News

By Trish Yerges, for Grande Ronde Hospital & Clinics
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Jill Parsons-Chaffee will retire on September 30, after nearly 40 years of providing healthcare to patients in Union County.
“After much prayer and consideration, I feel this is the right moment to begin a new chapter,” Parsons-Chaffee said.
She intends to spend her retirement with her husband and family, while also engaging in various projects, pursuing hobbies, and undertaking occasional travel.
Her steady presence has provided reassurance and comfort to thousands of women across multiple generations in Union County. She feels honored to have traveled so many healthcare journeys with her patients. These shared moments included the joy of childbirth, the stresses of surgeries and illnesses, and the gradual changes that come with each stage of a woman’s life.
“I’ve grieved with you in times of loss, celebrated in times of healing, and found deep fulfillment in providing care across multiple generations,” Parsons-Chaffee said. “That has truly warmed my heart.”
Her introduction to medicine started as a young girl growing up on her family’s century ranch outside of Elgin, when she aspired to be a veterinarian. She had many hands-on experiences on the ranch under the guidance of some outstanding veterinarians.
“But life had other plans,” she said.
Her inspiration to become a nurse came from her own high-risk pregnancy experience. It was then that she discovered her deep interest in science and healthcare. At the same time, Oregon Health and Science University’s (OHSU) outreach program began at Eastern Oregon University, and she participated.
“The timing was right,” she said.
Parsons-Chaffee graduated from OHSU in 1986, which launched her into a busy, rewarding career working as an office RN, med-surg RN, labor and delivery RN, and surgical assistant for Dr. Kenneth Rost at Grande Ronde Hospital (GRH).
Her career soon took a pivotal turn when OHSU invited her to join a one-time Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner/Certified Nurse Midwife program designed for rural Oregon residents.
“Thanks to the support and mentorship of Dr. Rost and other local healthcare professionals, I completed that program and became a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner in 1995,” she said.
She credits the late Dr. Rost and his wife, Mary, for their encouragement and the invitation to work in the doctor’s private practice in this new role.
Parsons-Chaffee recognizes that there will be a period of transition where her patients will be seeking a new provider in her absence, but the clinic is prepared to help. She does caution her patients to please stay up to date with their healthcare.
“Establish a relationship with a new provider, and remember—online advice can’t replace the expertise of a trusted provider,” she said.
The GRH Women’s Clinic employs two mid-level practitioners, two OB/GYNs, and a team of support staff. Patients’ medical records will remain accessible to GRH providers. If a patient wishes to transfer their records to another provider, they should contact the Health Information Management department at 541-963-1446 for assistance.
“It has been a true privilege to be part of your healthcare journey,” Parsons-Chaffee said. “Thank you for the trust you have placed in me over the years. I wish you many years of continued good health and happiness.”
GRH extends its gratitude to Jill for her decades of service and the immeasurable impact she has made on the lives of her patients and colleagues alike.