The Pendleton Primary Care Clinic offers a variety of services to its patients – but one of the most important ones might be something that’s increasingly in short supply in the health care system:

Time.

“I think it’s really important to take the time to listen to patients,” said Nyle Gunter, the certified physician assistant at the clinic. “One of the things I think people find most frustrating (about health care providers) is you go in and maybe you feel like either you weren’t heard or you’re just another number on the page.”

That’s not the case at Pendleton Primary Care Clinic, Gunter said: “We make the time to give to patients and to listen.

”The clinic opened in 2013, with the mission of offering primary care to patients receiving Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) services through EOCCO, the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization. (Coordinated care organizations are responsible for administering the Oregon Health Plan in the geographic areas they serve.)

Back in 2013, said Tami Foster, the clinic’s office manager, there wasn’t enough primary care options in Pendleton to serve all the patients seeking service. The Pendleton Primary Care Clinic helped to fill the gap.

Now, the clinic is expanding its services – and is accepting new patients and most insurance companies, not just patients covered by the Oregon Health Plan.

The decision to accept additional types of insurance should allow more patients to access the services at the clinic.

And the clinic is expanding its services, including workers compensation cases and injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents.

The clinic even is performing the physical examinations required for people seeking to earn or renew their commercial driver’s licenses. 

“And so, once again, I feel like the clinic is really focused on meeting the needs of the community,” said Gunter, who joined the clinic in July.

Here’s another example of how the clinic focuses on the needs of the community: Gunter and medical assistant Maria Rodriguez speak Spanish as well.

“You can’t compare with being able to receive care in your own native language,” Gunter said. “You understand the provider and you know the provider is able to understand you.” 

“All of us feel weird when we go to the doctor,” he said. “And when you don’t speak the same language, it’s that much harder. So being able to offer that is really neat, and something that I personally really enjoy.”

What can new patients expect when they visit the Pendleton Primary Care Clinic?

“They can expect to be greeted by friendly staff,” Gunter said. “Probably one of the biggest things you can expect is that we’re going to take the time. We’re going to get to know you. … We’re going to listen. We’re going to work together to find a plan that’s going to work for you.”

PENDLETON PRIMARY CARE CLINIC

Address: 1100 Southgate, Suite 11, Pendleton

Phone: 541-966-6916; 541-228-9120

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Web: pendletonprimarycare.com

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