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Annual Report 2020 Resilience in action

Looking back on a year of COVID-19

The upside of a difficult year

By Erik Thorsen, CEO

2020 was a year unlike any other. It didn't go as anyone planned, but I'm immensely proud of Columbia Memorial Hospital's work and progress, despite the threat of a global pandemic.

A year unlike any other

By the Numbers

4.5/5

Average provider rating

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671

CMH employees

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284

babies delivered

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Expanding your care

Recruitment efforts resulted in the successful start of 23 new physicians and advanced practice providers at CMH in 2020, with 12 additional providers scheduled to start in 2021.

Up to the challenge

By Camilo Rosales, MD, CMH board member, President of the professional staff

What a year 2020 was! The COVID-19 pandemic was a test of our global, national, and local health care systems.

Rising to the occasion

Staying strong and independent

By Constance Waisanen, CMH Board President

It's easy to overlook how fortunate we are to have a robust medical community here at the mouth of the Columbia River.

We are fortunate
$370,000

in community financial outreach

$2.4m

in charity care provided

COVID-19 voices

By Chris Lama, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy and Cancer Center

Before the first COVID-19 vaccines were approved for use, CMH formed a task force to tackle the challenge of getting health care workers and first responders in our area vaccinated as quickly as possible.

Committed to safety
30+

CMH caregivers held more than 20 vaccination events for health care workers and first responders.

1,000

Our team went from giving 80 doses a day to more than 1,000.

46%

of Clatsop County had at least one shot by May 11. These large public vaccinations would not have been possible in Clatsop County without the support of CMH.

More COVID-19 stories

Hear from some of the team members responsible for handling different aspects of care during COVID-19

COVID-19 voices: Patient care

By Judy Geiger, Vice President of Patient Care Services

Early in the pandemic, CMH created a Surge Plan for the hospital. Every department developed a piece of the plan to assure they could function at an optimal level if the hospital filled up with COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 voices: COVID-19 testing

By Jarrod Karnofski, DPT, Vice President of Ancillary & Support Services

We have implemented multiple avenues to test for COVID-19.

COVID-19 voices: Mental health

By Allison Whisenhunt, MSW, LCSW, Director of Behavioral Health and Care Management

When COVID-19 hit, we found that people needed help processing how they were feeling and coping.

Post-pandemic dreams

By Aaron Brown, DO, CMH Primary Care - Astoria

"We are in this together." "Stay safe." "Wear a mask." These words and phrases quickly became a mantra in March of last year.

Keeping hope on the horizon

Reflecting on my pandemic pregnancy

By Shelby Mendoza, a patient of the CMH Family Birthing Center

I'll never forget the day that the world shut down. Anxious thoughts raced through my mind. Would I get sick? Would I test positive for the virus? What about my baby? Would she be okay?

'Truly exceptional care'

Persevering and moving forward

By Gina Mysliwiec, MD, Emergency Department Medical Director

Living during a pandemic is different in so many ways from living during ordinary times. Working as a health care provider these days is also different, because the disease we are facing is new.

The power of teamwork

New in 2021: Collaboration offers the best of both worlds

On July 1, 2021, you will begin to see yet another transformation within our CMH Medical Group clinics. Starting that month, all our clinic providers will be official employees of OHSU under the name CMH-OHSU Health.

Working together for better health

2020 highlights

A year of challenges was also a year of growth

Growing medical services

By Nicole Williams, COO

In 2020, CMH welcomed 23 new physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. While some new recruits replaced someone who had retired or who had sought other opportunities, 10 filled new positions, including six physicians.

Expanding services with Seaside Clinic

CMH celebrated the one-year anniversary of the CMH Medical Group & Urgent Care – Seaside in March 2021 at the Seaside Outlet Mall.

Investing in your care

CMH upgraded medical equipment throughout the hospital to improve patient safety and comfort. In 2020, the hospital upgraded its IV pumps to better prevent medication errors, medication dispensers to reduce waste and hospital beds to prevent falls.

Enhancing critical care with tele-ICU services

In July, CMH's Critical Care Unit welcomed a new, robotic member of the team. When visiting a patient, the attending physician may bring the rolling robot with them to the bedside. The robot allows an OHSU intensive care physician to see and hear patients and provide consultations on the spot.

Spirit of Caring Awards

Every year, CMH celebrates exceptional caregivers with the Spirit of Caring Awards. These caregivers have gone above and beyond to provide excellent, person-centered care.

Cancer Collaborative receives sought-after accreditation

In November, the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative received a rare honor. It was awarded Cancer Center Accreditation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC).
12,152

visits to the Emergency Department

85,244

clinic visits

1,800

inpatient visits

131,276

outpatient visits

Foundations for the future

By Felicia Struve, Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Providing high-quality medical care to the people who need it when they need it is like building a three-legged stool. If one leg is short, the whole thing falls down.

It takes a village

Gifts from the heart

2020 marks CMH's third year leading the Community Christmas Food Basket program. CMH was pleased to be able to provide a holiday meal for more than 900 people and 220 families during the 2020 holiday season.

Help for the holidays