Methow Valley Health & Wellness 2015

Methow Valley 2015 – 16

Health&Wellness

Room One’s multi-faceted mission

FREE

Healthy ways to handle stress New faces in familiar places HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16 1

We will get you back in the game!

Appointments are available in all clinics. To make an appointment please call: Omak - 509.826.6704 î ş Brewster - 509.689.4000

Dr. Jim Lamberton Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Joshua Drumm Orthopedic Surgeon

Serving the Communities of North Central Washington for over 20 years Brewster - Grand Coulee - Omak - Republic - Tonasket

Rob Lamberton PA-C

Talyn Gray PA-C

*Caribou Trail Professional Medical Services Group LLC

Time to get your Time to get your hearing checked? hearing If you are frustrated with a hearing problem, or your current checked?

the combination of professional care and advanced technology.

If you areoffrustrated Dr. Doug Moomaw, Doctor Audiology with a and staff Hanna,hearing Kristin, Kynne & JoAnnor your problem,

Time to get your hearingOur checked?

current hearing aids,we encourage you to find out what is possible through the combination of professional care and advanced technology.

Guarantee

If,problem, for any reason youor are not satisfiedcurrent If you are frustrated with a hearingwith your your hearing aids, we’ll offer you a 100% refund within 60 days of the date of

purchase. Plain and simple. No fine print. questions asked. the combination of professional care andNoadvanced technology.

Moomaw Hearing Center, Inc.

Dr. Doug Moomaw, Doctor of Audiology and staff Hanna, Kristin, Kynne & JoAnn

Our

Guarantee

If, for any reason you are not satisfied with your hearing aids, we’ll offer you a 100% refund within 60 days of the date of purchase. Plain and simple. No fine print.

No questions asked.

Toll Free 1-888-898-HEAR (4327) Omak Wenatchee Omak Omak • 509-422-3100 • 509-422-3100 • 5 W. Central Ave. 665-3100 422-3100 5 W. Grand CentralCoulee Ave. ~•Just west of the• Main St. stoplight 509-631-3004 406 Burdin Blvd.

1556 N. Wenatchee Ave, Suite D 5 W. Central Ave. and L&I accepted Between Grocery Insurance Outlet and ShariÂ’s Restaurant

- 0% financing available Just West of the Main St. Stoplight

Insurance and L&I accepted - 0% financing available

Moomaw Hearing Center, Inc.

2  HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16

Toll Free 1-888-898-HEAR (4327)

Wenatchee

Omak

Methow Valley

Health & Wellness 2015 – 16

Don Nelson, publisher/editor Darla Hussey, design Sheila Ward & Tyson Kellie, advertising associates Dana Sphar, ad design & production Rebecca Walker, office manager CONTRIBUTORS Ann McCreary Ashley Lodato Marcy Stamper A publication of the Methow Valley News P.O. Box 97, Twisp, WA 98856 509.997.7011 • 509.997.3277 fax editor@methowvalleynews.com www.methowvalleynews.com

Table of Contents

Editor’s note Rural health care is a fragile concept these days. In sparsely populated areas far from urban centers, it can be difficult to find

New faces, same philosophy

dependable medical, dental, therapeutic or emotional care. Staffing at clinics and hospitals is an ongoing challenge.

4

Fortunately for residents of the Methow Valley and greater Okanogan County, there are options of all kinds, most relatively close by: Doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners, first responders, specialists, dentists, naturopaths, spas, social service providers, therapists, counselors, masseuses, herbalists, chiropractors, ophthalmologists,

One-stop health care advice & support 8

pharmacists, health insurance providers — taken together, that array of services is reassuring.

You’ll find most of them represented by our advertisers in Health

A natural process

& Wellness 2015–16. Keep the magazine nearby year-round for ready

13

consultation.

Health & Wellness 2015–16 is a valuable resource for full- and part-time residents alike. We hope you’ll find information and inspiration to guide your personal well-being.

Don Nelson

Find us on Facebook

Publisher/editor

Cover photo by Steve Mitchell

New to the Valley?

Please call to establish care.

We are always taking new patients.

Weʼve Got The Pros!

Emergency Services 24/7 Our ER is now staffed exclusively with Coast to Coast Physicians, Board Certified in Emergency Medicine.

509-689-2517

www.ThreeRiversHospital.net 507 Hospital Way, Brewster

Ann Diamond, M.D. Michael Tuggy, M.D. Leesa Linck, M.D. Phoebe Hershenow, ARNP Danielle Micheletti, PA-C

The

Country Clinic

(509) 996-8180

P.O. Box 945, 1116 Hwy 20 Winthrop, WA 98862

Board Certified Family Medicine, Pediatrics & Medical Genetics.

Offering Digital X-Ray & Ultrasound

Serving the Methow Valley with Advanced Life Support since 1968

CALL 911

Aero Methow RE SC UE S E RV IC E

TWISP

997-4013

HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16 3

New faces, same philosophy Preventive care is the priority at clinics in the Methow Valley

By Ashley Lodato

I

there’s one thing that the doctors, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, naturopaths and other health providers in the Methow Valley have in common, it’s that they care about your well-being. They want you to eat well, sleep well, feel well and, if possible, live out long, productive lives with all your limbs, internal organs, and natural teeth intact.

