[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 130 (Monday, October 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10039-S10040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                            HEALTH CARE HERO

   Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, today I rise to salute 
Terry O. Finklein, a true healthcare and community hero for Oregon. 
Terry is the chief executive officer of Columbia Memorial Hospital in 
Astoria, OR. Columbia Memorial evolved from the north coast's oldest 
hospital in 1927, and has served the people of Clatsop County, OR for 
generations.
  Not long ago, Columbia Memorial Hospital was on the brink of closing 
because of financial problems. Terry arrived at Columbia Memorial in 
late 1989 and promptly turned the financially troubled hospital around. 
When you lead a rural hospital, financial heroics are an ongoing 
necessity.
  Over the last decade Terry's accomplishments include implementation 
of a $3.5 million dollar hospital building project, successive 3-year 
JCAHO accreditations, creation of a Home Health Care program and the 
establishment of a Medicare certified hospice program.
  Terry is counted among the pioneers of Oregon's statewide trauma 
system. He built a helipad on Columbia Memorial's front lawn, something 
everyone swore ``couldn't be done'', brought the hospital's Emergency 
Room and staff up to a standard of excellence that earned the hospital 
State designation as a Level III Trauma Center, and doubled the size of 
the ER.
  Last year, Terry's community lost the services of five physicians in 
one week with the closure of a clinic. As most of my colleagues from 
rural States know, physician recruitment in rural communities is tough. 
So is the clinic business. In order to ensure that the residents of 
Clatsop County had access to stable health care, Terry took Columbia 
Memorial into the non-profit clinic business. He implemented the 
Columbia Memorial Hospital Women's Center, which is now staffed by 
three excellent physicians and a certified nurse midwife.
  Statistically, Clatsop County's children are an at-risk population. 
Terry decided to tackle this issue at its roots by administering the 
Healthy Families program of Clatsop County. This program offers at-risk 
babies and parents a ``how to'' helping hand with regular home visits 
and access to other agencies as needed.
  In Clatsop County, 45 percent of the population has incomes at or 
below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Combine that with a 
shortage of physicians, and access to health care becomes a major 
issue. About a year ago, Terry envisioned a federally funded clinic. 
``It can't be done,'' folks said. This time Terry went directly to his 
community partners for support. He received dozens of letters of 
support. He funded and implemented research and a grant proposal. He 
spent, and still spends, hours on project implementation.

[[Page S10040]]

  In December of this year, the Coastal Family Health Center will open 
for business. It will provide general health care, dental care and 
mental health services in a community where these services are 
desperately needed.
  For his service and dedication to the health of the people in Clatsop 
County, OR, I salute Terry O. Finklein, a true hero for Oregon.

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