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Outback Strong reports service disruptions, EHR rollout and building purchase plans
Summary
Outback Strong reported roof damage from recent snowfall and temporary relocation of services to the Recovery Center; Director Heidi Martinez said the nonprofit averages 47 client appointments daily, plans to go live with a new EHR and billing software by end of February 2025, and is pursuing building purchases and renovations in Lakeview and Christmas Valley.
Heidi Martinez, director of Outback Strong, updated the board Feb. 5 on program operations, facility issues and technology changes.
Martinez said the program has been averaging "47 client appointments per day" and that recent heavy snowfall caused roof leaks that forced the organization to move services to the Recovery Center until repairs are completed. She told commissioners Outback Strong expects to go live with a new electronic health record and billing system by the end of February 2025 to improve service tracking and resolve billing issues; she said the county's previous health district software transition has been difficult without CERNER customer‑support assistance.
Martinez also said Outback Strong has transferred grant control to the organization, hired a real‑estate attorney to work on building purchases from Lake Health District, and plans to renovate the former COIC building at 103 North G Street in Lakeview. In Christmas Valley the plan is to acquire property, install infrastructure and then seek "shovel‑ready" grant funds; Martinez said South Central Oregon Economic Development District (SCOEDD) may assist on those efforts.
Commissioners asked whether the EHR transition would make current appointment counts billable and whether grants and real‑estate purchases were under legal review; Martinez indicated the EHR will make activity trackable and confirmed a real‑estate lawyer had been retained. The board did not take formal action on the matters during the Feb. 5 meeting.
