Why We Want to Do It
Survey data indicates 28 percent of Hood River County children and young adults have no regular access to primary health care. Population projections during the next two decades indicate this trend will continue. We want all people in our community to be able to receive basic health care. Not only will it improve each individual's quality of life, it will improve our entire community's quality of life.
What We Are Planning to Do
We are committed now, and in the long term, to community health outreach, especially for people who are most at risk. While we intend to consider a broad array of outreach over time, community leaders advise us to first expand the outreach we already provide. our two current outreach programs (the Mobile Health Unit and orthodontia programs) were designed to meet existing community needs assessment goals and they build upon the hospital's past work and investment.
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Mobile Health Unit
The campaign plans to increase support of the Mobile Health Unit, our free health clinic on wheels. It has been our most effective preventive health and community outreach effort. With the help of community donors in 2005, hospital leaders created an innovative solution for bringing quality health care services to our community's most vulnerable citizens. These underserved residents of Hood River County o often uninsured or underinsured o frequently go without basic health care. We've responded. Since the Mobile Health Unit hit the road in the fall of 2006, an average of 300 people have received primary health care services each month. In many cases, the unit has meant the difference between early intervention and more serious health concerns.
How our Patients and Community Will Benefit
We will take our Mobile Health Unit to a new level, bringing services to 17 percent more families. This is a direct result of our growing reputation, our sustained commitment and the generosity of many donors who choose to support the Mobile Health Unit through annual and endowment funds.
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital orthodontia / Dental outreach
For many people, brushing teeth is just one more activity in a typical day. However, brushing, flossing and regular dental care may be uncommon practices for a growing number of families. oregon statistics, including Hood River County, show:
- Nearly 60 percent of children, ages 6 to 8, have experienced tooth decay.
- Low-income children have nearly three times more untreated decay than children from higher income homes.
- One in three 8th graders has not had a dentist visit in the last three years.
- One in six adults over the age of 60 have lost all their teeth.
- Only 42 percent of pregnant women sought dental care during pregnancy.
- When a toothache is left untreated, severe infection may develop and spread to the sinuses or jawbone, eventually causing blood poisoning. Recently, one person spent 16 days in our hospital's intensive care unit, treated for a serious bloodoborne illness that began with an abscessed and untreated tooth.
- Many children suffer from emotionally or socially debilitating orthodontia problems. To address the severity of this issue, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital currently provides more than $100,000 per year in orthodontia intervention for children who are middle school age or older.
In association with our community partners, we will expand our oral health care solutions. This partnership includes:
Hood River County Commission on Children & Families, Hood River County Dental Association, Hood River County Head Start, Hood River County Health Department, Hood River WomenoInfantoChildren Coalition, oregon Child Development Coalition, Hood River County School District, La Cliníca Del Cariño and local dental/orthodontia providers.
How our Patients and Community Will Benefit
Providence Hood River will help children o infants to young adults o receive oral hygiene education and prevention, along with followoup referrals to local providers. In addition, we will provide an education and dental retention outreach program for senior citizens.
How You Can Help
Your support in annual and endowed gifts will ensure our community's whole health for generations to come.
Why We Want to Do It 