Joining this community of the valley’s existing dedicated health care professionals are a handful of providers new to the area or serving in new capacities, and they are eager to share their thoughts about healthier living with you. f

Family Health Centers Dental Clinic in Twisp Dr. Teresa Castner is a newcomer to neither dentistry nor the Methow, but she only recently combined her love of the valley with her interest in helping people take better care of their teeth.

Since earning her degree from the University of Washington in 1990, Castner has practiced dentistry all over the world. Her passion for providing access to dentistry to underserved and underinsured populations led her to volunteer her services in places such as post-Katrina New Orleans, Haiti, Jamaica, and Tanzania, where she built and opened a dental clinic.

Through Family Health Centers, which owns the Twisp Dental Clinic where she has practiced since 4 HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16

February 2015, Castner is committed to serving those who lack adequate access to dental care. “We accept those who can’t afford dental care, those who are medically compromised, the elderly, and children,” she says. “We want to treat and educate people so that they can achieve a level of good oral health.”

While those who have dental insurance or who can afford to pay out-of-pocket can seek treatment

by Dr. John O’Keefe in Twisp or Dr. Steven Harrop in Winthrop, Castner’s clinic — which is subsidized by federal and state governments and which accepts Medicaid and Medicare payments — serves those who might otherwise not seek or have access to dental care.

Castner recognizes that convincing people to get regular dental care — even just routine screening and cleaning — can be difficult. She sees some patients who haven’t been to the dentist in years, if ever. Oral health has either been not been a priority or has been inaccessible to many of them, and in many cases poor oral health has led to medical, social, and behavioral problems, particularly in children.

Additionally, “the leading cause of tooth loss is periodontal disease,” Castner says, “so we’re battling that in addition to decay and neglect.”

With the battles, however, come the rewards. “People have been so appreciative,” Castner says. “It just makes me happy to help people in this way.”

Castner is also gratified by the thought of the jobs the clinic has created. “We are providing jobs and training for four dental assistants,” she says. “They’re learning about a whole new area of health, and it is training they can take anywhere.”

Castner’s hope is that her clinic will provide patients with the information, techniques, and incentive to begin to take their dental health

Dr. Teresa Castner treats patients at the Family Health Centers Dental Clinic in Twisp. Methow Valley News file photo by Don Nelson

seriously. It’s clear that Castner, who serves on the boards of Room One and Little Star Montessori School, is committed to this concept of treating and educating. In October she will begin outreach programs in the schools, teaching proper brushing and flossing techniques as well as educating students about the effects of sugary drinks such as soda pop and sports drinks.

But serving the patients who need it most remains her top priority, and she can best do this through her clinic. “I’ll fight tooth and nail to keep this place open,” Castner says (no pun intended).

Although Castner’s practice is focused on the underserved and underinsured, she has free, sound advice for anyone who will listen: “Brush and floss,” she says. “Brush and floss.”

Family Health Centers Twisp Medical Clinic Family Health Centers (FHC) also recently opened the Twisp Medical Clinic, at the site of the former Methow Valley Family Practice. Like the dental clinic, the medical clinic seeks to provide care to underserved patients, regardless of their ability to pay. The clinic will provide a wide spectrum of medical services,

including prenatal care and women’s health.

One of those providing care at the new Twisp Medical Clinic will be a familiar face — Certified Nurse Midwife Blue Bradley, who started catching babies in 2008 when she graduated from the Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Nursing and opened Methow Midwifery.

“I will still provide the same services I provide now,” says Bradley, “Physicals, menopause and perimenopause consultation, lactation consulting, as well as prenatal and postnatal care.” Although Bradley is taking a break from the home births

Blue Bradley. Photo courtesy of ashley lodato

she has been attending for the past seven years, she still has hospital privileges in Brewster and will be attending births there.

Bradley says that the move to the Twisp Medical Clinic is not a spontaneous one for her. “I’ve been talking for years with FHC about collaborating,” she says, “but it never seemed to fall into place. And then this spring they called me with an idea about the Twisp Medical Clinic and it just seemed like a great fit.” She adds, “FHC has been great to communicate with as we figure this out together.”

One of the things that Bradley and FHC figured out was a rotating call schedule, where Bradley and two Methow Valley MDs will take turns living in a rented house in Brewster for several days and being on call for births, rotating into the call schedule with local doctors. Although this might sound onerous, compared with Bradley’s current schedule of being on call for labor and delivery with any pregnant woman she has been seeing it’s a markedly less demanding schedule.

“It’s exhausting,” Bradley says,

Denise Heatley, LMP

Mount Gardner

“being the only one doing what you’re doing. And births are unpredictable.”

Bradley will be sharing prenatal and women’s health consultations with the Twisp Medical Clinic’s new physician, Dr. Allison Fitzgerald, who recently moved from Neighborhood Health on 45th Street in Seattle, as well as doctors at Three Rivers Hospital.

Under the new scenario, Bradley or Fitzgerald could provide all the prenatal care for a pregnant woman in the valley, but not end up being the provider on call in Brewster on the day the woman goes into labor. Similarly, they might end up attending births with patients who they have never met before, patients whose prenatal care was with one of their colleagues. But they can also still provide prenatal care for a woman who plans to deliver in Wenatchee, or Seattle, or Spokane.

For Bradley, who has a 2½-year-old daughter and a husband whose work as a mountaineering guide requires a significant amount of travel, the more regular schedule offered by the Twisp Medical Clinic is appealing. She’ll miss parts of being on her

these long-term relationships.”

