The Southern Coos Health District Board of Directors held a special meeting with the Coast Community Board of Directors on Aug. 27 to conduct an introductory meeting to discuss collaborative opportunities in shared service to the community. Also present were the Executive Teams of each facility.
The meeting was deemed an “historic” event, as it was the first joint public meeting ever held between both boards. The boards are working out a master collaboration agreement, drawing upon the strengths and missions of both organizations, to support high quality, sustainable healthcare to patients in the South Coast area.
Each entity will remain separate, but services may be shared or provided through mutual agreements, according to SCHHC CEO Raymond Hino. The scope and details are still being discussed and additional meetings will be held soon to review and consider proposed service agreements.
About Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center
Southern Coos General Hospital (1960 – 1999)
- Southern Coos Health District organized July 27, 1955 by vote of registered voters in the District boundaries.
- Bond Issue for $203,000 passed in February 1956
- Sale of bonds delayed until 1958
- The cost of building and equipping Southern Coos General Hospital was $383,447
- Opened in 1960
- Located on the hill off Ocean Drive overlooking the river and the lighthouse
- Closed in December 1999 when the new Southern Coos Hospital was opened.
Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center
- Located at 900 11th Street, SE in Bandon, Oregon
- Construction from 1998 to 1999
- Dedicated on September 9, 1999
- Opened in December 1999 as a 21-bed hospital
- Granted Critical Access Hospital designation in November 2000
- Continues to maintain legal status as a Health Care District
- Maintains the only 24/7 Emergency Department in Bandon
- Offers ancilliary services such as a Clinical Laboratory, Medical Imaging, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Services, and a Swing Bed program
- A Multi-Specialty Clinic was opened on March 2, 2015, and now offers medical practitioners, pain management and mental health services
- The hospital serves Southern Coos County and Northern Curry County. This primary service area is populated by about 10,000 residents.
- SCHHC is one of the largest employers in the area.
About Coast Community Health Center
Coast Community Health Center was established in 2009 in Bandon, Oregon, as Bandon Community Health Center.
The health center is a nonprofit rural health center founded by 65 vested community volunteers committed to providing an efficient, friendly, and caring environment for delivering high quality, affordable primary health care services for all Bandon residents and the surrounding areas.
The health center’s first clinic opened in 2010. In 2014, the organization adopted the name Coast Community Health Center, and moved to its present, larger facility in Bandon. A health center was added in Port Orford, followed by two School Based Health Center sites, one in Brookings and one in Gold Beach. The expansions reflect the continued goal to make more medical services accessible to Southern Oregon coast residents.
Community involvement is the key to Coast Community Health Center’s ability to provide high-quality primary health care for all. Many of the founding volunteers have served as board directors and committee members. Professional partnerships include medical professionals, governmental agencies, and health and human services agencies throughout the state.
The Health Center Program is supported by HRSA.
Collaborative meeting with the boards of the Southern Coos Health District and Coast Community Health Center. Pictured from left: CCHC board member Joseph Caspary; SCHD board member Bob Pickel; CCHC board members J. J. McLeod, Sally Glunt and Mari Lochhaas; CCHC CEO Kendra Newbold; SCHHC CEO Raymond Hino; SCHD board members Tom Bedell and Mary Schamehorn; CCHC board members Beth Wood and Anne Goddard; and SCHD board members Pamela Hansen and Norbert Johnson.
(Photo credit: Robin Miller, attorney for Southern Coos Health District.)