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NOT JUST YOUR ORDINARY TENTS - PROVIDENCE VERNONIA CLINIC
REOPENS WHILE REBUILDING CONTINUES
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Dec. 10, 2007
VERNONIA, Ore. - The doors have reopened following the flood at Providence Medical Group's Vernonia clinic - thanks to the deployment of some heavy-duty emergency tents that will allow Providence to provide care while the clinic's building is being repaired. These aren't your ordinary shelters - more like the Taj Mahal of tents.
They are equipped with everything the clinic needs to resume operations, including four private exam rooms. Heated, insulated and with electrical power and running water available, the tents also feature a durable vinyl floor that is designed to handle the traffic anticipated at the clinic.
The tents are set up in the Vernonia clinic's parking lot. Assembly took place over the weekend, as a team from Providence - along with volunteers from the tents' manufacturer, Western Shelter of Eugene - made sure the clinic was set up and ready to go on Monday morning.
"This shows the best of our emergency planning at work," said Craig Wright, M.D., chief executive, Providence Physician Division. Providence sent the tents to Vernonia from Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, where they are stored to provide extra patient capacity during times of crisis.
Providence's Phyllis Gilmore, M.D. is Vernonia's only doctor. Her work at the clinic is being supported by extra staffing from Providence Medical Group, which has additional physicians, nursing and pharmacy staff on site.Though the clinic building was under three feet of water and mud, Providence continued to provide care in Vernonia immediately following the storm. Dr. Gilmore and the Vernonia team initially set up services at the Vernonia fire station, and later moved to the city's learning center. Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital also sent a three-person team in its Mobile Health Unit to the scene. The unit is a 35-foot-long converted RV that contains equipment and supplies needed to provide basic health care.
The Providence team has provided care for hundreds of patients in Vernonia since the storm hit, and Providence leaders have pledged continuing support to the people of Vernonia and surrounding communities to get them through this crisis.
In the meantime, crews are working 24/7 on repairing the permanent Providence clinic, replacing equipment, sheet rock and furnishings damaged in the flood. Their goal for reopening the doors of the permanent clinic? Before Christmas.
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Providence Medical Group is part of Providence Health & Services - Oregon Region, ranked as the sixth most integrated health care system in the nation. Providence offers a comprehensive array of health and education services through its seven hospitals, medical clinics, health plans, long-term care facilities and home health services. With more than 15,000 employees, Providence is the state's second-largest private employer. Visit www.providence.org/oregon. |
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