But Bradley also looks forward to having colleagues in the office, as well has having someone else to take care of scheduling appointments, ordering supplies, and providing other support — all things Bradley has done for herself while owning Methow Midwifery. “It means I will

• Providing quality, compassionate care in a fun loving environment • State of the art office utilizing digital x-rays • Oral surgery, including wisdom teeth extractions • Replace missing teeth, beautifully! We offer surgical placement of dental implants in our office • Our office is certified. Call us for a FREE Invisalign consultation.

(509)341-4228

License # MA00011919

own, though, like “being allowed to do things my own way,” Bradley says with a smile. She’ll also miss the closeness of relationships that build over months of prenatal visits. “You get so close when you provide all the care,” she says, “You get to know the families too.” Fitzgerald echoes this sentiment, saying, “I like establishing

General & Cosmetic Dentistry ~ John T. O’Keefe, DDS

MASSAGE

202 White Avenue Winthrop Fitness Building

Dr. Allison Fitzgerald is new to the Family Health Centers Twisp Medical Clinic, but not to the valley. Photo by Don Nelson

115 Glover Street, Twisp

997-7533

www.sawtoothdentalcare.com

NORTH GLOVER HEALING CENTER Committed to your health and well-being

Acupuncture Nutritional Therapy Herbology Clinical Psychology Yoga/Mind-Body Integration

Massage: Stress Reduction/Injury Treatment Aston-Patterning Craniosacral Therapy Deep Tissue Reflexology

214 Glover St. North - Twisp, WA • northgloverhealing.com

Promote well being, alleviate stress, physical pain, anxiety and fatigue. Help your mind, body and spirit work together.

509-996-3566 or 206-550-3666

lucinda@lucindatear.com www.reflexologyandsalves.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16 5

be able to put more time into patient care and charting,” she says.

The staff who will now be taking care of Bradley’s office-support needs are praised by Fitzgerald who, after less than two weeks on the job, named them as one of the best aspects of her new job. “This is an amazing group of women,” Fitzgerald says. “They’re just fabulous. Competent and kind, they’re just fantastic.”

Fitzgerald has also been enjoying just getting to know the community. “I keep getting behind in my appointments,” she says, “because my patients are just so interesting.”

Fitzgerald speaks Spanish, and hopes to see increasing numbers of Spanish speakers in the clinic.

Fitzgerald affirms what Dr. Joe Jensen (who sold the practice to FHC in the spring) began to notice: that many of the patients coming in were ones who had not received medical care for years because they couldn’t afford it. “We take care of everybody,” Fitzgerald says. “Whether you’re underinsured or you have a high deductible, we’ll figure out a sliding scale.”

Fitzgerald and her husband have been visiting the Methow for 22 years and they already owned a home here, so when FHC bought the clinic from Jensen and posted a job for a doctor, Fitzgerald sensed that it would be a good fit. “I’m a community clinic person,” she says.

Fitzgerald’s advice for the community? “Wear sunscreen,” she says. “I was warned before I came here that I would see a lot of skin cancer and lesions. And I have.”

She adds, “People here work outside, recreate outside, and you have sun almost all the time. Years of that

Therapeutic Bodywork & Massage

For treatment and relaxation 10 years experience

509-341-4463

104 Glover St. ~ Suite 203 ~ Twisp terigable.massagetherapy.com Lic. #MA 00021396

6 HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16

takes a toll.” She says she now slathers sunscreen on herself religiously.

The Country Clinic With FHC’s purchase of the Twisp clinic, the Country Clinic is the last independent physician practice in Okanogan County, maybe in all of eastern Washington (there are other independent health care providers in the valley).

“I’m a dinosaur,” sighs clinic owner Dr. Ann Diamond. But being a relic isn’t too bad when there is such great new stuff happening in the medical community, she says. “With the two new providers at the Country Clinic, the new providers with FHC, new ownership at Winthrop Physical Therapy,” says Diamond, “there is a whole sense of change, there’s this whole community of people in the valley collaborating to keep people healthy.”

“We’re a good team,” she continues.

“It’s a collegial group of physicians and mid-level providers looking around and asking ‘How can we help each other?’ There is so much educational and professional crossover.”

Like other providers in the valley, Diamond appreciates the chance to get to know her patients, especially the aspect of “interlacing relationships,” as she calls it. “I am sometimes treating four generations within a family,” she says. “When grandma gets sick, you can get multiple perspectives on what’s affecting her.”

Diamond also values the opportunity to treat patients with different political and social beliefs than her own. In a larger community, a doctor and a patient would most likely not be aware of such differences, but in

a small community where “you see people at meetings, at the grocery store, you know a little about each other,” she says. “I get to treat a real cross-section of the community.”

Echoing the theme of providing health care to those who need it, the Country Clinic will continue to see uninsured kids for free on Fridays.

“We try to get them to sign up for Apple Health [Washington state’s Medicaid program],” says Diamond, “but we’re going to treat them even if they don’t. It’s kids, and they deserve access to health care.”

Diamond talked about the fires as something new for the medical community to tackle. “People with health issues left during the smoke,” she says, “and lately we’ve been seeing a lot of people with coughs or allergies.”

But the real challenge, Diamond believes, will be seeing how mental health issues spin out over the next few months and even years, and those issues won’t be confined to those who suffered personal or property loss.

“When you start asking those who should have been least affected by the fires,” says Diamond, “you realize how many people feel guilty that they didn’t lose anything. They have survivor guilt. That’s both beautiful and sad. What hurts one part of the valley hurts them, too.”

