Peace Harbor Medical Center Receives Level 3 Trauma Certification
The emergency department at Peace Harbor Hospital has been designated a level 3 Trauma Center for its ability to handle more severe cases. Dr. Willie Foster, the head of the ED department says for most of his tenure the hospital has been a level 4, but has for some time had the prerequisites to be a level 3 trauma center, but has been waiting for the certification.
“A Level 3 means that you have 24/7 coverage of both general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons who could come in to the hospital, when called, within 30 minutes to provide that next level of care.”
Foster says most hospitals the size of Peace Harbor don’t have that capability and it is rare for rural hospitals.
“we are very unique as a smaller hospital being a level three”
The certification lasts for three years and the hospital would have to undergo another process to maintain its status. Foster did add that they passed in all categories with flying colors.
Water Line Construction
The installation of a new main water line continues to cause slight delays on Heceta Beach Road as crews work on the edges replacing the aging Heceta Water District Pipe. There is still about a mile left of construction from Highway 101 to the Heceta South residential area. Yesterday they were flushing hydrants near the residential entrance and crews still have to dig up and replace the pipe eastward from Wood Lake Way to Highway 101. The project is expected to take several more weeks to complete.
Health Challenges for Mothers and Children
A new report finds a troubling rise in health challenges for mothers and children across the country. The United Health Foundation has released its America’s Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report. It found maternal mortality increased 29 percent between 2014 and 2021. In the report, Oregon ranks 20th. Doctor Aaron Caughey is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Oregon Health and Science University. He believes the 2017 Reproductive Health Equity Act Oregon enacted has helped Oregon in some metrics measured in the report.
“Being able to make sure that people have really good access to contraceptive care, reproductive health care means that you tend to improve reproductive health care outcomes – principle among them low birth weight and pre-term birth.”
However, Caughey notes that substance use disorder and homelessness are major issues impacting women and children in Oregon.
Wet Weather
The coast will feel the punch of a series of atmospheric rivers over the next several days. Beginning later this week coastal areas could see flooding and heavy rainfall beginning tomorrow through Thursday, however most of the storm is predicted to be above Lincoln City with the heaviest of rain coming overnight Wednesday into Thursday with up to 5 inches possible in some northwest Oregon cities.