Grande Ronde Hospital

10/16/2026

Substance use can devastate individuals, families, and entire communities. In rural areas, those challenges can be compounded by distance, limited resources, and barriers to accessing care.

The impact is close to home. According to the 2024 Oregon Student Health Survey, nearly 1 in 5 Union County 11th graders surveyed reported using alcohol within the previous 30 days.

This October, as communities recognize National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, we want to recognize the important work happening right here in Union County to prevent substance use, support recovery, and help people find the resources they need.

Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics is fortunate to work alongside dedicated community partners, including the Center for Human Development and the Union County Safe Communities Coalition, who bring expertise, compassion, and commitment to this work every day.

Strong communities are built through strong partnerships. We are grateful for the organizations and individuals working throughout our region to support prevention, recovery, and healthier futures for our neighbors.

What can you do?

Start the conversation. Talk with the young people in your life about alcohol and other substances. Open, judgment-free conversations can help them feel comfortable asking questions and seeking support.

Know where to turn for help. If you or someone you care about is struggling with substance use, reach out to the Center for Human Development to learn about local prevention, treatment, and recovery resources. (541) 962-8800

10/15/2026

Sometimes it starts with one thought: I want to help.
Recurring giving makes it easy — your gift joins others to create steady support for local healthcare.
It's not about how much you give. It's about deciding it matters.
Start your giving story today at foundation.grh.org

10/15/2026

“I heard it was uncomfortable.”
That’s a common concern. And yes, a mammogram can be uncomfortable for some people. The good news? The compression only lasts a few seconds.
Those few seconds can help find breast cancer early, sometimes before you can feel a lump or notice a change.
And there’s something else to consider: In a 2021 survey of women in Oregon and Washington, 93.5% said having a mammogram gave them a feeling of control over their health.
If you’ve been putting off your mammogram because you’re nervous about it, we understand. Take a deep breath. Take care of yourself. And when you’re ready, reach out to your OB/GYN or primary care provider to schedule your mammogram.

10/14/2026

In the Emergency Department, every moment matters. Our ED nurses bring clinical expertise, compassion and resilience to some of our community’s most urgent and uncertain moments. Today, we’re celebrating their skill, teamwork and the difference they make every day.

As ED Manager April Brock puts it:

“We Triage, We Treat, We Care, We Make a Difference.”

Our hospital leaders also want to recognize the extraordinary work of our ED nurses.

Dawn Netherton, Chief Nursing Officer, shares:

“Than you for the incredible work you do every day. Working in the Emergency Department requires a unique combination of skill, compassion, and resilience. I have so much respect for the calm and steady presence our ED nurses maintain, even in the most stressful and unpredictable situations. The ability to think clearly, act decisively, and care for patients and families during some of their most difficult moments is truly remarkable. Thank you for all you do and for the difference you make for our patients, our team, and our community.”

Wade Twilegar, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, shares:

“Thank you for the calm you bring to urgent and emergent situations in the hospital. You take care of the sickest patients we see at GRH, sometimes multiple at a time, and you clinical expertise and resiliency shines through. You are often a stabilizing force for the rest of the hospital.

We have recently seen several traumas and critical events where the praise for our ED team has been overwhelming. Time and time again you have demonstrated what it means to work seamlessly and cohesively under pressure, making a real difference and, quite literally, saving lives. Even when we have events where the outcome is not what we hoped for, I see you leaning into each other, encouraging one another, and advocating for debriefs for all involved, even beyond the walls of the hospital. Thank you for all you do and happy ED Nurses week.”

To our Emergency Department nurses: thank you for the care you provide, the lives you touch and the way you show up for one another and our community. We’re grateful for you today and every day!

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

Behind every procedure is a team making sure everything is ready.

This Sterile Processing Week, we’re celebrating our Sterile Processing Department (SPD)—the highly trained professionals who work behind the scenes to help keep patients safe and care moving throughout Grande Ronde Hospital.

So, what does Sterile Processing actually do?

After surgical instruments and other reusable medical equipment are used, SPD takes over. They clean, inspect, assemble, package and sterilize instruments so they are ready to be safely used again. They carefully check equipment, prepare instrument sets for specific procedures and make sure everything is where it needs to be when a care team needs it.

It takes months of training, certification and hands-on experience to develop the specialized skills required for this work.

As SPD Manager, Edna Henderson says, the team is often called the “heart of the hospital.” Whether it’s a routine day or an after-hours surgery, they’re ready to answer the call—often being the first team in and the last team out.

Their work may happen behind closed doors, but it plays an important role in our patient’s care journey.

Thank you to our SPD team for your expertise, dedication and teamwork—and for making sure our care teams have what they need to care for our patients safely.

10/11/2026

Caring for someone with cancer can be rewarding, overwhelming, and everything in between.

Join GRH Home Health nurses for an honest conversation about caregiving, including recognizing burnout, knowing when to ask for help, caring for yourself, and finding support in our community.

This conversation is for caregivers, cancer survivors, and anyone supporting a loved one through cancer.

📅 Monday, October 12
🕔 5:00 p.m.
📍 Mt. Emily Conference Room, 3rd floor of the hospital

Come learn, connect, and hear from people who understand the challenges of caring for someone with cancer.

10/10/2026

You don’t have to navigate dementia alone.

Grande Ronde Hospital is starting a new Dementia Support Group for individuals living with dementia, family members and caregivers in our community.

Led by Melyssa Gleed, NP, of the GRH Neurology Clinic, the group will offer a welcoming place to connect with others, share experiences, learn about dementia and available resources, and find encouragement along the way.

Melyssa’s experience includes critical care, emergency care, memory care and neurology, along with personal experience with Alzheimer’s dementia in her own family.

📅 First meeting: Tuesday, November 10
🕠 5:30–6:30 p.m.
📍 Mt. Emily Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Grande Ronde Hospital

The group will meet the second Tuesday of each month.

If dementia or memory loss has touched your life, we invite you to join us.

Come connect. Come learn. Come find support.

10/10/2026

Local screenings save lives.
And sometimes, knowing you have experienced cancer specialists close to home makes taking that first step a little easier.
A mammogram can help find breast cancer early, sometimes before you can feel a lump or notice a change. But what happens if your screening does find something?
You won’t have to figure it out alone.
At Grande Ronde Hospital, our Hematology & Oncology team includes Dr. Patrick Archie and Dr. Laura Talamo. Dr. Archie completed his fellowship training at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Dr. Talamo completed her fellowship training at the University of Virginia. Their expertise is right here in our community, so if something does show up, you have a team here to help you understand what it means and talk through what comes next.
In Oregon, all screening mammograms are covered at no cost to you.
If you’re due for a mammogram, talk with your OB/GYN or primary care provider about when it’s time.
Get screened. Know your health. And know that we’ll be here to walk with you through whatever comes next.

10/09/2026

They’re the reason we have what we need, when we need it.

From surgical supplies and medical equipment to gloves, gowns, medications and everyday essentials, our Supply Chain team keeps the hospital and clinics stocked and ready.

And if they weren’t here?

A lot of the things that seem simple wouldn’t be so simple.

A procedure could be delayed because the right supplies weren’t available. A clinic could run short on something essential. Staff could spend valuable time searching for what they need instead of caring for patients.

Our Supply Chain team works behind the scenes to make sure that doesn’t happen.

They order it. Track it. Stock it. Find it. Plan for it. And somehow, they keep everything moving.

National Healthcare Supply Chain Management Week is a great time to recognize the people who make sure our teams have what they need to provide the care our community depends on.

Thank you, Materials! You’re a pretty big deal.