Diamond is thrilled to have two new providers joining her team this year. Dr. Michael Tuggy moved from Swedish Hospital in Seattle, but he is no stranger to small community life. Tuggy was raised in a rural area in a third-world setting and says “the smaller community feels much more comfortable” than city life. He and his wife have owned a home in the

Ulrich’s Pharmacy Serving the Methow Valley for 48 years!

Methow for six years as well, so he knew what he was getting into when he began practicing at the Country Clinic.

Tuggy notes that one of the differences between urban medical centers and small-town clinics is that because patients in the Methow have to travel such long distances to get specialty care, he is using his training and experience more than he did in Seattle. Here, says Tuggy, he meets primary care needs and takes care of common issues up front before referring patients to specialists for further treatment if needed, whereas in Seattle the patient might have seen a specialist before coming to him.

Tuggy, who worked at a top-notch clinic at Swedish, rates his colleagues in Winthrop on par with other first-rate providers he has worked with. “We have a very competent and thoughtful staff at the Country Clinic,” he says.

According to Tuggy, the patients are apparently equally wonderful.

“Such interesting people and stories here,” he says. “And so many are doing a great job of keeping themselves healthy. The fitness level of people in this valley is impressive.”

Nurse Practitioner Phoebe Hershenow, another new provider at the Country Clinic, agrees. “I’ve worked at both clinics in the valley and I’m so impressed by the quality, experience, skill, dedication, and humanity of all the health care providers in the community,” she says.

Tuggy urges us to take advantage of primary care benefits of our health plans. “Even if you feel fine, it is important to have a periodic screening,” he says. “Good care is about relationships in the end. The better I know

PRESCRIPTIONS, OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS, GIFTS AND MORE!

509-997-2191 423 E. Methow Valley Highway,Twisp Store Hours: 9-6 Monday - Saturday • Pharmacy Hours: 9-6 Monday - Friday, 9-1 Saturday

Gaylen Willett Insurance Personal One-On-One Service at no charge for your review Medicare & Rx Plans Critical Care w/ Home Health & Nursing Home Benefits (509) 682-4617 (509) 679-4619 (cell) gaylenwillettinsurance@gmail.com

Dr. Michael Tuggy joined the Country Clinic in Winthrop earlier this year. Methow Valley News file photo by Marcy Stamper

my patients, who they are as people, their medical conditions, and their history, then the better the care I can provide them.”

Tuggy points to instances — not isolated, but numerous — where the provider’s knowing the patient made all the difference in getting the right care at the right time. “We need to work together as partners in health to be truly successful in our work,” he says.

As a volunteer for Family Medicine for America’s Health — a strategic effort by all of the family medicine organizations in the country to reform the health care system — Tuggy encourages citizens to get involved in health care reform.

“We are making good progress already in this important effort to lower cost and provide better care at every level of the system,” he says. “The more our communities are engaged in this reform work, the more likely we will see positive changes happening sooner.” Tuggy suggests visiting HealthisPrimary.org to learn more.

Hershenow points out that providers in the valley seem to have transcended many of the difficulties surrounding health care reform. “The

health care delivery system in our country is so fundamentally flawed,” she says, “it would be easy to lapse into a resigned or mercenary cynicism, but what I see [among valley health care providers] is excellent, compassionate patient care and earnest efforts to improve from within.”

Reinforcing Tuggy’s stand, Hershenow is a staunch advocate for primary care. “Family medicine is where it’s at,” she says. Having worked her entire career in rural communities, Hershenow recognizes that primary care is even more vital in such places.

“The real goal,” she says, “is to stay out of [specialty care].” It “requires a little timely dabbling in preventative care and symptom-focused intervention at home,” she says, but that’s what is going to keep us healthy. “We have mistaken having health insurance with having access to having health care, and access to specialty care with having high-quality care,” she says.

Primary care begins at home, Hershenow suggests, with nutrition and fitness. “Physical fitness trumps all,” she says. “And get your nutrition from food, not pills or supplements.” 

TWISP MEDICAL CLINIC Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm Closed for lunch 1pm - 2pm (509) 997-2011

& TWISP DENTAL CLINIC Thursday – Friday 7am – 6pm Closed for Lunch 12pm - 1pm (509) 997-0922

Family Health Centers offers a diverse range of primary and preventive health care services including adult and child medical care, dental care, obstetrics, lab, WIC, and pharmacy. Walk-ins welcome.

HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16 7

The staff at Room One: ready to provide a wide variety of services. Photo courtesy of Room One

One-stop health care advice & support Room One fills gaps that are common to rural areas

By Ann McCreary

8 HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16

W

hen its doors first opened 17 years ago, Room One’s primary focus was addressing alarming rates of teen pregnancy and domestic violence in the Methow Valley.

Teen pregnancy prevention, family planning and domestic violence prevention remain “the bedrock” of services offered by Room One today,

said Adrianne Moore, prevention director. But the nonprofit organization has greatly broadened the scope of health, wellness and social services it offers the community, working to fill a void in health services that is common to many rural areas of America.

“Without Room One, our isolated rural residents are at risk of being

left without services, advocates and vital resources,” said Elana Mainer, executive director. “The nearest county social services are 40 miles over a mountain pass,” with extremely limited public transportation to provide access, she said.

