Hospital

New patients have options for Ԩnding a doctor
New patients coming to the South Coast have several options to fit their health care needs including clinics, family practices and other medical centers. While each features different services and practices when signing up new patients, a person seeking medical care can find a doctor or nurse practitioner by calling some of the following medical centers or visiting their Web sites.
The Bay Clinic at 1750 Thompson Road in Coos Bay is a multi-specialty clinic that offers care for allergy and dermatology problems, as well as general surgery, internal medicine, OB/gyn and pediatrics. Audrey Bettin, an administrative assistant for the Bay Clinic, said doctors are taking new patients in allergy, OB/gyn, general surgery and pediatrics.
In addition to its doctors, the clinic also employs a nurse practitioner who specializes in internal medicine, as well as a certified nurse midwife. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Bay Clinic also recently formed its Bay Area After Hours Clinic, which offers pediatric care. It is open 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
The real benefit is they don't have to go to the emergency room unless it is a true urgent care type of thing, Bettin said. More information about the clinic can be found at www.bayclinic.net or by calling 269-0333.
Dunes Family Health Care, 620 Ranch Road in Reedsport, is a full family health care practice that has been in business since 1977.
Featuring six family practice physicians and nurse practitioner Kathryn Moon, the practice can take new clients from Reedsport and Coos Bay, said Clinic Manager Sheri Aasen.
Just give us a call (if you) would like to establish care with one of our providers, Aasen said. Call 271-2163 for more information.
The Curry General Hospital Health Network in Curry County includes three clinics, located in Port Orford,

Gold Beach and Brookings as well as a Cardiac Health Center and hospital.
Frann Grossman, the community relations director for the network said although not every doctor and nurse practitioner in the network can take new patients, potential providers can be found by calling or searching www.curryhealthnetwork.com.
At the Health Network's Curry Family Medical at 525 Madrona St., Port Orford, patients can see general practice physician Dr. Tom Pitchford and family nurse practitioner Sandra Johnson or benefit from the center's lab, X-ray capability and visiting OB/gyn. Call 332-3861 for more information.
Brookings Medical Center, another Health Network location, houses the practices of three nurse practitioners in addition to a host of specialty doctors. Located at 585 Fifth St., it is the only center in Brookings open every day of the week, Grossman said. Specialty services include OB/gyn, psychiatry, pain management, neurology and urology as well as mammograms and X-rays. It also provides a clinical social worker and a registered dietician for patients. Call 469-5377 for more information.
Gold Beach's Curry General Hospital operates an annex, which is generally used as a clinic. There, patients can receive care and services ranging from child birth preparation education to dietetics and orthopedics. Call 247-6221 for more information.
Jim Wathen, the CEO of Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center in Bandon, said the center is accepting new patients. However, they must gain a physician referral before receiving care at the center's specialty and outpatient clinics.
The specialty clinic includes podiatry services, specialized wound care services and a foot and nail clinic for diabetic patients. It also houses the offices of a general surgeon, and offers a full service laboratory, respiratory care, pain management, endoscopy services, full service surgery, outpatient services, as well as X-ray, CT scans and mammography.
Located at 900 11th St. S.E. in Bandon, the health center can also be found at www.southerncoos.com or by calling 347-2426.
North Bend Medical Centers, located at 1900 Woodland Drive in Coos Bay, offers the services of family practice doctors as well as specialists in acupuncture, midwifery, internal medicine, pediatrics and occupational medicine. Visit www.nbmconline.com or call 267-5151.

Clinic serves low-income patients
You don't have health insurance? Your insurance doesn't cover enough of your medical bills?
Waterfall Clinic is an option.
When volunteers first opened the nonprofit clinic several years ago, no one could have imagined its success or effect on the community.
It began with a nurse volunteering nights to offer basic medical care at a local mission. Now, Waterfall offers care to people who don't have health insurance or can't pay for care. Its full-time staff, bolstered by volunteers, provides a gamut of medical services to more than 1,100 people annually. As of 2003, there were 25,600 people in Coos County without health insurance, and 6,900 people who were underinsured.
The clinic's manager and board of directors are working to expand services and become a federally qualified health center. In the end, the several-year process could culminate in federal reimbursement. That way the clinic would not have to rely so heavily on volunteers and fund-raisers, and could serve more patients.
The clinic is located in the Woodland Medical Center at 1890 Waite St. in North Bend. For more information about Waterfall's volunteer needs or medical services, those interested can call 756-6232. The clinic is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Family planning
Waterfall Clinic also provides free or low-cost family planning

services to women and men who do not have health insurance. Most teens also qualify and the clinic provides confidential care and offers a wide range of birth control methods.
Clinic staff appreciate patients making an appointment, but drop ins also are welcome. Waterfall is offering a late clinic on Wednesdays until 8 p.m. for family planning, and is open all weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information and to make an appointment for free or low-cost birth control, those interested can call the clinic at 751-7842.
Student options
A school based health center is open to the community in Coos Bay School District's Harding Learning Center on the Marshfield High School campus. The center caters to all students but targets low income families, the underinsured or those who have no health insurance at all.
The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. It provides myriad services to students including immunizations; sports physicals; routine primary care, such as throat cultures; and case management of chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes.
Patients also may receive discounted rates on prescriptions at some local pharmacies. Walk-ins are encouraged, however it is best for off-campus students to first contact their school nurses. The clinic can be reached by calling 267-1495.

