Oregon Health & Science University Family Medicine at Scappoose will be open for business at their new location, 51377 Old Portland Road, Scappoose, on Monday, June 5. The decision to move to this larger facility in Crossroads Plaza was made due to the center's growing patient population and the continued growth of the area.

By the end of September, the family medicine center will be staffed with three family physicians, two physician assistants, two nurse practitioners and a licensed clinical social worker. Center hours will expand to Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The clinic has grown from serving 600 patients monthly in December 2004 to almost 1,100 patients a month in December 2005. After receiving a federal designation as a Rural Health Clinic almost two years ago, OHSU Family Medicine at Scappoose has enhanced its mission to serve a broad patient base by accepting new patients with Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurance.The clinicians provide health care for the entire family, including maternity care and a full range of adult and child health care services. The practice's clinical social worker provides behavioral health counseling. The center offers several patient education classes on such topics as childbirth education, diabetes management, pain, depression management, diabetes self-management as well as a class geared to overall good health and well-being.

"Our growth is our commitment to serve area residents. Due to the limited number of available medical practitioners, Columbia County continues to be medically underserved. For this reason, we will continue to accept new patients with Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurance.

"We want to thank the community for its continued support. Our goal is to grow with our community and offer you the highest quality medical care possible," said Scappoose Medical Director Bruin Rugge, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of family medicine, OHSU School of Medicine.