“Room One has evolved to become the only comprehensive social and health services organization serving

“Research demonstrates that health and prevention needs of rural communities are best

Free your body. Enjoy your life.

addressed by locating services close to home and providing services in an integrated manner,” Elana Mainer, executive director of Room One

the entire Methow Valley,” said Mainer.

The need for local health services is documented in data from Okanogan County that “paints a picture of heath and well-being far different than much of Washington,” Mainer said.

“In 2013, Okanogan County had the third-highest teen pregnancy rate in Washington, and in 2012 ranked 38th out of 39 counties in overall health outcomes, indicating poor community health on many levels,” Mainer said.

Those figures reflect a nationwide lack of adequate health care for the approximately 62 million Americans living in rural areas.

According to the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), about 20 percent of the rural population has no health insurance. The need for better access to health care and insurance coverage is especially crucial for rural populations because they receive less preventive care and have higher rates of all chronic diseases than their urban counterparts, according to the NRHA. Rural areas also face a severe shortage of physicians and mental health professionals, NRHA reports. More than 85 percent of rural residents live in an area with a shortage of mental health professionals, and 65 percent receive mental health services from primary care physicians.

In addition, rates of substance abuse and illicit drug use are increasing among rural residents, NRHA reported. From 2008 to 2009, illicit drug use among residents of nonmetropolitan areas rose from 5.6 percent to 7.3 percent.

Studies also cite an alarming increase in rural youth using and abusing illegal substances, according to

NRHA. In 2000, it was reported that rural youth are more likely to become substance abusers than urban youth.

Broad array of programs Over the years, Room One has developed an array of programs to address issues common to rural areas, Mainer said.

“As the only organization of its kind serving our remote slice of Okanogan County,” Room One offers comprehensive services in an effort to “interrupt health disparities,” she said.

“Research demonstrates that health and prevention needs of rural communities are best addressed by locating services close to home and providing services in an integrated manner,” Mainer said.

In recognition of those research findings, Room One has developed a “one-stop” approach to social and health services that provides access to health insurance, family planning services, mental health support, programs to prevent domestic violence, fresh food, housing assistance, and help obtaining state social and health benefits, she said.

“The wrap-around care model is effective, it works,” Mainer said.

In addition to a comprehensive approach to health and social services and referrals, Room One also uses an “advocacy-centered” model of support that encourages clients to determine what is best for them, Mainer said. Staff members “work to restore power and control” and act as a “compassionate ally” for clients, she said.

Help with insurance enrollment One of Room One’s newer, but most impactful services is providing

Jason Rumohr, LMP CHP

Hellerwork Structural Integration 105 Norfolk Rd - Winthrop (509) 341-4050 Jasonrumohr.com #MA17981

Methow Valley Chiropractic Clinic Serving the Methow Valley for 28 years

(509) 997-7062

614 Canyon Road, Twisp, WA

Jody K. Love, D.C., C.C.S.P. Mark H. Love, D.C. Susie Dunn, L.M.P.

Dr. Sierra Breitbeil, ND Naturopathic Physican 996-3970 • drsierra.com Sharon Cohen, MFA, RYT Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 449-2594 • sharoncohenmbsr@gmail.com Susan Peterson, MS Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate 341-4487 • suepetersonms.com Jason Rumohr, LMP, CHP Certified Hellerwork Practitioner 341-4050 • jasonrumohr.com Please contact individual practitioners regarding insurance coverage.

Located at the Winthrop Professional Center (across from Little Star Montessori School)

HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16 9

in-person assistance to people signing up for health insurance under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Room One sent staff members through training in preparation for the launch of Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange in 2013. Since then, the in-person assisters have helped more than 1,000 people acquire health insurance, most through Apple Health (Medicaid).

The two certified in-person assisters guide individuals and families through the complex online enrollment process, helping determine if they qualify for insurance premium tax credits or government programs such as Apple Health.

The in-person assisters have kept informed of changes to the health insurance program over the past two years. They are required to remain unbiased and are not allowed to recommend insurance policies, but they can refer clients to insurance agents who can advise them.

The increased availability of health insurance — and consequently health care — through the ACA could potentially impact some of the

services Room One has provided, Moore said.

“We have signed up a staggering number of people in health insurance … who can now access full care from a family doctor,” Moore said. “We’re examining right now if that has impacted our services.”

Among the health services offered through Room One, the Twisp Family Planning Clinic, “which has been with us since the inception of Room One,” remains a core service, said Moore.

The clinic, administered through Family Planning of North Central Washington, offers birth control, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, well-woman reproductive care, emergency contraception and pregnancy options counseling. The services are offered on a sliding scale every Wednesday afternoon.

“One of the greatest values of Family Planning is it provides for longer appointments for people to talk about relationships … and take the lead in their reproductive health,” Mainer said.

Dr. Joshua Schkrohowsky

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Winthrop Office

505 B. Highway 20, Winthrop, WA

(509) 682-2511

LakeChelanHospital.com

Your Family. Your Health.

Methow Valley Physical Therapy

305 Methow Valley Hwy, Twisp • (509) 997-4851

Lake Chelan Physical Therapy

Providing Physical Therapy 123 Johnson Ave., Chelan • (509) 682-4713 throughout Connie Miller, PT • Shaun Seibel, PT Okanogan Shawn Isenhart, DPT • Charmaine Minnis, PT County Julie S-Buttelo, PTA 10 HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16

Teen programs Programs focused on preventing teen pregnancy and encouraging healthy relationships among teens also remain a key focus of Room One’s services.