New Patients have options for finding a doctor
New patients have options for Ԩnding a doctor New patients coming to the South Coast have several options to fit their health care needs including clinics, family practices and other medical centers. While each features different services and practices when signing up new patients, a person seeking medical care can find a doctor or nurse practitioner by calling some of the following medical centers or visiting their Web sites. The Bay Clinic at 1750 Thompson Road in Coos Bay is a multi-specialty clinic that offers care for allergy and dermatology problems, as well as general surgery, internal medicine, OB/gyn and pediatrics. Audrey Bettin, an administrative assistant for the Bay Clinic, said doctors are taking new patients in allergy, OB/gyn, general surgery and pediatrics. In addition to its doctors, the clinic also employs a nurse practitioner who specializes in internal medicine, as well as a certified nurse midwife. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Bay Clinic also recently formed its Bay Area After Hours Clinic, which offers pediatric care. It is open 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The real benefit is they don't have to go to the emergency room unless it is a true urgent care type of thing, Bettin said. More information about the clinic can be found at www.bayclinic.net or by calling 269-0333. Dunes Family Health Care, 620 Ranch Road in Reedsport, is a full family health care practice that has been in business since 1977. Featuring six family practice physicians and nurse practitioner Kathryn Moon, the practice can take new clients from Reedsport and Coos Bay, said Clinic Manager Sheri Aasen. Just give us a call (if you) would like to establish care with one of our providers, Aasen said. Call 271-2163 for more information. The Curry General Hospital Health Network in Curry County includes three clinics, located in Port Orford,
	Gold Beach and Brookings as well as a Cardiac Health Center and hospital. Frann Grossman, the community relations director for the network said although not every doctor and nurse practitioner in the network can take new patients, potential providers can be found by calling or searching www.curryhealthnetwork.com. At the Health Network's Curry Family Medical at 525 Madrona St., Port Orford, patients can see general practice physician Dr. Tom Pitchford and family nurse practitioner Sandra Johnson or benefit from the center's lab, X-ray capability and visiting OB/gyn. Call 332-3861 for more information. Brookings Medical Center, another Health Network location, houses the practices of three nurse practitioners in addition to a host of specialty doctors. Located at 585 Fifth St., it is the only center in Brookings open every day of the week, Grossman said. Specialty services include OB/gyn, psychiatry, pain management, neurology and urology as well as mammograms and X-rays. It also provides a clinical social worker and a registered dietician for patients. Call 469-5377 for more information. Gold Beach's Curry General Hospital operates an annex, which is generally used as a clinic. There, patients can receive care and services ranging from child birth preparation education to dietetics and orthopedics. Call 247-6221 for more information. Jim Wathen, the CEO of Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center in Bandon, said the center is accepting new patients. However, they must gain a physician referral before receiving care at the center's specialty and outpatient clinics. The specialty clinic includes podiatry services, specialized wound care services and a foot and nail clinic for diabetic patients. It also houses the offices of a general surgeon, and offers a full service laboratory, respiratory care, pain management, endoscopy services, full service surgery, outpatient services, as well as X-ray, CT scans and mammography. Located at 900 11th St. S.E. in Bandon, the health center can also be found at www.southerncoos.com or by calling 347-2426. North Bend Medical Centers, located at 1900 Woodland Drive in Coos Bay, offers the services of family practice doctors as well as specialists in acupuncture, midwifery, internal medicine, pediatrics and occupational medicine. Visit www.nbmconline.com or call 267-5151.	Clinic serves low-income patients
		Clinic serves low-income patients You don't have health insurance? Your insurance doesn't cover enough of your medical bills? Waterfall Clinic is an option. When volunteers first opened the nonprofit clinic several years ago, no one could have imagined its success or effect on the community. It began with a nurse volunteering nights to offer basic medical care at a local mission. Now, Waterfall offers care to people who don't have health insurance or can't pay for care. Its full-time staff, bolstered by volunteers, provides a gamut of medical services to more than 1,100 people annually. As of 2003, there were 25,600 people in Coos County without health insurance, and 6,900 people who were underinsured. The clinic's manager and board of directors are working to expand services and become a federally qualified health center. In the end, the several-year process could culminate in federal reimbursement. That way the clinic would not have to rely so heavily on volunteers and fund-raisers, and could serve more patients. The clinic is located in the Woodland Medical Center at 1890 Waite St. in North Bend. For more information about Waterfall's volunteer needs or medical services, those interested can call 756-6232. The clinic is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Family planning Waterfall Clinic also provides free or low-cost family planning	services to women and men who do not have health insurance. Most teens also qualify and the clinic provides confidential care and offers a wide range of birth control methods. Clinic staff appreciate patients making an appointment, but drop ins also are welcome. Waterfall is offering a late clinic on Wednesdays until 8 p.m. for family planning, and is open all weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to make an appointment for free or low-cost birth control, those interested can call the clinic at 751-7842. Student options A school based health center is open to the community in Coos Bay School District's Harding Learning Center on the Marshfield High School campus. The center caters to all students but targets low income families, the underinsured or those who have no health insurance at all. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. It provides myriad services to students including immunizations; sports physicals; routine primary care, such as throat cultures; and case management of chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes. Patients also may receive discounted rates on prescriptions at some local pharmacies. Walk-ins are encouraged, however it is best for off-campus students to first contact their school nurses. The clinic can be reached by calling 267-1495.