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Living our Mission
The community benefit of a teaching hospital
As a teaching institution, Grande Ronde
Hospital (GRH) sees many students
come through our doors. We are
proud to do our part in training a
skilled, compassionate workforce for
the benefit of generations to come.
Although nursing students
constitute a significant number of our
students, last fiscal year (FY) GRH
welcomed dozens of students from
some of the many institutions with
which we partner in health profession
education: Oregon Health & Science
University (OHSU), Pacific University
Oregon School of Pharmacy, Oregon
Institute of Technology, Eastern
Oregon University, Blue Mountain
Community College, Lane Community
College, Nova Southeastern
University, and the A.T. Still University
School of Osteopathic Medicine.
We also mentor and support job-
shadowing from Union County
high school students. The diversity
of practical skills training included
nursing, obstetrics, pharmacy,
radiology, emergency medicine,
sleep medicine and rehabilitation
therapy.
A case in point
Wade Twilegar began his pursuit of
a bachelor’s degree from OHSU’s
School of Nursing program at Eastern
Oregon University and became
one of our nursing students. With
a young family and deep roots in
Union County, he had hoped to stay
in La Grande with a career at GRH.
In FY 2014, after graduation, he
accepted a position with GRH. This is
his story:
“The day of my first clinical at
GRH, I was very anxious. I had been
discouraged at another clinical site
and was apprehensive that GRH
would be the same. However, the
GRH staff was enthusiastic about
educating student nurses, and my
anxiety turned to excitement. I
began to develop confidence, and
my desire to work as a nurse at GRH
increased.
“When my senior year came and I
was told my entire practicum would
be at GRH, I was once again anxious
over my performance—hoping to
land a job. I was impressed with the
staff’s investment in my growth as
a nurse; I truly felt that they wanted
me to succeed. Whenever there was
a learning opportunity, staff sought
me out so that I might have the
opportunity to develop new skills,
experience unique situations and get
the most out of my practicum.
“Before my senior practicum was
over, I was able to interview for
a job, and a position was offered
contingent upon me passing my
state boards. One month after
graduation, I had passed my state
boards and started working as an
RN at GRH!
“Today, as a young nurse just a
few months into my new career, I
see the GRH nursing staff display the
same enthusiasm for my growth as
a nurse. I am honored to be able to
start, and hopefully finish, my nurs-
ing career at GRH.”
Fiscal year 2014
Community benefits by category
Direct charity care
$1,931,472
52.6%
Community health improvement
$752,760
20.5%
Subsidized health services
$660,960
18.0%
Health profession education
$279,072
7.6%
Cash and in-kind donations to community groups $33,048
0.9%
Community benefit building activities
$14,688
0.4%
TOTAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS*
$3,672,000
*All benefits reported here are at cost. Final percentages may fluctuate slightly on the IRS Schedule 990 upon reporting.
52.6%
20.5%
18.0%
7.6%
0.9%
0.4%
Wade
Twilegar,
BSN, RN