Room One staff members teach comprehensive sexual health and healthy relationships classes to all students at Liberty Bell Junior/ Senior High School and the Independent Learning Center.

“It’s one of the few comprehensive sexual education programs in Okanogan County,” Moore said. “We have run it in close partnership with the school district … to make sure it complies with state standards, as well as local school district policy and national health education standards.”

The sexual education curriculum used by Room One is “age-appropriate and evidence-based, so that what we’re doing has evidence that it makes a difference with teen pregnancy, STDs, and encouraging kids to delay sexual initiation,” Moore said.

Healthy relationships programs for teens focus on “how to have a relationship built on trust, equity

and kindness,” and address issues such as violence, consent and healthy decision-making skills, she said.

Mental health programs are another key component of Room One’s services, and include on-site counseling through Okanogan County Behavioral Health, and referrals to licensed counselors in the community. Room One also hosts regular meetings of mental health professionals to identify unmet needs in the community.

A variety of support groups are facilitated through Room One. They include a girls’ group at the high school; mothering support groups; breast cancer support; domestic violence survivor support; family caregiver support; and substance abuse recovery groups.

For the youngest members of the community, Room One hosts Women, Infants and Children (WIC), sponsored by Family Health Centers of Okanogan County. WIC provides pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five with essential food and nutrition needs and support. Room One also provides a

baby clothing, equipment and toy exchange room.

Healthy, fresh food is also made available to all Room One clients through Red Shed produce, a local organization that grows, harvests and distributes fresh vegetables for free to Methow Valley residents.

For the aging population, Room One works closely with the Lookout Coalition, a community organization that supports older residents who face health challenges or are striving to remain independent in their own homes.

To meet the needs of people impacted by the Carlton Complex Fire and subsequent floods and mudslides over the past year, Room One has become the supervising agency for disaster case managers. The case managers meet with disaster survivors to support them with issues related to emotional health, housing and finances, and to connect them to needed services.

The Room One staff is trained to provide suicide response, domestic violence response, family crisis management, and referrals for a wide range of social and health needs. 

Babies and their moms can take part in mothering groups that are facilitated by Room One. Photo by L aurelle Walsh

Take Care of Your Whole Self, Naturally

Central Washington Sleep Diagnostic Center

SPA SERVICES

Facials, Body Wraps MASSAGE SERVICES

AUTO ACCIDENT REHABILITATION

We bill most insurances, Including Cranial Sacral and including L & I Manual Lymphatic Drainage Proudly offering Aveda, Onesta and Thermafuse products

The Silver Sage Spa

Specializing in Pediatric & Adult Sleep Medicine

670 Riverside Drive, Omak

Eric Haeger, MD

1-509-846-1000 • www.silversagespa.webs.com

Board Certified Sleep Medicine

Now Offering N E W Alternatives to CPAP Therapy! Call one of our Sleep Labs for your appointment today!

MEDIATION & FACILITATION SERVICES I can help:

• Resolve disputes both professionally and personally • Move meetings forward in a productive manner

Wenatchee ~ Moses Lake ~ Brewster (509)663-1578 (509)663-1578 (509)689-0100 www.cwsleepcenter.com

Common Sense S O L U T I O N S

Chris Stern • Groups with differing viewpoints meet and have a constructive 509-996-2554 discussion loghead@methownet.com www.solutionsbycommonsense.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16 11

Counselors recommend activities such as yoga, focused breathing and vigorous exercise to help with relaxation and stress reduction. Photo by Marcy stamper 12 HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16

A natural process Grief and anxiety over fire and loss may linger ... but that’s normal

By Marcy Stamper

A

many people have experienced intrusive and unaccustomed feelings of stress and unease after two years of upheaval from wildfires and other natural disasters, the word that comes up most often when crisis counselors describe these feelings is “normal.” lthough

“We just naturally are going to feel some grief, and maybe even guilt.

It’s normal and natural,” said Sue Peterson, a licensed mental health counselor associate in Winthrop.

People need to recognize the impact of what happened — the firefighters’ deaths, the changed landscape and the lingering threat of floods or mudslides, she said.

“It’s normal to experience conflicts with family, friends, neighbors or coworkers — we all have an elevated stress level,” said Savannah Miller, a mental health professional with Okanogan Behavioral Healthcare (OBHC).

In fact, once the urgency passes and the air is clear, many people may not connect the way they’re feeling with anxiety from the fire. But people may still be lethargic, have difficulty concentrating, or feel kind of numb, said Peterson.

Those reactions, too, are normal.

There is no set time for these feelings to resolve on their own — everyone will bounce back at his or her own rate, said Peterson.

It helps to stay connected with others, to realize you’re not alone and to normalize the reactions, said Peterson. “These reactions are not unique to any one of us,” she said.

Neighbors on the Twisp River adjusting to the loss of homes and lives and a scarred landscape

recently got together over a meal to share their experiences. Talking with others who’d gone through the same thing — and building a network to help one another in the future — proved very reassuring, said one participant.

Still, if people find lingering feelings are interfering with their ability to work or to engage in activities they used to enjoy, it can be helpful to talk with a counselor or try relaxation techniques, said Peterson. “There are tools available that can help life smooth out again — without minimizing what happened,” she said.

It may seem counter intuitive, but change is also normal. People won’t necessarily go back to exactly where they were before, since fire and loss have become a part of their life experience. But they can expect to resume — and enjoy — their regular activities, said Peterson.

