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GRH’s award-winning telemedicine program a model for rural hospitals.

Grande Ronde Hospital (GRH) has been recognized at the national level for providing access to quality health care through innovative programs and technology.

GRH received the 2009 Outstanding Rural Health Organization award at the 32nd annual Rural Health Conference held in May in Miami Beach, Fla. GRH is the first Oregon recipient of this award.

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA), located in Washington, D.C., presented the award at its conference before 900 rural health professionals and students from across the United States.

Praise for GRH

Alan Morgan, NRHA CEO, says: “Grande Ronde Hospital’s leadership in adopting and developing multiple telemedicine programs has greatly improved access to care in the area. These contributions will surely serve as a model for other hospitals.”

Meaghan McCamman, NRHA policy and program services manager, says competition for the award was stiff, but GRH’s nomination stood out because of “the scope of accomplishments in rural outreach, preventive health and education, quality and efficiency of care, and strong community support and involvement.”

Hospital board Chairman Bob Messinger sees the award as a tribute to employee accomplishments in providing access to outstanding rural health care now and for the future.

“The hospital’s innovative and dedicated staff, with their ‘can-do’ attitude, makes GRH a truly outstanding rural health organization,” he says. “It is my honor to be associated with such a fine group of individuals.”

Doug Romer, executive director of patient care services, has been the point man for the hospital’s innovative telemedicine program. He is quick to acknowledge the team effort it took to bring remote presence technology to Eastern Oregon.

“Being recognized by the NRHA is a major accomplishment for our facility,” Romer says. “If our docs and our medical staff didn’t embrace this concept, it wouldn’t have happened. If our board hadn’t agreed to fund the infrastructure to go wireless, it wouldn’t have happened. If Jim [Mattes] and the rest of the executive team hadn’t supported the vision, it would not have happened. Clearly, Grande Ronde Hospital is leading the way for the future of specialty medicine in rural America.”

Better local care

When Jim Mattes, GRH president/CEO, was first approached by Romer, he realized that remote presence technology could be the vehicle for providing specialty health care not normally available to rural residents without traveling to a metropolitan area.

“Our mission is to improve the access and quality of health care in the region,” Mattes says. “This national award is further affirmation we are doing the right things for the right reasons.”

GRH was nominated for the award by Mike Ward, executive director of development for Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.