Social distancing is recommended way to prevent COVID-19 spread As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington topped 1,000 — and new cases have cropped up as close as Chelan County — local health care providers have instituted protective measures to keep their employees and the public healthy. Okanogan County currently has no confirmed cases of the […]
Health
State grant to help fight opioid abuse in county
In response to the opioid crisis and declaration of a public health emergency, Okanogan Behavioral Health Care (OBHC) has been awarded a grant from the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) to assist individuals with an opioid use disorder, according to an OBHC press release. The funds were awarded as part of a larger grant […]
Local, state programs attack opioids crisis in Okanogan County
Agencies focus resources on treatment, prevention The statistics connected with opioids can be grim, but an intense local and state effort has helped reverse that tide in Okanogan County, providing many new resources to confront the crisis. There were nine confirmed opioid deaths in Okanogan County in 2018, and four others are awaiting toxicology reports, […]
Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster opens new emergency room
After more than a year of planning and construction, Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster opened its new emergency room this week. The new ER is still located inside the hospital at 507 Hospital Way, but has been relocated from the main front entrance to the other end of the building. The new space, which previously […]
Naturopath seeing patients at Family Health Centers in Twisp
Naturopathic physician Brendan Smith likes to quote one of his instructors about the advantages of being a naturopath: “You can send someone to a shaman and a cardiologist in one day — and that’s OK,” he said.
Pertussis cases on the rise in county
Cases of pertussis in Okanogan County continue to climb, with 30 confirmed cases as of Monday (Dec. 31), and medical providers were still awaiting test results, according to Lauri Jones, community health director at Okanogan County Public Health.
Three Rivers, North Valley hospitals consider proposal to share CEO
Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster and North Valley Hospital in Tonasket are close to an agreement under which Three Rivers CEO Scott Graham will take over administration of both hospitals. According to a press release from Three Rivers, the agreement is subject to ratification by the North Valley board of directors on July 12. The […]
Aero Methow celebrates a half-century of devotion to the valley
Celebrate Aero Methow’s 50th A 50th anniversary celebration for Aero Methow Rescue Service will be held on Saturday (June 30) from noon-4 p.m. at the TwispWorks campus. The free event is supported in part by Confluence Health, Family Health Centers and TwispWorks. Meet original and current responders and tour Aero Methow vehicles. Your Space@ TwispWorks […]
Groundbreaking surgical procedure extends Ed Ward’s life
There were a couple of weeks last fall, after being diagnosed with heart failure, when Ed Ward couldn’t sleep at night.
“I couldn’t breathe when I laid down. And I was afraid I wouldn’t wake up,” Ward said. “I had pretty much given up the ghost in October. I thought I wasn’t going to make it.”
Last chance to buy individual health insurance for those who self-pay
People who don’t get health insurance through their job and who don’t qualify for the state’s Apple Health coverage have less than a week to get health insurance for 2018.
The deadline is for policies bought through the state’s Obamacare marketplace (the Health Benefit Exchange) …