First responders — trained to handle emotions For first responders, being prepared for reactions to emergencies is a regular part of the work. From the start, their training includes segments on well-being and on the side effects of responding to an emergency, said Cindy Button, executive director of Aero Methow Rescue Service in Twisp.

These reactions can affect eating or sleeping, or can make it hard to focus, said Button. “We learn that these are normal responses, so that we’re not scared,” she said.

60-second stress-reduction techniques Put ice below your eyes Do vigorous exercise Observe and describe objects in a room Do paced breathing — breathe in for five seconds and then out for 10 seconds Source: Savannah Miller, OBHC

• • • •

Resources • OBHC is offering free consultations for education and outreach, either at Room One in Twisp or in Omak. Call (509) 826-6191. OBHC also has a crisis team in Omak for walk-in appointments.

• OBHC 24-hour crisis line: (509) 826-6919 or (866) 826-6919.

• Disaster-distress helpline: (800) 985-5990, or text “talkwithus” to 66746.

• Room One plans a support group for fire survivors this fall. Call 997-2050 if interested.

People attracted to work as first responders or EMTs typically function well and think clearly under stress, said Button. In fact, stress can heighten their ability to perform at a high level, and their extensive training can make them more efficient, she said.

Still, Button admits that this year, the crisis was intense for all of them.

“Everyone was pretty much pushed to their max. It’s like running a marathon, and sprinting at that last little bit,” she said. “Luckily, we don’t face that on a daily basis.”

When people start out with Aero Methow, they are debriefed after the first difficult or intense call so the intern can evaluate whether he or she is suited to the work, said Button.

Even after years on the job, EMTs make sure to take time to process a situation. For example, they may talk about an experience on the drive back from the hospital or while they’re cleaning the ambulance.

Reba Baudino, a licensed mental health counselor, was part of a team at Aero Methow this summer to support first responders. “The most important thing is to reach out and talk about what’s going on,” she said. “We tell them, ‘Of course you’re feeling this — it’s because all this happened.’”

Evolving responses OBHC had crisis counselors available at Room One and at evacuation centers during the wildfires, primarily to help people to remain

Hypnotherapy KAN EFFECTIVE METHODS TO FOCUS THE POWER OF YOUR INTENTION

Hypnosis is the fertile soil in which to cultivate the specific thought patterns, perceptions and behaviors that will blossom into greater self understanding and personal success.

REDUCE OR TRANSFORM - Insomnia, Anxiety, Addictions, Guilt and Anger, Pain ENHANCE AND IMPROVE - Motivation, Self Confidence, Creativity, Job Performance, Weight/Body Image PREPARE FOR - Tests, Surgery, Recovery, Childbirth, Sports Performance

Call to schedule a free consultation and redesign your mind today hypnotherapyKAN@gmail.com KYLE NORTHCOTT, M-S CHt., L.M.P

509-996-2027

HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16 13

calm and focused, said Skip Rosenthal, the agency’s CEO. But at the height of a crisis, people generally aren’t ready to process their feelings.

Counselors are now helping people deal with persistent effects of loss and fear, he said.

For some people, this summer’s fires may have brought up unfinished business or memories from last year, said Rosenthal. Addressing these issues promptly can help people avoid long-term trauma, he said.

OBHC has been able to expand its services over the past year. It now has mental-health providers in almost all the communities in the county, as well as in all the school districts.

“We’ve changed our model to a team approach to community mental health,” said Rosenthal. The team includes therapists and case managers, who support people in all aspects of their lives, including employment, housing and social activities. Such stability is important in recovery, say mental health professionals.

Physical effects from the wildfires appear to have been fairly limited.

People with chronic respiratory

conditions or those who rely on medical equipment that runs on electricity have had to make sure they are prepared for power outages or poor air quality — which may mean temporarily relocating.

“Surprisingly, we did not see a lot of air-quality complaints [during the fire], but a lot of anxiety,” said Mike Tuggy, a family practitioner at the Country Clinic in Winthrop. Many people who came in for a physical complaint also brought up stress, he said. “For people who went through this last year, there is a sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Joe Jensen, a family physician at Family Health Centers in Twisp, saw a similar response among his patients. “Everything had a thin overlay of anxiety,” he said.

Planning helps It has been reassuring to many in the Methow Valley to see the resiliency of the community and the practical steps being taken by their families or neighbors to be better prepared, said Peterson.

While many people may believe

First responders are trained to handle the intense stress that comes with the job. Methow Valley News file photo by Darla Hussey

they did not manage the crisis well, after some reflection, they realize that they evacuated safely and took care of their children and animals, said Miller.

“Having and preparing a plan can give us a sense of bouncing back,” said Peterson. “It’s something you can do that can help with feelings of stress.”

Although some people have wondered aloud if they can handle another summer of fires and smoke, few

are actually picking up and leaving.

“It’s a normal thought — especially after two years of fires — to question or wonder about the future,” said Peterson. But most people seem to be making plans so they are better prepared for future disasters, she said.

Surveying the 200 trees and other vegetation on her property destroyed in the Twisp River Fire, Pearl Cherrington said, “The Methow Valley is still the place to be. It’s still so beautiful, despite the burn.” 

William E. Wicheta, M.D. James M. Britt, M.D. Michael V. McAllister, M.D. Lynnelle K. Newell, M.D. Richard E. Roberts, O.D.

