Health library

GRH welcomes new physicians.

For physicians who love the great outdoors and small-town life, eastern Oregon can be a dream come true, especially when they discover the sophistication of Grande Ronde Hospital (GRH).

“As a small rural hospital, we stand out amongst our peers with our excellent facility and staff,” says Jim Mattes, president/CEO of GRH.

Even so, recruiting doctors to the area has been a challenge. “We’ve been keenly aware of the physician shortage for a long time,” says Paul Shorb, senior director support services. But with several new physicians joining GRH in the next few months, the community has reason to celebrate.

More care available locally

“Our goal has been working toward improving health care access, and it’s exciting to realize that we are finally meeting our goal,” Shorb says.

“I’m very excited,” says Keith Graham, MD, an internist at GRH Regional Medical Clinic. “I hear about [the physician shortage] every day. There’s a lot of anxiety, and often people end up going to the ER, which is not an ideal situation. You can often prevent that kind of crisis in the first place,” Graham says. The new internists, family practice doctor and the general surgeon will be very welcomed and much needed, he says.

The new physicians will join Graham and four other practitioners in the newly remodeled GRH Regional Medical Clinic (formerly known as the Internal Medicine Clinic) at 506 Fourth St. in La Grande.

We offer many services to help you stay healthy. Find out more about Grande Ronde Hospital and local physician clinics when you visit www.grh.org. You can even get door-to-door directions!