By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times
The Orchid Health Hoodland Clinic recently opened, restoring access to healthcare for residents following the closure of the Adventist clinic last spring. When the Adventist clinic closed, many longtime residents were left without a local care provider.
Salmon River Professional Center owners John and Caryn Tilton actively sought a replacement. Their efforts proved successful when, in May, Orchid Health announced plans to open a new clinic in the location.
The community celebrated the clinic’s grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on November 7th. Attendees toured the new facility, met the staff, and learned about the services offered.
Orchid Health has earned a 5-star Patient-Centered Primary Care Home (PCPCH) rating. “We’re not just a clinic in the community,” said Jennifer Harris, Director of Operations. “It’s important to us that we’re a part of the community.”
Founder and CEO Orion Falvey said, “It’s our goal to make high-quality healthcare accessible to everyone. And now that we’re here, we are here to stay.” Orchid Health, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, operates six clinics in rural Oregon, including locations in Sandy and Estacada. The organization was also recognized as one of The Oregonian’s Top Places to Work for 2024.
Leading the clinic’s medical team is Douglas Lyon, MD, a family physician and epidemiologist with over 25-years of experience. Dr. Lyon’s career has spanned both local and international settings, including work with Doctors Without Borders, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the UN High Commission for Refugees. He and his wife, who have two young children, have owned a home on Mt. Hood since the late 1990s and recently made it their permanent residence. Dr. Lyon is fluent in Spanish, and they maintain a bilingual household.
The Hoodland Clinic offers a wide range of services, including primary care, pediatric care, chronic disease management, wellness visits, and behavioral health care, with same-day appointments available. The clinic accepts most insurance plans, including Kaiser, Moda, Oregon Health Plan, and most Medicare and Medicaid plans. Orchid Health’s goal is to make healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone in the community.
Dr. Lyon also shared his experience starting a nonprofit in South America with his wife. “I found myself in Colombia at the beginning of the Covid epidemic,” Dr. Lyon recounts. “My wife and I started a small nonprofit, Todosomos. We collected handwritten testimonies from refugees fleeing Venezuela. Their stories – in their own written words.” The NGO Todosomos (Todosomos.org) has collected over 2,000 testimonies, which are now housed at Cornell University. “Todo somos” translates as “We are all” in English.
The Orchid Health Hoodland Clinic is located on Welches Road in the Salmon River Professional Center. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about the services available, call 971-333-0494. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.