Saturday urgent care opens this Saturday at CVHC

Beginning this Saturday, Feb. 5, Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics will offer an urgent care service open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patients will check in at the ER entrance but will be seen as a clinic patient. 

“We are very excited to offer this service to the community,” says Nick Box, PA-C. “We know that everyone is busy and it can be difficult to get off work during the day to get you or your child in for that sniffly nose or possible sports injury.

“One way that CVHC has tried to help that issue is with the evening clinics, offered on Mondays and Thursdays; however, this still may not work for parents with kids in sports or other after school activities. For that reason we are now offering a weekend option,” says Box. 

“Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics strives to offer quality healthcare close to home. We know that sicknesses don’t follow the nine to five hours of typical clinics, so we decided to offer a Saturday urgent care so that our patients won’t have to travel the river road to Lewiston when they just can’t wait until Monday to get in to see their doctor,” says Vicky Petersen, Director of Physician Services. 

Common reasons to visit Urgent Care include colds, earaches, minor upper respiratory infections, sprains, strains, and minor athletic injuries. 

“Should you present to the urgent care with symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, stroke symptoms such as weakness, sudden vision changes, confusion or face numbness, that will be still be an emergency room visit, as those symptoms are more critical than what urgent care is designed for,” says Box. 

Patients will check-in for urgent care at the ER entrance. “By offering the option for patients to be seen in an Urgent Care we will be able to save them money since they won’t have to be admitted to the ER for an ear infection, etc. We feel our community really deserves the convenience and money saving opportunities an urgent care will offer,” says Box. 

CVHC is a certified Patient Centered Medical Home and the principles of a Medical Home include team work between providers, mid-levels (Physician’s Assistants and Nurse Practitioners) and outside specialists, premium quality and safety, enhanced access to care and affordable care.

“As we strive fully embrace the principles of the Medical Home model providing increased access to care becomes very important and adding Urgent Care to our list of services will help us continue to do that,” explains Box.

The urgent care will be on a first come, first served basis. For more information please call 208-476-4555.

Kelli Banks, FNP, to begin seeing patients in Pierce

Kelli Banks, FNP, Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics will begin seeing patients at the Pioneer Medical Clinic, 105 Carle Street, in Pierce.

Banks came to CVHC from Anderson, Missouri and has been working in the healthcare field since 2005. Kelli is from the Eastern Oregon area and is excited to be moved back to the Northwest to be near her family.

She previously worked in several rural hospital emergency departments and is excited to be starting a new career practicing in our Kooskia, Orofino and Pierce Clinics.

Kelli is certified in Pediatric Life Support and especially loves working with OB patients, women and children. She has held several Labor and Delivery Nurse positions before completing her Masters of Science and Nursing and receiving her Family Nurse Practitioner Certification.

“Kelli is a great addition to our Medical Staff at CVHC, we are glad that she will also be available at two of our satellite clinics to give a larger number of patients a chance to establish their care with her,” says Vicky Petersen, Clinic Manager.

If you would like to set up an appointment with Kelli Banks at the Orofino Clinic please call 476-5777, or at Kooskia Medical Clinic at 926-7801, or Pioneer Medical Clinic in Pierce at 464-2578.

CVHC patient makes full recovery from colorectal cancer

This article was written by Trent Morgan CRNA, MSNA, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, who performed Nellie’s anesthesia for her surgery and procedures. 

Nellie Clifford is what you would call a true “go-getter.” Her strait forward approach hints of a life rich in real experience and overcome hardships. Add one more accomplishment to her 74 years; proud cancer survivor. 

“And, I’ve got the certificate to prove it,” she points out, “99.9% cancer free.” She does not mince words either, “I tell it like it is even though my words aren’t right sometimes. I only was schooled to the eighth grade.” Despite her admitted lacking in formal education, she is engaging and entirely pleasant. Her still thick east coast accent adds a bit of mystique to the conversation. 

Moving to Orofino in 1975 from New Hampshire, “following my kids,” Nellie clearly loves the Orofino community. “That is one reason I decided to have my surgery in town,” she offers. “My kids are here and I can’t see traveling. They [Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics] have good doctors, surgeons and nurses; so why travel down river?” 

She also is certain that the CVH Emergency Department saved her son and daughter-in-law’s lives. “They were in a bad head on collision on the river road,” she describes. “The initial officers on the scene didn’t believe it was possible we could be alive,” offers Nellie’s son, Ken Clifford Jr. 

According to Nellie, local EMS was able to transport Ken and his wife Barbara to CVH where, “Dr. Petersen saved his life.” Ken adds jokingly, “they all got to meet the real Ken and Barbie that day.” This experience was one of many that helped Nellie form positive opinions and trust in Clearwater Valley Hospital. 

