Deschutes Rim Health Clinic History
1. When was the idea for a clinic formed?
In 1997 a group of community volunteers formed White River Health & Living as a nonprofit group aimed at creating jobs and providing senior retirement living opportunities so residents can remain close to their relatives, and creating local health care services which normally had to be obtained from Madras or The Dalles..... at 40-50 miles one way trip. Both have a South Wasco County focus. In 2001 White River Health District a division of WRH+L approched the voters of South Wasco County with the proposal for a taxing health district with a $0.25 per thousand levy on property tax assessments. This amounts to about $40,ooo per year annually. The voters approved the concept with nearly a 70% majority.
2. When was the board first established?
The first Board of Directors was voted in during the same election that established the district in 2001.
3. What is White River Health District?
The district is a taxing agency under Oregon's Special District regulations. White River Health District exists to provide basic medical and health care for the residents of Sportsman's Park, Wamic, Tygh Valley, Pine Grove, Juniper Flat, Maupin, and South Junction.
The District has the same boundaries as South Wasco School District except the City of Shaniko. All residents of the area and visitors of the area are eligible to utilize the services of Deschutes Rim Health District regardless of whether they pay property taxes toward us or not. A goal of the District is to provide care to anyone needing services although a fee for the services will be charged.
Most people will have a form of insurance to help with clinic fees. Ideally, tax Revenues will enable the District to cover any gaps in funding when patients are not insured.
4. What has the process been from inception to now?
White River Health District has been saving up tax revenues since 2001 to finance the loan required to build and equip the clinic. We had hoped it would also be enough to operate the clinic for at least one year, but frequent delays in receiving insurance payments for over six months have required that we take out another loan, this one a revolving loan, to assist in daily operations. The proposed budget that was formulated with the technical assistance of Oregon Office of Rural Health at OHSU, did not take into consideration any delays of payment, or cost increases in equipment/insurance/etc, so the revenues they projected were incorrect, even though our patient base is about on par with what they calculated for this area. We figure it will take a minimum of five years to get the clinic to a point of being more self-sufficient, but it will not be a profit-making venture due to the changes in medicine. Currently we are operating without losing too much monies by making some changes in our original plans, cutting corners, taking donations and lots of personal time and monies invested by all parties involved.