Okanogan Valley Office 717 Okoma Drive, Omak (509) 826-1191 or 1-800-738-8272 Wenatchee Office 933 Red Apple Road, Wenatchee (509) 662-7143 or 1-800-572-9425 eyeandearclinic.com Ask us about the “Beautiful Skin Medical Spa” located in our Wenatchee Clinic 14 HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16

World ClAss CAre

Fitness for everyBodY

Jenna Kokes, PT, dPT, oCs Pete dickinson, PT, Ms, sCs lisa sawyer, PT

state-of-the-Art equipment Yoga and Fitness Classes Personal Training

Quick return to sport

Fall Classes Coming soon!

509-996-8234 www.winthroppt.com At the Winthrop Bridge

Skilled Nursing Care, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy

Jerry Tretwold Administrator Wendy Hernandez, R.N. Director of Nursing

Health & Wellness 2015 Directory Chiropractic Services

along with

Methow Valley Chiropractic Clinic..... 9

Respite Care, Audiology & Podiatry Services

Dental Care

(509) 689-2546 • Brewster

Let the Methow Valley News GUIDE you through the seasons!

Available for free throughout the valley and region.

Contact the MV News at (509) 997-7011 or frontdesk @ methowvalleynews.com

Family Health Centers........................ 7 Sawtooth Dental Care......................... 5

Ear/Eye Health

Eye & Ear Clinic.................................14 Moomaw Hearing Center................... 2 Spectrum Eye Care............................15

Emergency Services

Aero Methow Rescue............. .............3 Three Rivers Hospital.......................... 3

Health Insurance/Medicare

Gaylen Willett Insurance.................... 7

Hellerwork

Jason Rumohr..................................... 9

Hospital/Clinic

Confluence Health.............................16 Country Clinic..................................... 3 Family Health Centers........................ 7 Lake Chelan Community Hospital....10 Three Rivers Hospital.......................... 3

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy KAN..........................13

Massage Services

Mount Gardner Massage.................... 5 North Glover Healing Center............. 5 Silver Sage Spa...................................11 Therapeutic Bodywork & Massage..... 6

Mediation/ Facilitation Services

Common Sense Solutions…….………11

Mental Health/Wellness

defnU.................................................10 Methow Valley Wellness Center......... 9 North Glover Healing Center............. 5

Orthopedics/Sports Medicine

Caribou Trail........................................ 2 Lake Chelan Community Hospital...10

Pharmacy

Ulrich’s Pharmacy............................... 6

Physical Therapy

Caribou Trail........................................ 2 Lake Chelan Physical Therapy..........10 Methow Valley Physical Therapy......10 Winthrop Physical Therapy..............14

Reflexology

Lucinda Tear Reflexology....................5 North Glover Healing Center............. 5

Senior Health/Services

Aging and Adult Care........................16 Harmony House Health Care...........15

Sleep Diagnostics

Central WA Sleep Diagnostic Center.........................11

Social Services

Room One..........................................16

Spa Services

Silver Sage Spa...................................11

Spectrum Eye Care Nathan L. Scott, OD

Board Certified, American Board of Optometry

126 East Johnson Street P.O. Box 3100 Chelan, WA 98816

509.682.2708 FAX 509.682.2713 PAGER 509.860.0113 www.spectrumeyecarechelan.com HEALTH & WELLNESS 2015 – 16 15

powerfully advocating for the health and well-being of all people living in the Methow Valley.

We are dedicated to providing high quality, safe, efficient and cost effective care for our patients.

An affiliation between Central Washington Hospital & Wenatchee Valley Medical Center

confluencehealth.org mental Health Services Food Access and Nutrition Reproductive Health Family Support Aging Adult Support Domestic Violence Services one Stop Social Services Monday - Friday, 9-4, Family Planning, Wednesday, 1-5

Room One

Our North Region Clinics: Omak Clinic

916 Koala Dr. Omak, WA 98841

(509) 997-2050 | 315 Lincoln Street | PO Box 222 Twisp, WA 98856 | www.roomone.org

509.826.1800

Caring for Seniors & Their Families

Tonasket Clinic

Services include programs to assist Seniors, Disabled Adults and Family Caregivers

Family Medicine, Behavioral Medicine, Obstetrics, Eye Care, Radiology, Walk-in Clinic, Anticoagulation, Infusions Therapy, Ambulatory Surgery Center, Laboratory, Occupational Medicine, Visiting Specialists

17 S. Western Ave. Tonasket, WA 98855

Open

Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. - Noon

509.486.2174 Family Medicine, Obstetrics, Anticoagulation, Women’s Health Care

• Respite for family caregivers • Health & wellness information • Referrals to community resources • Chore assistance in the home

Oroville Clinic

1617 Main St. Oroville, WA 98844

Open

Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Weekends

509.476.3631

“Our mission is to enhance a person’s ability to maintain a life of independence and choice.”

Serving Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan counties

Toll Free 1-800-572-4459 • aaccw.org • TTY 1-800-833-6388 50 Simon St. SE Suite A East Wenatchee, WA 98802 509-886-0700

Open

Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat. 8:30 a.m. - Noon

739 Haussler Rd. Omak, WA 98841 509-826-7452

Family Medicine, Obstetrics, Anticoagulation, Women’s Health Care

Brewster Clinic

418 W. Main St. Brewster, WA 98812

Open

Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Weekends

509.689.8900 Family Medicine, Preventative Medicine, CDL, Sports Physicals, Visiting Specialists, Well Child Checks & Immunizations