Morrow County Health District

07/30/2026

MCHD is excited to announce that we are now a contracted provider with Humana! If you are a Humana member and have been considering utilizing our healthcare services, we invite you to contact us at 541-676-9133 to learn more about your benefits and schedule an appointment at any of our locations.

For more information or to see a list of all MCHD locations and providers, please visit healthymc.org

07/29/2026

School and fall sports are almost ready to begin, make sure your child is ready for the season ahead. Schedule your child's annual wellness visit & sports physical today by calling one of our locations! Sports physicals are included as part of the annual wellness visit for no additonal charge.

For more information or to see a list of all clinic locations and providers, please visit healthymc.org

07/15/2026

Pioneer Memorial Hospital and Pioneer Memorial Clinic are open during road construction!

While traffic patterns may change during the project, both Pioneer Memorial Hospital and Pioneer Memorial Clinic remains open and fully accessible. Please follow posted signage and allow for extra time.

If you have any questions regarding access, please call our main line at (541) 676-5504. Thank you for your patience.

07/15/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Morrow County Health District Welcomes Back Family Medicine Physician, Dr. Russel Nichols, MD

MCHD is pleased to welcome back Dr. Russel Nichols, MD, to our medical staff. Beginning August 3rd, Dr. Nichols will bring his medical expertise in family medicine to Pioneer Memorial Clinic, located at 130 Thompson Ave in Heppner, OR. He will also see patients one day a week at Irrigon Medical Clinic, located at 220 N Main St in Irrigon, OR, and work in the Emergency Room at Pioneer Memorial Hospital, located at 564 E Pioneer Dr. in Heppner, OR.
Dr. Russel Nichols, a proud Heppner local, has been practicing medicine for over 25 years. He earned his bachelor's from Oregon State University in 1994. He then attended OHSU School of Medicine, where he received his Doctor of Medicine (MD). After graduating, he completed his residency in Spokane, WA.
Dr. Nichols takes a community-rooted approach to healthcare, prioritizing the community’s overall well-being and meeting individuals where they are. “I am excited and ready to serve my patients, right here at home. I understand firsthand how challenging it can be to find rural providers, and I am deeply committed to helping to improve access to healthcare in Morrow County.”
While he provides full-spectrum primary care, he is passionate about family and sports medicine. “I like to focus on the whole person across their lifetime. I want to empower them to live their lives at their full potential and to become the healthiest version of themselves.”
In his spare time, Dr. Nichols enjoys running, hiking, hunting, and fishing. He is also actively involved in the community through coaching.
Dr. Russel Nichols is currently accepting new patients at Pioneer Memorial Clinic and Irrigon Medical Clinic. To schedule an appointment at Pioneer Memorial Clinic, please call (541) 676-5504. To schedule an appointment at Irrigon Medical Clinic, please call (541) 922-5880.
For more information or to see a list of all clinic locations and providers, please visit https://www.morrowcountyhealthdistrict.org

07/13/2026

Please read for some great tips shared by Morrow County Sheriff's Office should you encounter a snake. Also a reminder that Pioneer Memorial Hospital keeps antidotes immediately available for
poisonings and toxicities. For a patient presenting with poisoning or toxicity, the Oregon Poison Center is contacted and individualized recommendations are given for medications, lab monitoring, and treatment. A few of the poisonings and toxicities that the hospital carries antidotes for include:
• Snake Bites
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning
• Anticoagulant reversal of life-threatening bleeding
• Opioid overdoses
• Iron poisoning
• Cyanide poisoning
• General poisoning/overdoses
• Organophosphate toxicity (pesticide, insecticide poisonings)
Many other antidotes are stocked by the hospital for immediate use. The hospital follows recommendations from poison centers and professional organizations regarding which medications to stock.

Heads-up!
It is the time of year when encounters with snakes are on the rise. Children and pets are especially vulnerable.

Some reminders from Oregon Dept. Fish & Wildlife:
• If you encounter a rattlesnake, move away. It wants to avoid you as much as you want to avoid it. A rattlesnake will coil into a defensive posture if it cannot escape. If you remain too close, the rattlesnake will usually warn you with its distinctive rattle. Its last defensive move is to strike.
• Rattlesnakes are occasionally found near buildings seeking shelter, shade, or prey but they seldom enter houses.
• Avoid walking through thick brush and willow thickets.
• Do not step or put your hands where you cannot see.

Rattlesnakes do not always release venom during a defense bite, however, it is best to assume venom has been delivered and act with all haste.
If someone is bitten the most critical step is to seek immediate emergency medical attention by calling 911.
• Remain calm to slow down the spread of venom.
• Remove all rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite area.
• Keep the bitten area still and positioned at or slightly below heart level.
• Do not apply a tourniquet, use ice, make an incision, or attempt to suck out the venom, as these methods can cause severe tissue damage.

Snakes share our part of the world, whether we see them or not. Be smart and aware to keep those we love safe. The picture of this snake was taken this last weekend, near Hager Park in Heppner. This one was said to be about 3 feet long.

07/10/2026

Thank you to the Heppner Chamber of Commerce for hosting a fantastic Q3 luncheon. We appreciated the opportunity for our outgoing CEO, Bob Houser, to give some updates and introduce our new CEO, Shiloh Erven! It was also exciting to hear from the Heppner Daycare Expansion Project. We had a great time attending, connecting, and hearing the local updates.

07/08/2026

***Important Update***

This class has been postponed. Please stay tuned for the new date/time to be announced soon. We apologize for any inconvenience.

06/30/2026

Approved for Immediate Release by Morrow County Health District: Press Release Regarding Chief Executive Officer Appointment

MCHD is pleased to announce the appointment of Shiloh Erven as the new Chief Executive Officer beginning July 1, 2026. Shiloh comes to Morrow County from Corvallis, where he has worked for Samaritan Health for the past 17 years, most recently as a healthcare executive. His expertise includes both physician practice management and financial management.

Shiloh is no stranger to small-town living. He grew up in rural northern Minnesota, where he developed a passion for ice hockey. He then moved to John Day and graduated from Grant Union High School. He furthered his education at Oregon State University, earning his Bachelor of Science, and then received his Master of Healthcare Administration from Pacific University.

When asked about moving to Morrow County, Shiloh says, “My family and I are excited to move to a smaller community; Morrow County has been welcoming and is family-oriented, which aligns with our needs. I am ready to lead with a shared vision and want to hear from community members, employees, and physicians to create a plan that continues to strengthen Morrow County Health District. I understand rural healthcare- I have lived in rural communities, overseen rural primary clinics in smaller towns, and am familiar with the strengths and challenges of rural living. I view this opportunity as both a real privilege and a great responsibility to honor MCHD’s mission of ‘bringing essential health services to our rural communities that meet the unique needs of the people we serve,’ while protecting and growing access to rural healthcare.”

Bob Houser, Interim CEO, says, “Shiloh is an excellent choice, and I am excited for the District under his direction. He brings the skills and innovative means to identify new revenue streams, and I feel strongly employees will benefit under his leadership.”

In his free time, Shiloh enjoys spending time with his family and is ready to become familiar with the region. “We are excited to explore the local areas and learn about each community.” He also enjoys golfing and playing ice hockey, with plans to play in the Tri-Cities area.

06/29/2026

For the most up to date information regarding MCHD news, announcements and location hours, please visit our website at HealthyMC.org

Para obtener la información más actualizada sobre noticias, anuncios y horarios de MCHD, visite nuestro sitio web en HealthyMC.org