Parkrose Medical Plaza opens for patient care

See what this medical clinic, affiliated with Adventist Health, is offering to area residents and businesses …

After eight months of construction, the new Adventist Health Parkrose Medical Plaza opens for patient care.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
At the south end of what once was a supermarket parking lot now stands a new 23,027-square-foot medical clinic complex, located on NE 122nd Avenue, a half-block south of NE Halsey Street.

At the groundbreaking ceremony on May 30, 2013, Adventist Health officials vowed the clinic would be open for business in the first quarter of 2014. (CLICK HERE to read about this groundbreaking event.)

Indeed, just eight months later, the facility was dedicated with speeches, a ribbon-cutting, and lunch, on March 26.

AMC President Tom Russell greets guests at the grand opening of the new clinic.

Adventist Medical Center (AMC) Marketing Director Judy Leach was preparing for the grand opening event, but spent a moment to tell East Portland News about the new facility.

“The Parkrose Medical Plaza will provide access to care in multiple patient care areas – such as Primary Care, Physical Therapy, Laboratory Services, Radiology, and Occupational Medicine,” Leach said.

It will be staffed by ten physicians and about 50 employees, Leach added.

During a tour of the facility, AMC Director of Strategic Facility Development Shawn Klinkner shows the training room that he says will be used both for staff in-service training, and for public health education.

Staff members train on the clinic’s new telephone and computer scheduling system.

While it is important that Adventist Health is bringing new jobs to the Parkrose area, the mid-County facility is about much more that that, AMC President Tom Russell said. “This clinic is about ‘population health’.”

There is a debate at the national level right now about the transformation of health care, Russell told East Portland News. “We think it starts in our local communities with collaborative projects like this one. We’re working together with the City of Portland and its partners, such as the neighborhood associations, business districts, and the neighbors who live in the communities we serve.

“This is about health-care access, but not only for primary care or imaging,” Russell explained. “We’re also working with the business community to bring in a new Occupational Medicine center. In essence, we’re providing a ‘medical care home’ for patients here, in this part of outer East Portland.”

In the Occupational Health and Rehabilitation Center, patients will utilize new exercise and mobility training equipment.

In part of what was once called the “X-Ray Department”, Radiologist Brandon Harer shows the new GE Logique 9 Ultrasound system, now part of the clinic’s in-house “Imaging” facility.

And, starting in July, they’ll also be opening an Urgent Care Center, Russell announced.

“Really it’s about providing health care access, making sure that we keep the care in the outpatient setting,” Russell remarked. “This means focusing on wellness and health and ambulatory settings.  This is where we think the emphasis needs to be.”

The guest speaker during the formal grand opening ceremony was Oregon Senator Rod Monroe.

“I’ve been, for over 40 years, in government,” Monroe began, and then listed the many public offices he’s held. “I’ve always cared about health. We have a lot of people in the mid-County area who don’t necessarily have access to the best healthcare or the best nutritional care, or even the best spiritual care.”

Oregon Senator Rod Monroe says he and his family have been patients of Adventist Hospital for many years, because he appreciates how they deliver spiritually-centered health care.

More than simply admiring Adventist Medical Center from afar, Monroe said that he and his family have been patients for many years. “We’ve always found that the facility there was wonderful, with warm doctors and staff members.

“I’m thrilled to be here as you open this wonderful facility, and looking toward having a little tour afterwards.”

With a snip of the scissors held by AMC Chief Executive Officer for Clinics Steve Kinzer and Oregon Senator Rod Monroe, Parkrose Medical Plaza is officially open for patient care.

With the formalities completed, the throng who came to welcome the new medical clinic headed outside, where the ceremonial ribbon, provided by the East Portland Chamber of Commerce, was cut – and a luncheon was served.

To learn more about Parkrose Medical Plaza, CLICK HERE.

© 2014 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News

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