registered dietitian and behavioral health providers. TCCHC also provides public health services that include the supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), home visits, tobacco prevention and education, and restaurant, food and water inspections.
TCCHC is proud to announce the arrival of the new mobile community health center. This mobile clinic will provide expanded access for community members to dental, physical and behavioral health care. Please join us in welcoming our newest team member and celebrating National Health Center Week at the Ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, August 7th, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Tillamook Bay Community College, 4301 Third Street, Tillamook.
For more information about national health center week, visit healthcenterweek.org. For more information about TCCHC services, visit tillamookchc.org or call 503-842-3900.
TCCHC is the backbone agency for the Tillamook County Wellness coalition. For more local health and wellness information, visit tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
by Michelle | Jul 17, 2019 | Being Well
Tillamook County Community Health Centers, our local public health authority and backbone for Tillamook County Wellness, has been awarded a Sustainable Relationships for Community Health (SRCH) grant from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The one-year grant will provide added staff capacity and technical assistance to address chronic disease prevention and management in Tillamook County. Funds from the grant will be used to hire a coordinator who will manage the project in conjunction with the Tillamook County Wellness Health Screening committee.
The OHA SRCH initiative is very aligned to the mission of Tillamook County Wellness, a collective of community partner organizations working together to reduce chronic disease rates, especially type 2 diabetes, by addressing the Social Determinants of Health. 
SRCH funds are intended to foster collaboration, reduce health disparities and healthcare costs and improve population health outcomes. This includes optimization of community and clinic-based health screenings, program referrals and reimbursement pathways.
Local healthcare partners, including the Tillamook County Community Health Centers (TCCHC), Adventist Health – Tillamook, Columbia Pacific CCO and Rinehart Clinic each play a key role in the Tillamook County Wellness Health Screening committee, with representatives from each organization serving on a core leadership team charged with fulfilling the grant requirements. Additionally, several community-based organizations such as the YMCA, NCRD, OSU Extension and Northwest Senior & Disability Services, among others, will participate in the project.
Together, committee members will:
- Assess existing health screening practices in clinical as well as community-based settings, including workplaces.
- Identify current chronic disease prevention and self-management programs and services to which people are being referred.
- Co-design recommendations for ways to modify or enhance screening and referral practices.
- Generate agreements for implementing improvements to systems processes and program access.
- Track and analyze screening, referral and program participation data to determine impact on health outcomes and identify areas for improvement.
- Develop recommendations for supporting programs and processes that are most effective for reducing chronic disease rates and improving individual health.
“With 90% of all healthcare costs being spent on the treatment of chronic and mental health conditions, it is imperative that we connect people with the resources they need to get and stay healthy,” states Marlene Putman, Tillamook County Public Health Administrator and Tillamook Community Health Centers Director. “There are so many great programs already in place here – the Diabetes Prevention Program, CHIP, cooking classes and fitness programs through the YMCA, NCRD and OSU Extension. We know these programs work. We have data that shows how people who take advantage of these programs improve their health. We just need to be more intentional about how we connect people, programs and processes so that everyone wins.” Putman adds that increasing access to programs by reducing cost and transportation barriers are among the strategies being explored. One of the goals of the project is to better understand the factors that lead to increased program participation and adherence, as well as where people are experiencing barriers. These considerations can then be built into the design of community and clinic-based support networks to optimize system workflows, program delivery and population health outcomes.
To learn more, visit at tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
