Pharmacy Dilemma
If you have tried to fill a prescription at a local pharmacy you have likely experienced long wait times and varying hours of operations. A situation that is not likely to change anytime soon. Even prior to the sale of, and closing of Bi-Mart pharmacy, staffing issues were a concern. Rite-Aid pharmacy has been using fill in pharmacists from its staffing pool but shortages up and down the coast make hours limited. Director of Pharmacy operations at Peace Harbor hospital, Diana Pimlott is concerned for patients in the Florence area.
“This is a very serious situation. it is impacting our patients ability to obtain new prescriptions and prescription refills in a timely manner.”
Pimlott says the workload on the local pharmacies has in many cases doubled as patients scramble to move prescriptions to a new outlet and sometimes even changing several times in a single day.
“Frustration and just an overall uncertainty about the situation has prompted patients in our community to request an unprecedented number of prescription transfers.”
Pimlott says while the Peace Harbor pharmacy is not currently a retail outlet for prescriptions, she hopes that somewhere down the road that will change.
Pediatric Vaccination Clinic
Another pediatric vaccination clinic is planned for Saturday December 4th in Florence. This one will not be a Lane County sponsored clinic, but one put on by peace Harbor hospital. Director of Operations Cheri Payne says the clinic will provide shots for the 5-11 year old patient. Payne says the older individuals still have an open opportunity.
“people that are 18 and over we are still doing those every Wednesday we have walk-in availability as well as when you are in seeing your providers for appointments you can request to be added to that schedule.”
Payne says they do have adequate supplies of Moderna vaccines for the 18 and over group.
COVID-19 Case Update
COVID-19 cases in Florence are at 785 all time with the addition of 4 new cases yesterday which brings the number of cases over the past two weeks to 43. Lane County reported 67 new cases yesterday as part of Oregon’s 862 cases. The OHA reported another 50 deaths yesterday. OHA director Patrick Allen says more than 4000 Oregonians have died since last Thanksgiving. Allen says the best way to not repeat numbers like that is to get vaccinated. While weekly deaths have risen, hospitalizations continue to decline. There were 88 fewer hospitalizations this past week.
Get Your Cookie Dough
One great thing about the holidays approaching is the goodies that go along with it and this year the Interact Club at Siuslaw High School is bringing home the Yumm with the opportunity to purchase a tub of cookie dough. The Interact Club is selling tubs of chocolate chip, peanut butter, molasses ginger, and oatmeal raisin. All the dough is ready to bake and proceeds go to fund Interact Clubs community and international service projects. You can order directly from a member of the Interact club or by emailing Bob Teter at bob.teter@gmail.com. Cost is just 20$.
Water Safe to Drink
After a week of dry tanks and boil water notices the Mapleton water district is telling its customers that the water is now safe to drink. The district suffered a catastrophic failure of its filtration system due to sediment that clogged its filters and they were not able to fill their tanks. Water has been flowing for several days now with the all clear given yesterday.
