Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: The right (non) move on pot sales ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Evaluating the Trump bump ... Family Fun Bike Ride set for Saturday ... Our View: The right (non) move on pot sales ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Evaluating the Trump bump ... Family Fun Bike Ride set for Saturday ... EDITOR'S NOTES Editor's Notes: Ashland Community Hospital is on the mend — and then some Comment By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The Ashland Community Hospital Foundation launched its 2015 Patrons Campaign to support a new Women’s Health Initiative last Thursday with a reception at the hospital. The 80 or so attendees could take a look at new digital X-ray and birth center equipment and take tours as they noshed on hors d’oeuvres and sipped wine. It could hardly have a more relaxed, tranquil setting for something involving the most stressful, extreme situations we encounter in life: a potentially life-threatening health crisis where having the right resources available can make the difference between pulling through — or not. This year’s Patrons Campaign will help provide funding for, according to the foundation, “the first phase of a long-term effort that, when fully realized, will offer expanded holistic care under one roof. Services will focus on the health care needs of women throughout the many stages of their lives with care close to home. “Contributions will be used to buy new imaging equipment, surgical equipment for breast reconstruction and gynecologic surgeries, and to create a fund to support the health care needs of under-insured women in our community. “The Foundation’s 2015 Patrons Campaign for Women’s Health aims to help fund the first phase of this long-term project. When fully realized, the center will provide an array of services ... including expanded imaging and mammography services, breast reconstruction surgery, and gynecologic surgery.” The campaign fits in framework of a community hospital re-finding its footing. “This is the first year in eight years we’ll have a positive operating income,” hospital CEO Sheila Clough said, speaking of budget projections. How are those projections working out? “Five months in, we’re on the right track, growing services and improving services.” The struggling independent hospital had been on the brink of closure before it merged to create Asante Ashland Community Hospital in 2013. ACH suffered a more than $4.2 million net loss for the fiscal year that began in 2012, then a $3.6 million loss in 2013. After the merger, the hospital's losses were reduced to an estimated $1.5 million for the fiscal year that began in October 2013 and ended in September. The hospital hopes to have a positive operating margin of $100,000 to $200,000 for the current fiscal year that began in October. Clough said the hospital hopes soon to recruit an additional general surgeon, and has been building women’s health services with the additions of gynecologist Hillary Sager, M.D., and plastic surgeon Margo Heron, M.D., who does breast reconstruction among many other procedures. “Thank you for believing in this hospital,” Clough told the crowd. “Thanks for working to keep it open. We’re truly grateful. We know it will be successful because we have your support. As Maya Angelou said, ‘When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.’ ” A strategic plan study conducted last year, said Sandra Slatterly, who’s heading up the Patrons Campaign drive, said women’s health was one of the top five growth opportunities for the hospital. Enhancing and expanding services for women, Slatterly told the gathering, will not be a one-year effort. “It will take several (years) to get where we want to be,” she said. “This is the biggest goal we’ve ever had: $500,000.” She asked everyone to “let people know this is a hospital we need to support.” Contributions can be mailed to Ashland Community Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 98, Ashland, OR 97520, made online at www.achfoundation.org, or call the foundation office at 541-201-4015. Reach Daily Tidings editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or 541-631-1313. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/betling .   By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501