Input sought from Baker County residents regarding local healthcare

By Logan Bagett on Monday, November 11th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

BAKER CITY – Baker County residents will have the chance this week to weigh in on the future of local healthcare services. Since the closure of the St. Alphonsus Intensive Care Unit and Birthing Centers in Baker City, many residents have been waiting to share their thoughts. Oregon’s Kitchen Table currently has a survey available online for residents to participate in. Also, there will be a community conversation on Thursday, November 14^th at the Baker Middle School Cafeteria. Find a link to each, along with more information, in the press release below:

(From Oregon’s Kitchen Table)

In January 2023, St. Alphonsus Hospital closed its Intensive Care Unit. St. Alphonsus then closed its Baker City birthing center in August 2023.This includes its Intensive Care Unit and Baker City birthing center. Now, Baker County officials and other community leaders are considering possible ideas for providing health care and public health services.

Baker County is partnering with Oregon’s Kitchen Table to hear from people who live in Baker County about health care needs. We also want to hear what you and others in the county might want for health care services now and in the future.

Your input will help the County make decisions about ideas for providing health care and public health services in Baker County.

You can participate in different ways:

Take the survey:

Please share your thoughts through November 15: https://bit.ly/baker-healthcare

Invite other people to participate:

Ask people you know who live in Baker County to take this survey or join a conversation! You can share our posts on social media (@OregonsKitchenTable on Facebook and Instagram) or send them to this website. If you would like outreach materials to help you spread the word, email us at i nfo@oregonskitchentable.org.

Join a conversation:

Join us for a conversation on November 14th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/bakerhealth-nov14.

November 14th, 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Baker Middle School Cafeteria

2320 Washington Ave, Baker City

We are also working with community organizations and partners to host culturally and community specific engagement activities.

Kitchen Table Conversation Guide:

Are you interested in hosting a conversation about health care in Baker County? If you want to lead a conversation, download the Kitchen Table Conversation guide.

Anyone is welcome to host and facilitate a conversation about this topic. We believe this conversation should be happening at many tables, and we know we can’t be at all of them! We provide the questions and can help work with you to provide outreach materials, cover food for a limited number of events (first come, first served), and can help coach you on facilitation if you need it. We ask you to use the same questions as in other conversations and to send us the notes from your conversation. These notes will be integrated with the rest of the feedback.

Feel free to download the guide and host! If you need support, contact us at i nfo@oregonskitchentable.org.