Nellie was diagnosed with aggressive and invasive colorectal cancer late in 2010 following a routine screening exam. The need for the exam was identified by Clearwater Valley’s Family Practice Physician Dr. Vanessa Brown and performed by hospital surgeon Enrique Montana MD, FACS at CVH. Dr. Michael Meza, MD assisted with the surgery. 

Dr. Brown says, “Nellie was a bit stubborn about having the test [a colonoscopy] done and took some convincing.” When asked about her initial reaction to the diagnosis, Nellie says; “You can’t get excited, just hold onto God’s hand and have a good attitude.” 

Dr. Montana attributes Nellie’s outcome, in part, to this positive outlook. “That is a very complex operation and you must have the right mindset to be successful,” Dr. Montana explained. 

Nellie underwent an Exploratory Laparotomy, abdominal-perineal resection and hemicolectomy with transverse anastomosis and colostomy.” In laymen’s terms; “We basically located the cancer and removed it putting things back together so the plumbing works,” Dr. Montana explained. 

Though attitude is an important aspect of recovery, the complexity of the surgery required a great deal of expertise and equipment that CVH surgical services maintain for just such a challenge. Dr. Montana stated, “We have the capabilities and staff to handle this type of surgery in otherwise healthy patients.” 

Having full surgical services at the local hospital is important to Nellie. “You need ‘em.” Nellie points out with passion. “You’re going to croak before you get to Lewiston,” she says with a grin. Why more rural residents don’t utilize the full services of the community’s hospital, she’s not certain. 

With CVH and her sister hospital in Cottonwood named the Outstanding Rural Healthcare organization last year by the National Rural Health Association there is recognition that supports that excellent care is provided at both facilities. 

Following Nellie’s “all day surgery,” Nellie spent a week recovering at CVH. “They treated me well… I have nothing to complain about,” Nellie offers with regards to her post-operative care. Ken points out the family was grateful during the long surgery for the constant updates; “Thank God for the operating room staff that kept us informed.” 

Following discharge from CVHC, physicians at CVHC worked with oncologists to coordinate chemotherapy and radiation at St. Joseph Regional Cancer Center. Dr. Montana states that timing is very important in cancer treatment following surgery. “They worked well with us to coordinate postoperative treatment during the ‘golden time’, giving the best results.” 

Nellie agrees that the entire process of treatment following surgery was well planned and easy for her and her family to accommodate. 

Nellie’s most recent triumph was a final visit to the Clearwater Valley O.R. for removal of a port-a-catheter previously placed for her chemotherapy treatment. “They said I’m cancer free, so why keep it?” she rationalizes. “I got stuff to do anyway”, she again grins, “I was chopping wood two months after the surgery; I’ve got to get on with my life!” The visit to the OR gave staff members a chance to see how their part of the team that participated in Nellie’s surgery contributed to her survival. All agree it is a very satisfying feeling.

CVHC Doctors advocate for drug free youth

Taylor Kelso, Dr. Phil Petersen, and David Olson demonstrate some props used to showcase healthy lifestyle choices at the 2012 OES Health Fair. 

A Health Fair was held Jan. 26 at Orofino Elementary school for grades K-7 where students visited twenty different stations throughout the day. Presenters focused on health issues and came from a wide range of local businesses and organizations including the Orofino Police Department, Sunnyside Fire Department, LCSC Outreach, Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics and several others. Topics that were covered were exercise, bone health, germ awareness, internet safety, spine care, boating safety, goal setting and healthy choices. 

 “We wanted to have a broad range of presentations to really cover every area that is related to health. We asked Dr. Petersen and Dr. Meza to focus on healthy lifestyles that are free of drugs, alcohol and tobacco,” says Angie Baldus, OES Principal.

Dr. Phil Petersen, Physician at CVHC, presented to the morning classes and spoke about smoking in terms of lifelong cost, “How much does a pack of cigarettes cost? Five dollars? Some people smoke one, two and three packs a day! That’s really going to add up over time,” as he held up a little red sports car toy, “If you’re smoking three packs a day, there’s no way you’ll ever be able to afford a car like this!”

Dr. Michael Meza, Physician at CVHC, took over for the afternoon classes and continued on the same track. “The children at all age levels seemed to really enjoy the discussion and many had great questions. We spoke about the importance of healthy decisions, in an attempt to learn healthy behaviors throughout life,” says Meza.

Dr. Petersen recently joined a task force based in Coeur d’Alene that aims to deter kids from using any type of prescription medications that are not prescribed to them. “I know the interest is here to get something similar started in this community. There are a lot of people from the hospital who I think would want to participate and I’m hoping to find more potential members, possibly through the K-12 Roundtable. It’s a very important issue that needs to be addressed here in Orofino as well as all over Idaho,” says Petersen. 

“The Health Fair was a great success that the kids enjoyed and learned a lot from. We hope to do it again next year and continue teaching our kids about healthy, safe, productive lifestyles,” says Baldus.